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AZLI

by Ahmer

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1.
Intro 00:29
2.
Gumrah 05:04
VERSE 1: All this anger is my nemesis, Robs me like an intruder Even my own are my foes The scars of guilt are deep Like the sky from the past froze, Intoxicated, how am I supposed to win? She said she loved me with all her heart, But I guess her luck ran out, A lot people find happiness in my sorrows, They try to snatch my peace, when they face me they stay silent, What are these relationships for if there’s nothing but hate? These are the stories of my heart, and it tells me not to stop, The same heart that broke too many times, The same heart that doesn’t know why it’s sad, It’s thirsty, but there’s no moisture, everything is barren, Alas, the whole scene has no cure, it can’t be restored, I guess I am responsible for this, I guess that’s cuz of my innocence, And I know that hell is on earth, That’s why I don’t belong here, Please forgive me, I am never going to worship them, Also, forgive me, I don’t wear expensive clothes, I don’t do drugs, and these guys don’t really impress me, I am just too lost for that, I don’t even speak much, Circumstances have taken away everything that we had, even smile, I guess my beliefs have kept me alive, My identity is just a piece of paper, Every breath that I take, I don’t even own that, The one who loved me the most, already killed me, These tests and trials don’t make any sense, Who am I fighting for? Why do I write and rap? What's the purpose? This is where I find my freedom, This is where I find my destruction too, HOOK: All of this has led me astray, I belong to no one, Lost, The truth is not permissible, Astray, I belong to nothing, Lost, Only the truth is going to end me, There is no cure for this suffering, This disease is everywhere, Who do we blamed for this? They look for greed even after death, VERSE 2 : There’s restlessness everywhere We all demand dignity I’m different, do not laugh at me All I do is make songs all day I’ve been ducking the whole world, I’m not perfect, I’m just a man, And I’m not your puppet, There are no snakes in the grass, But there are regrets in my life, I gave them love and they gave me hate, still it’s all good, On the banks of dal lake, it’s good to be distant, They swim in money, I don’t even care, I’m not in debt and I don’t owe you anything, My focus is on both sides, not just one, I was never desperate to get famous, And If I don’t know you, Don’t holla, They are dogs who just bark when angels come down, They try to stop us but we still speak up, No fear, I came and spoke up about all of it, You can’t even imagine what we have been through, We don’t even know how to respect women, Too weak, so we use and throw them, Those who might seem innocent, they aren’t, Being rich isn’t the answer, Bridge: You gonna have to leave everything behind, If we become humans, that’ll be an achievement, I know people waiting for me to fall so that they can celebrate, But they never pay heed to their mistakes, All your leaders are liars, They just divide and rule, then bye bye, My home is one big graveyard, , HOOK: All of this has led me astray, I belong to no one, Lost, The truth is not permissible, Astray, I belong to nothing, Lost, Only the truth is going to end me, There is no cure for this suffering, This disease is everywhere, Who do we blamed for this? They look for greed even after death,
3.
Nishaan 04:00
In this house of in heedlessness, my escape is impossible, I’m begging for help but I know no one is going to be there for me, My memories have lost eyesight, And I’ve not gotten it back ever since, where did it all go? Our hope, Why are they trying to squeeze happiness? What kind of seed is this that gives birth to slavery? That keeps growing amidst floods, We like to read books that are blank, Love to learn nothing but hate and violence, They teach us not to ask but to yell, Not to think but to thrash, What kind of justice is this? the enemy of rights? I’m Adbul Qadeer, and I’m not ill, I wish my life wasn’t like this, I have these thoughts that I can’t get rid of, Those oppressors who stopped me one day, Those scars never healed, It’s not suspicion, it’s pure hate, No it’s not hate, it’s desire, No, not desire, it’s power, It’s the power that becomes devotion, makes you corrupt, The sounds of trauma still keep ringing in my ears, I wanna run away from the sirens that are screaming, It’s present in every breath that I take, There’s a story in every tear that I shed, I shiver from fear, I can’t control myself at times, I can’t see the lines on my palm anymore, Since I was 12 I’ve been trying to break from this prison, But deep down the fire grows and I can’t put it out, I couldn’t just live, Life never knew what peace was, My past keeps running after me and I can’t move on and forget, What’s the purpose of life? Here I am, asking questions, why is God silent? All we have ever seen is chaos, It feels I’m being buried everyday, Even if I cry and scream they won’t listen, JUNAID HOOK: Land abandoned, Wounds don’t heal, Blind people running, Roots dying, Poison spreading, Peace melting, Why does this happen all the time? Traces erased,
