Mumbai-based rapper and songwriter Loka, born Abhinay Lok Bista, has finally announced his debut album. The LP, which is slated to release in September, arrives amidst Loka’s recent release from prison in Mumbai.
Over the weekend, the rising emcee shared an exclusive artwork of his yet untitled album. Notably, the LP will be Loka’s debut full-length effort in his sprawling rap career which traverses various hard-hitting EPs including “Esel World” alongside Nasty Ninja, “Third Wave” and the “Autobiography” EP.
Check out the exclusive artwork shared by Loka below.
In May, Loka returned home after he was granted bail by a special National Drugs & Psychotropic Substances, or the NDPS, court. The rapper, who was arrested on drug-related charges served at least eight weeks in prison before he was released immediately after the bail order.
Reportedly, Loka was arrested for playing a crucial role in the “smuggling of 27.5 kg of marijuana worth Rs 8 crore through courier in December last year,” as per a report by the Indian daily The Times of India.
According to the report, the Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch of Customs noted that the accused, Abhnay Lok Bista alias Loka, was nabbed after it emerged that the Oshiwara-bred emcee was involved in carrying out the required transactions for ‘ordering’ the “marijuana from the U.S.”
Loka’s controversial release arrived after a special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) court in Mumbai rejected the pre-arrest bail plea by Loka.
“There is material to suspect that he was making arrangements for money and addresses for the delivery of parcels. Thus, there is reasonable ground to believe that he was involved in the conspiracy to import commercial quantities of contraband,” the court noted at the time.
However, Loka was granted by the special NDPS court after the court noted that “no drugs were recovered” from the rapper.
“One cannot jump to the conclusion that every person who transferred money to co-accused John Montero and Bhavesh Thakur was indulging in the business of drugs,” the court further noted.
Look out for Loka’s debut LP in September this year.
Listen to Loka’s flagrant independent EP ‘Third Wave’ via Spotify.
