[Album] CANNIBAL OX - "Blade Of The Ronin"

Yes this has been out for a whole week now but I'm not gonna be the guy that didn't post the follow-up album to one of my all time favorites. 2001:s "The Cold Vein" still stands as one of the bigget and most mindblowing projects ever crated in hip-hop, on level with albums like Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew", Sly & The Family Stone "There's A Riot Goin' On", Velvet Underground & Nico's self-titled debut, The Beatles' "Revolver", you get the drill. To me it's by far El-P's best work ever and I doubt he will ever be able to top it, and Vordul and Vast was such a fresh duo that fed so well off each other's energy. While they have ocassionally made guest apperances on each respective solo albums (if you haven't checked out Vordul's solo catalouge, your doing yourself a huge disfavor) until in 2011 they finally released the first new release under the Cannibal Ox name. A three track EP entirely produced by BILL COSMIQ, who delivered a melodic yet thumping sound that was a new sound for the OX, yet also a right sound. 

Two of the songs from the "Gotham" EP also appears on "Blade Of The Ronin", and the majority of the album is prodicued by BILL COSMIQ, which I like since I'm a fan of albums where the producer and artists works extremely closely and evolve the sounds and vibes of the records together. The only song not made in this fashion is the extraordinary single and posse cut with U-GOD and The Artifacts, "Blade: The Art Of Ox", which is produced by the always interesting Black Milk. So here we are, 14 years after I and many of us fell deeply in love with "The Cold Vein" about to press play on their first official sophomore, no bootlegs, no bullshit, no solos with features, 100% pure OX - today was a good day! Visit CannibalOx.com, head over to iTunes and purchase or get your CD from UGHH (haven't heard anything about a vinyl release yet unfortunately).

CANNIBAL OX Ft. U-GOD & ARTIFACTS - "Blade: The Art Of Ox"

Cannibal Ox dropped one of the best albums this side of 2000 some 15 years ago; an album that still holds up to this day as one of my all time favorites. While Vast Aire and especially Vordul Mega (especially the latter) has dropped some really hot solo projects, fans has been eagerly awaiting that sophomore, long awaited LP that finally lands in stores on March 3 (pre-order @ iTunes). So far all the singles have sounded incredible, with Bill Cosmiq stepping in to fill El-P's big shoes from the classic debut, but for the new posse cut "Blade: The Art Of Ox" the duo grabs the always impeccable Black Milk to provide a soulful backdrop that lets Vordul Mega, Vast Aire, U-GOD and The Artifacts loose to create a real headnodder. Can't wait for this album, for real!

CANNIBAL OX Ft. DOOM - "Iron Rose"

Vordul Mega and Vast Aire is back as Cannibal Ox... with a venegance! This sounds incredible and should silent any doubts about the duo's new album not being up to par because El-P dropped out. DOOM went in too, ill combination. "Blade of the Ronin" in stores worldwide March 3.

[Tracklist] CANNIBAL OX - "Blade Of The Ronin"

Oh shit - this is some megatron bomb news right here for y'all. Cannibal Ox only album, 2001:s undisputed masterpiece "The Cold Vein", is finally about to get a follow-up after fans has been left satisfied by dope solo projects by Vast Aire and (especially) Vordul Mega, yet fiending for more Ox. Titled "Blade of the Ronin" the album is slated for a March 3 release via IGC Records / iHipHop Distribution. Producer Bill Cosmiq is filling in the role El-P played on the debut, that of main producer, while guest features comes from U-God, MF DOOM, eLzhi, Artifacts, and more with a total of 19 songs. This one should be real interesting so stay tuned...

01. "Cipher Unkown: Intro"

02. "Opposite of Desolate" (Ft. Double A.B.)