4.
Poem 1 By : Madhosh Balhami Faheem Abdullah O my flower like childhood I fetched you from a forest faraway I would nourish you with more spring water I have been crying ever since Since I lost you my beloved I have been crying ever since The moment I was born to my mother I came into the world shedding tears I got caught in a prison/ dungeon I have been crying ever since Since I lost you my beloved I have been crying ever since End these miseries of mine My joy and youth are destroyed Losing you made me lose my mind I have been crying ever since Since I lost you my beloved I have been crying ever since
5.
They took my beloved (son), and my bones became ash. I lost my beloved (son), away from this world. He made me helpless. Who is this thief in my house? He made me fall from the skies, my pride was buried. The rain caught fire, hell was made sure for me. My accounts are settled, my judgement day trials were taken here. VERSE I find you in happiness, I find you in sadness too, It’s true, life hasn’t been the same ever since, Yet I wish the dream we had is still alive I fight the war I have already lost, Cuz I remember you told me not the stop, This struggle is like the night that’ll never end, but if I see your eyes, I’ll find hope, I promised I’ll meet you again, Once this siege ends, we will rise from the ashes, We find comfort under chinar yet again, In the garden of peace, where our hearts will rest, I hope God hears me out and the time stops somehow, I wanted to pen down story that was unfinished, When we were alive, we were criminals, The real culprits were free, but we didn’t hide, Holding on to the sand that’s slipping through the fingers, My heart burns and I can’t stop palpitations, I never lost you, you are in my veins, Whenever I miss you, I’m lost and I can’t find my way, We will meet again, we will feel again, in these dreams, Jhelum will find us, We will cry again, and laugh again You will always live in my thoughts, They took my beloved, Bring back my beloved, Speak, my beloved
6.
Feels like I’m stuck in throat, Like a soul trying to get out while they take my pictures, They piss on my face and are trying to have a conversation with my dead body, Fresh blood on my school bag, my school is too far today, I feel like my life is slipping away from me, As my dreams turn to dust, They have kept a gun right next to me, their alibi, Don’t be suspicious, their lies become truths, a river that is too deep, My mother must be waiting to see me, happy that I will return home soon, Only those who have wrapped a body in a shroud, know what is feels like, Only those who have lost their own, know what it feels like, Another funeral today, but the body hasn’t been returned, I heard gunshots but they wanted you to believe no bullets were fired, I have gotten my own killed for my personal gains, I have promised people a better tomorrow and only used their blood, VERSE 2: Now that I’m up in the sky, my father hands are filled with my blood, His eyes can’t unsee me, I am still alive, he says, He doesn’t speak much ever since my dead body came home, We have searching for justice, like beggars, Your laws are hypocritical, my killers are still free, Where nothing is pure and true, I guess everything is permitted, How many do actually remember us, all the innocents who got killed? It’s your misconception, ignorance, this is a desert, not garden of paradise, Another funeral today, but the body hasn’t been returned, I heard gunshots but they wanted you to believe no bullets were fired, I have gotten my own killed for my personal gains, I have promised people a better tomorrow and only used their blood, One more taken away, One more killed, One more martyred, One more maimed, Another house burned, Another guy hanged, Who will pray at the funeral? Who is innocent? Who is not guilty? Who is ill? Who is a tyrant? Everything is cold as ice, I am about to lose my mind and I want to vent out!
7.
