Hear It First: Anik Khan Steps Out of His ‘Shadows’
Queens, New York-bred, Bangladesh-born rapper Anik Khan is living out his dream, receiving praises from Noisey-Vice, Vibe, and Hip Hop Wired for his thought-provoking, introspective storylines.
Check out the audio and a snippet of the music video for Anik’s song “Shadows,” exclusively on Yahoo Music.
On the old school boom-bap track, Anik raps about his hustle to make it in the hip-hop game, including having to prove himself to his parents. “They didn’t understand the concept of me chasing something that’s so hard to attain,” Anik tells Yahoo Music. “But once they saw how hard I worked at it and that it wasn’t just a gimmick, they supported it fully, which is rare in an immigrant household.”
For Anik, “Shadows” represents his plight, a reminder that his effort and drive can help him persevere despite naysayers. Anik believes the music business has it’s own “Shadows,” but he’s learned to stay focused on his own goals. “To be quite honest, I could give a f–k less about the industry and its stigmas. I care for those who don’t have the luxury of worrying about anything else besides keeping the lights on and taking care of their loved ones. I don’t have time for fake smiles and spurious relationships. I need to buy my mother a house.”
Anik is planning to release his EP I Don’t Know Yet this summer. “You can expect a variety of different cultural influences, the foundation of what I came from, and glimpses into where I’m headed musically,” he says. “I think it’s important to realize a guy in his mid twenties hasn’t figured it all out and still has much to learn. This project represents that journey and process of figuring things out. Hence, “I Don’t Know Yet."