03. "Psalm 82"

04. "The Power Cosmiq" (Ft. Kenyattah Black)

05. "Blade: The Art of Ox" (Ft. U-God & Artifacts)

06. "Pressure of Survival: Skit"

07. "Carnivorous" (Ft. eLzhi & Bill Cosmiq)

08. "Thunder in July" (Ft. Space, Swave Sevah & Elohem Star)

09. "Water"

10. "The Horizon: Interlude"

11. "Harlem Knights"

12. "Sabertooth" (Ft. Irealz & Bill Cosmiq)

13. "Iron Rose" (Ft. MF DOOM)

14. "Solar System (Cosmos): Skit"

15. "The Fire Rises"

16. "Gotham (Ox City)"

17. "Union: Skit"

18. "Vision" (Ft. The Quantum)

19. "Salvation"

[EP] THE QUANTUUM - "Paragon EP"

The Quantuum is a new duo signed to Cannibal Ox's independent label Iron Galacy Glick label who consists of producer Bill Cosmiq and writer Salvador. They definitely have a refreshing sound and it's clear that the talented duo of Vast Aire and Vordul Mega feel the same way as their entire latest EP "Gotham" was laced by Bill Cosmiq to great effect. According to themeselves their mission is to bridge the Golden Era hip-hop they grew up with more spaced out experimental sound and juding by what I've heard so far they are making a fine job at just that. While waiting to produce heavily on Can' Ox, Vast Aire and Crimson Godz upcomming album, they just released their "Paragon EP" which is built on eight songs, featuring a very interesting experimental but heavily sample-driven boom bap esque production underlining Salvador's metaphorical rhymes. If you like this, good news that this is just a lil' teaser for a forthcoming album that should drop sooner or later. Also check for Vast Aire who appears on the sicckness entitled "Sirius Star". You can show your support by purchasing the digital project directly from iTunes.

[CDM] CANNIBAL OX - "Gotham"

12 years ago the duo of Vordul Mega and Vast Aire unleasehed their uncompromising, ground-breaking, El-P produced "The Cold Vein" on the world. Since then Vast and Mega been quiet as a duo, having fans fiending for a follow up to that cold, but spaced out look on the NYC ghetto life, although both of them has released some great solo albums in their own right; often featuring at least one cut of reunion. 2013, however, is the year that the duo will finally return as a group with a new album. There's no release date set yet, but already now you can check out three full songs, recorded for a maxi-single produced by Bill Cosmiq that will be released on April 16; "Gotham", "Gases in Hell (Inhale)" and "Psalm 82".

3 Shots to the Dome

There's been several ill videos from some of todays most interesting underground rhymers just released, so instead of making a separate post for each of these songs I'll just drop them off here for y'all to enjoy. 

Elzhi's "It Ain't Hard to Tell" can be found on the way too dope to sleep on "eLmatic". Video directed by Michael Castelaz.

Killah Priest hits us with the visuals to "Tonight We Ride", credited to appear on the forthcoming double album "Psychic World Of Walter Reed". The Priest video is directed by Daniel "Zodiac" Laughlin and Rusty Rayburn. The YouTube video is actually a double feature, just keep it going and you'll get a new joint from Shabazz The Disciple and Murdoc from the "Cage Vs. Cons" soundtrack.

One half of Cannibal Ox releases the first video from his recently released full-length LP, "OX 2010: A Street Odyssey". The song in question is the seriously sick "Men Of Steel". This one was directed by R.M.L.

So which one do you prefer?

Cannibal Ox w. Raekwon - "Thor's Hammer"

Vast Aire's latest album was released the other day and carries the beautiful title of "Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey" (although shouldn't it be 2011 by now?). Production is handled by the likes of Kount Fif, Ayatollah, Thanos and more with cameos from Vordul Mega, Guilty Simpson, Raekwon, Genesis and Cappadonna.

Considering the lack of updates on this blog recently I want to send out the reunion track between Aire and Mega (Cannibal Ox that is) which also features a ill verse from the Chef. That's definitely one collaboration I didn't see coming, but it's also definitely very welcome. "Thor's Hammer" is produced by a beatmaker who calls himself P.O.V.

The album is now available on both CD and vinyl and can be ordered through UGHH.

CANNIBAL OX w. RAEKWON - "THOR'S HAMMER"