You know what's about to happen! Ahmer Javed is here! How do we bring him down? Let’s falsely accuse him, how do we confine him, Let’s team up against him, how will he escape this? But he is not dead yet, I tried everything, But it’s beyond me, Still hoping something bad happens, Let’s snitch on him, let’s inform the po po, Make it hard for him to survive, kill all his dreams, Let’s just laugh and pray for his downfall, But he is not dead yet, I tried everything, But it’s beyond me Ahmer Verse: Swear to God, my powers don’t work on him, It’s like he has cast a magic spell, and he is only getting stronger, I loathe this guy, I have sacrificed all my beliefs for him, They all love him so much I just can’t stand it, Why would he succeed? How do we shut him up? Why do they sing his songs? I wish death upon him, He has spreading like a plague, Says we all are two faced, And says “there will be no mercy, these rappers don’t stand a chance”, Calls us useless, gamblers, They say he’s the voice of Kashmir, Says we just yowl like cats, There is only one Ahmer! If the day of judgement arrives soon, I’ll pray and ask God he suffers for eternity, Still don’t know why he is so blessed, I won’t bury my grudges, I just hate how he fulfilled his dreams, All that hardwork and patience, Says he will cleanse everything, And it will all change, there will be a revolution! They all know his name, Whether it's the cities or villages, We were born in bloodshed, They are afraid of us, scared of this pen, They are all jealous, they just pretend that they are with you, Ever since he came into the scene, they haven’t been able to do much, Doesn’t show mercy to those who oppress, He has been walking on fire with a smile on his face, Doesn’t fuck with hypocrites, HOOK: You know what's about to happen! Ahmer Javed is here! How do we bring him down? Let’s falsely accuse him, how do we confine him, Let’s team up against him, how will he escape this? But he is not dead yet, I tried everything, But it’s beyond me, Tufail Verse: I know how your heart sees, You just blabber the holy verses, you don’t practice, God is helping me win this, What is your hatred going to do to me? Tell me, honestly.. How much do they pay you to kill innocents? I am aware how many of you scheme, plot, And how much you wish i wasn’t going to make it I really don’t understand what this is all about, You don’t practice what you preach, It’s not about how you dress, but how you think, All you can do is criticise, Kids don’t find hope here, cuz our own drag us down, How many are corrupt here? I have lost count, I won’t do you no justice either, Today I will shed light on darkness, Our hard work will pay off, We have stretched these pages to defeat your ignorance, My pen will put an end to this oppression, Our purpose will be fulfilled, They will finally get to know the difference between real and fake today, I hope you will hear me loud and clear, You never stayed up like I did and worked for this, Hate us all you want, that doesn’t change anything, I know whats about to happen, Your intentions will only ruin you, I’m in your face, let’s see if you speak to me that way now, I know that you are going to run away, You can’t even stand still, You did your best, couldn’t stop us man, Still we will wait, let’s see if something happens, Is there anything else left that you wanna try? Maybe there’s a question you wanna ask? We will let you do it, give it your best shot, Why aren’t you leaving? You tried your luck, I’m sorry it didn’t work, I am not stopping, Still we will wait, let’s see if something happens, You might figure out something else, Maybe there’s a question you wanna ask? Next time you are going to be mad at me then, Why aren’t you leaving? You tried your luck, I’m sorry it didn’t work, I am not stopping, Oh now you wanna be friends? Get lost!
8.
9.
Beauty bit it’s tongue again, Wasn't allowed to express, permission wasn’t granted, Childhood doesn’t see the light of the day, You are born just to survive, not live, Having faith seems unreal, we are too naive to believe, Can’t measure your spiritual burden, what will lady justice do? There are snakes in your lawn, what are you gonna call yourself? Ignorance and laziness, when will you stop pointing fingers? Brothers out to kill each other, But want benefits, when we have to help each other, No love for your own, no wonder we don’t believe in God, I have seen courage, begging for heart, I was talking to my sorrows, they said that you are aware, I am not a poet, I am just a guy who’s trying, They have called me a mad man, They say that i am a disbeliever, Then they say I’m a victor when it helps them, And then they say that I am a wise man, They just meet when it helps, Strong break too, No matter how dangerous you think you are, How smart you are I only care about intentions, There’s hatred in your heart, even when you pray Shroud wrapped around our head, what dreams? What are these songs gonna achieve? They bring