[MP3] Canibus – The Odds Feat. Nappi Music

Peep a track from the legendary underground lyrical monster, Canibus‘ forthcoming (on June 22) EP, Full Spectrum Dominance. We were blessed to be able to hear an advance preview copy of the full EP courtesy of album Executive Producer, Domingo who’s releasing it via his Thatshiphopmusic.com digital release platform. Here’s our take on it:

While we enjoyed Full Spectrum Dominance overall, if we were gonna make one quibble about the record, it would be that Canibus’s style, which can feel a tad overly earnest in large doses, started to sound the same by the end. The EP is a lot of rappity rap, “centrifugal, scientifical” multi-syllabic type rhymes, basically what he’s always been known for, but when it doesn’t change up much from track to track, it began to feel a little repetitive after a while.

Production-wise though, the beats were solid, nice chunky boom bap drums with some cinematic, expansive music over top. For those who’ve always wanted to hear Canibus make a record where he came with some consistent spit-fire rhymes over some real quality beats, this should pretty much make them happy.

Fave/best tracks (in no particular order): The Odds, Black Lithium, Anagram Phoenix, Ghetto People.

Pre-order the Canibus – Full Spectrum Dominance EP at Thatshiphopmusic.com HERE.

[News] ‘Northern Touch’ at 20: An Oral History presented by CBC q

It’s been 20 years since the 1998 release of the seminal Canadian hip-hop posse cut, “Northern Touch” by Vancouver’s Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Thrust and Checkmate. Salute to the homie, Ty Harper for doing this retrospective oral history to celebrate the anniversary:

“2018 marks the 20th anniversary of `Northern Touch’.

These are the stories that truly matter to me.”

CLICK HERE for the original CBC q article with additional supporting videos.

My add-on note: I’ma keep it 100, this might be considered heresy for many heads but I always rated this record’s use of “Everything Good to You (Ain’t Always Good for You)” by B.T. Express a little more than the more widely known use in “Get At Me Dog” by DMX! (Shout to EPMD, “Get the Bozack” too!)

[Podcast] The Combat Jack Show – The Reunion Episode

The final tribute/reunion episode of The Combat Jack Show. Much thanks to Dallas Penn, Ben Ha Meen, Premium Pete and the crew for the shout-out for Different Kitchen and of course, much love and R.I.P. forever to Reggie Ossé (aka Combat Jack). Head to 32:18 if you don’t want to wade through the full 2:35:00 of the madness.

Related reading:

Combat Jack Show to Post Final Episode Following Death of Reggie Ossé: Exclusive.

[MP3 + Music Video] SHIRT – FLIGHT HOME

This is a special one for us…

As has been covered everywhere (like Billboard, Pitchfork, Stereogum, NME, Exclaim! and SPIN) NYC rapper, SHIRT is the first rapper signed to Third Man Records, the record label run by the (now once and for all, formerly??) notoriously hip-hop averse White Stripes guitarist, Jack White. So why do we care in particular about this news?

SHIRT, one of the first, if not the first, artists we ever did a premiere launch with on the blog in conjunction with the homies, Stone of The Couch Sessions and DJ Ben Ha Meen of the late, great Pleasedontstare blog and later, DJ for The Combat Jack Show, co-host of the Fanbros podcast and now a successful writer for Film, TV and books.

Shirt’s Tan-Face Children EP was super dope and I could see even back then that he had that same drive & hunger I see in every artist or creative who ever ends up making it. Respect to him and Darvin Silva for making this major power move and validating what Stone, Ben Ha Meen and I were trying to do with the Connoisseurs of Culture concept back in 2010! Check out the highlights of the launch campaign for the Tan Face Children EP HERE.

Wanna hear the Tan Face Children EP in FULL? CLICK HERE

[Music Video] Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)

Said it the other day, it’s Cardi‘s world, we just live in it. Have you heard this “Finesse” remix? New Jack Swing (‘Swingbeat’ for you Brits) is back!!!