A staple of Florida’s rap scene for nearly a decade, Pouya captivates fans with his lockstep flows and endless experimentation. Looking inward for his next release, the Miami native prepares for Blood Was Never Thick As Water, a new album, now available for pre-save/pre-order. Sourced from the lyrics of recent single “The First Step Of Becoming God Is A Bottle To The Face,” The album’s title subverts a popular aphorism, as the half-Cuban/half-Iranian rapper celebrates a chosen family of artists and friends who accepted his idiosyncrasies and outré creativity in a way that his birth family never could.

Expanding his sonic palette to add elements of jazz, dream pop, and even Bay Area-style mob music on tape highlight “One Deep In Fleetwood,” the new album finds Pouya searching for new canvases on which to paint with his rapidfire flows. Equally suited for longtime fans and newcomers alike, Blood Was Never Thick As Water complements the cerebral moments with bangers like “Out The Mud,” primed to set any festival moshpit aflame. Featuring an appearance from Denzel Curry, along with previously released songs like the recently released “Leave Me Alone” and the Lu Baby collaboration “Walk In,” Blood Was Never Thick As Water arrives on October 22nd, independently released, as always, by Pouya himself.

Along with the official announcement of the album, Pouya shares the thought-provoking video for “The First Step Of Becoming God Is A Bottle To The Face.” The song is dark night of the soul epic marked by somber pianos, propulsive snare rim clicks, and mournful horns courtesy of producer Rocci. “First Step” finds the rapper baring his soul, divulging the hidden traumas–including family betrayals, friends succumbing to addiction and death, and more–he once felt he had to hide to “emphasize his toughness.” The evocative video finds Pouya pursuing a literal interpretation of the song’s title, as a cragged-looking rapper reenacts the last days of Jesus Christ. Transporting the action from Jerusalem to rural Florida, “First Step” portrays Pouya as he eats a “last supper” (the director Julian Yuri Rodriguez‘s camera recalling Da Vinci’s famous painting) with his disciples before being crucified by an angry mob.

An iconoclastic figure who’s collaborated with everyone from $uicideboy$ to Juicy J, Pouya grew a massive fanbase with SoundCloud singles, independent albums, and visceral live performances. The prolific artist released three studio albums–Underground Underdog, FIVE FIVE and The South’s Got Something to Say–along with multiple mixtapes with fellow Buffet Boys rappers like Fat Nick and Boobie Lootaveli. Earlier this year, Pouya made a triumphant return to Rolling Loud, a festival at which he’s been a fixture since the very first event in 2015, firing up crowds with his vast catalog of anthems. Stay tuned for much more from Pouya, including more music, videos, and high profile collaborations, as the year comes to a close.

Pre-order/pre-save Blood Was Never Thick As Water: 
https://Pouya.lnk.to/bloodwasneverthickaswater

Blood Was Never Thick As Water tracklist: 

1. Dying Slowly
2. Wig Split ft. Denzel Curry
3. Why Do We Get High?
4. I’ll Always Be Around
5. Out The Mud
6. One Deep In The Fleetwood
7. Walk In ft. Lu Baby
8. Forever Waiting For You At My Window
9. Leave Me Alone
10. Stuck in Admiration
11. First Step of Becoming God Is a Bottle to the Face