you down, but don’t give up One time, a hundred times, Being that hope amongst all lies, Holding on to one rope, Everything we do is for the books, What you believe isn’t true, this pen won’t get weak This pen bleeds and never wore me out, It became a shoulder for to me lean on, I have given this my own life, I have seen the brighter side, Never stood for what was wrong, Still representing my city, same crib, Still passionate about this art, only one face, Gonna show them mercy even if they envy, What you believe isn’t true, this pen won’t get weak This pen bleeds and never wore me out, It became a shoulder for to me lean on, I have given this my own life, I have seen the brighter side, Never stood for what was wrong, I’m in the same city, same room, Still that passion, only one face, Gonna show them mercy even if they envy, As I got done praying, I stepped out of the mosque, Toxic smoke everywhere, hearts burdened, White scarf turned red, The painter was forced to drink a glass of blood, A group of people standing on the edge of a cliff, Sobbing, while a tyrant stood there, laughing at them, As the cold, calm fire burned, that was the only witness left, Wishing there was an end to this But never mind, It’s compulsory, one has to be righteous, Evil has to eventually bow down and pray, One has to be perfect in this imperfect world too, We will never know what God knows, But never mind, A broken instrument, we are, Craving for the love of rabab, No difference whether there is love or not, But never mind, A window that kept secrets was burned down, can’t reveal anymore, We stepped on our own roots and stopped them from growing, As the cold, calm fire burned, that was the only witness left, Wishing there was an end to envy, So just take these arms away, But they deserve handcuffs made of Gold, You snatched the life that was given to me, That’s why they spit wherever you go, One time, a hundred times, Being that hope amongst all the lies, Holding on to one rope, Everything we do is for the books, What you believe isn’t true, this pen is heavy, it’s not smooth, This pen bleeds and doesn’t wear out, It became a shoulder for to me lean on, I have given this my own life, I have seen the brighter side, Never stood for what was wrong, Still representing my city, same room, Full of desire, no double standards, Gonna show them love even if they envy, What you believe isn’t true, this pen is heavy, it’s not smooth, This pen bleeds and never wore me out, It became a shoulder for to me lean on, I have given this my own life, I have seen the brighter side, Never stood for what was wrong, I’m in the same city, same room, Still crazy about it, no double standards, Gonna show them mercy even if they envy, What you believe isn’t true, this pen is heavy, it’s not smooth, This pen bleeds and never wore me out, It became a shoulder for to me lean on, I have given this my own life, I have seen the brighter side, Never stood for what was wrong, Still representing my city, same crib, Still loving this, no double standards Gonna show them mercy even if they envy
10.
You better call this the sound of victory, Being fearless, and never running away, Even if these legs break, we still stand, Our dreams won’t melt, thorns won’t grow, From now on water will catch fire too, You better call this the sweet taste of struggle, Minced all the hurdles, poke eyes out and rumble, I’m already buried alive, so what are you gonna do? We have already done the impossible, this is the proof, Verse: Falsehood has no legs to stand on, They strangled reality, so how is the truth going to speak? Man I’m too nuts, I just crush all my foes, And then I don’t look back, best believe, I eat all the bullets they fire at me when I’m at it, And then I spit gun powder, They’re too fragile for this, I’m like a dervish in this, I’ll show no mercy, straight up, You better watch your mouth when you talk about me, And the only competition I will have, if MC Kash comes back, Or if someone like him is born, Or if the mountains shake, Come, I’ll show you the new wave, Where their ships will sink and they will drown, I gave my blood, built a roof over my head, For those who didn’t believe, Found all the right words and now we all speak, That’s the wave that we bought, This is years in the making, Just when a lot of you left, Cuz when the time comes, you all hide, And then you brag about yourself, And when you see me you flee, This is blood sweat and tears, You can’t buy it, it’s not for sale, You better call this the sound of victory, Being fearless, and never running away, Even if these legs break, we still stand, Our dreams won’t melt, thorns won’t grow, From now on water catch fire too, You better call this