Khemist

Khemist Mayfield is a Philadelphia-based rapper, singer, guitarist, and poet whose work sits at the intersection of lyrical mastery and emotional excavation. His critically acclaimed 18-track album, A List of Demands, is a modern blues for Black manhood that spares none of the gory details. Violent, ancestral, beautiful, and innovative, the project lifts the lid on the indulgent highs and abysmal lows of vice, combining furious cadences and principled spitting with woeful crooning that breathes life into the long-forgotten ghosts and codes of the street in EveryHood, USA.

Produced by Anwar Marshall, Jack Union, and Anthony Bell, A List of Demands embraces the griot tradition at the foundation of the Black musical canon while challenging contemporary trends. It boasts appearances from DJ Jazzy Jeff (executive producer), Bilal, Michael Eric Dyson, Ursula Rucker, Sibby Liv, CJ Johnson (of Oh He Dead), and Black Buttafly. The album kicks off with “Night Night,” a blistering reminder that one of Philly’s best emcees also happens to be a versatile instrumentalist and poet. From the turbulent “Mexico” to the haunting “Hurt Undying” featuring Bilal and Dyson, and the country-tinged closer “Every Bit Of It,” Mayfield moves seamlessly from boom-bap to rock, dancehall, and country. Charged with urgency and armed with a guitar, A List of Demands is the sound that the hammer makes.

The story continues with Demand More, the forthcoming sequel to A List of Demands, slated for release in June 2025. Written in the wake of an HBCU tour , the new album deepens Khemist’s genre-bending and soul-baring approach. Featuring standout collaborations with Mumu Fresh, DJ Aktive, and more, the album’s production credits include Anwar Marshall, Jack Union, vocal producer Elle.Morris, and additional sonic architects who continue to expand the universe of Khemist’s sound. Demand More promises to be a stirring follow-up that pushes harder, digs deeper, and demands exactly what the title suggests.