11 years after their debut album on The Jazz Diaries, Ahkatari have returned with ‘Blood: Act I’. This album is a clear evolution in their journey and yet a distinct departure from their debut. ‘Blood: Act I’ sees the Detroit duo double down on the grit and dive even deeper into the streets. Whitaker's beats are grainy, layered and dusty. His sample selection and ability to manipulate is as much a part of the storytelling as Ahk’s lyrics. Ahk’s vocals carry a real weight. He has impact. 

He has remained the same character throughout both chapters of their history: The debut being set in Jamaica, and ‘Blood: Act I’ in the streets of Istanbul. His flow and flex have grown somewhat darker, and the album feels even more grimy and dubbed out than its predecessor. As they slide once again into the shadows, gone but not forgotten, one message is clear: Ahkatari will return. We just don’t know where or when.