the sweet taste of struggle, Minced all the hurdles, poke eyes out and rumble, I’m already buried alive, so what are you gonna do? We have already done the impossible, this is the proof, I only trust myself, and the one who created me, I made it this far, it’s all because of your love, Hold on to the time that you have, you gotta move forward, This is no ink, this is blood, it won’t drain out, You don’t have to find your way, it’ll come to you, Patience needs resilience, like chewing stones, The day you become keef, you will find noon, The day you look for hope, you will become kun, And if you say Kun, God will hear you, It was all a dream, but not anymore, it’s all true, Did someone mention my name? Come gather all you young guns throw yo fist in the air Let me see those heads bobbing 'long the kick and the snare Yeah It's bigger than hip hop and that's what you hear 'Cause knowledge has power over all that you fear I was born in a siege never seen a day of peace Blood in the streets, armored military jeeps. Patrols after patrols checkpoints on my soul Pray to God I die in my sleep. I see the bullets flying, my homies dying Lying fools on the TV, justifyin' murder Similar to rappers out here with fake personas You garbage madafakaz you fake Madonnas All the rage inside, helping me survive My thoughts in cross hairs, my body a prize Like a Runaway Slave i take shelter in caves Writing epics on the walls with the blood of my peers I guess y'all rappers better be digging their graves Stronger than ever, Koshur Nizam Turning slaves to freeman
11.
The calm before the storm I had, So cold and peaceful, the sunshine in the sky, Like a chinar tree I was, the witness, Growing and absorbing pain and joy, I have lost what I found, A tormented genius, I have seen autumn in spring too, I have learnt that nothing remains, They erased my name, they erased my conscience, It feels like I’m alive again, It’s a strong feeling that stays deep within, These interpretations, that people are searching for, Are actually words, our secrets, but our voices have been suppressed by those who don’t want to speak up, I’m born amidst all this chaos and oppression, But this time every step I take is trying to latch on to hope, My body is like my homeland, all these scars and wounds tell stories, All the aspirations have turned into clouds, they don’t come close, They want this blood to spill, so that they write my fate, I’ve got the future on my back as I walk, It’s maimed and lynched, but I still carry on, They have tried shoot it down, but it still survives, They have tried to lock it down, but it's still free, Out here truth became fiction long time ago, And lies kept demons safe, And in all of this, I am trying to hold on to my existence, This is my broken, shattered war cry, I hope that the shooting stars find their way home, These sects and this division ends, we are going to unite someday, Tyranny won’t command us and we won’t be enslaved again, Alas, I wish this was the reality, I was this wasn’t a dream, Look into my eyes, cuz I have seen it too many times, The dilemma, They erased my name, They erased my conscience, Who’s my leader? Who do I follow? I have fallen sick, So who’s the wise man? Who is my real friend? Who controls all of this? OUTRO The passionate and the crazy ones, living the pipe dream, First they grab your collar then they ask you what your name is, Where did you come from? And where are you going? I just want to wash away my ink and reset everything, SHUHUL NAAR Peaceful fire, SHUHUL NAAR
12.

about

Azli, the sophomore full-length effort of Srinagar-based artist Ahmer Javed, is an acute aural experience of a psychotic breakdown.

Experienced by a creative trying to hone his craft in an environment engulfed by personal and political conflict, the album dives deep into the heart of Kashmir’s expansive history of folk music, as well as the effects of post traumatic stress suffered by countless families around the world due to similar circumstances that act as triggers.

Azli transports you directly into the middle of an episode that induces anxiety, panic and at times, joy.

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released June 27, 2022

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Ahmer

Ahmer is a prolific rapper & producer from Srinagar, Kashmir. Since a young age, he has been acutely aware of the violence that plagues that valley, & his lyrics reflect a self-critical & self-aware artist that is trying to make sense of one of the most complex issues of our time.

Ahmer manages to introduce to people to the complexities of the Kashmiri people & the conflict that defines them.
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