Ras Kass & Smif-N-Wessun Pay Homage To Jackie Robinson’s Dodgers With “42”
For as long as West Coast legend Ras Kass and Bucktown, USA Brooklynites Smif-N-Wessun have been personal friends and former labelmates (via Priority Records), “42” sees the three emcees link for the first time on wax. Released on all digital streaming platforms via HillTop Ave/Soulspazm, the explosive new Amadeus360-produced single is a subtle nod to the number Jackie Robinson wore as a Brooklyn Dodger. Now in LA, the Dodgers represent a particular connection between the two coasts, which is also implied by the collaboration on “42“.
From Dodger blue anthems and Brooklyn block codes, to cutting critiques of the industry and society at large, “42” is both a celebration of Hip-Hop authenticity and a warning shot to anything weak. The Mo Stafford-directed music video, mirrors the record’s intensity—street symbology, militant energy, and a no-frills look at two coasts uniting under one flag of raw lyricism and hard drums.
“When I first went into this collaboration with Smif-N-Wessun, I initially wanted to recreate ‘Sound Bwoy Bureill’. A lot of creative people don’t want to do the same song over again, so Amadeus played us some tracks. We liked a couple, but the beat for ’42’ is the instrumental that Tek & Steele really gravitated towards. We recorded the song in New York and Fresh did the hook. We’ve all hung out and been in the studio together before, but we had never done a song together until now, so this was one for the bucket list… A mutual friend of ours, James, owns a Jamaican fusion restaurant In Williamsburg, Brooklyn called ‘Sweet Science’. So we basically shot the whole music video at this location. I wore my LA 42 Dodger hat, and it came out really dope.” – Ras Kass
Stream and watch “42” now on your preferred DSP.
