Extraordinary Rap Podcast

Album Reviews

In this episode, a handful of new album reviews and a bunch more of old album reviews: P*vlyn - Tenant Of The Old Rock https://ineda.bandcamp.com/album/tenant-of-the-old-rock Andrew Mbaruk & Wet-Jet Seymour - Weirdward https://andrewmbaruk.bandcamp.com/album/weirdward Elucid - Revelator https://elucid.bandcamp.com/album/revelator Tokyo Cigar - Meagan 6: All The Scars Were Gorgeous https://tokyocigarmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-megaman-theory-6-all-the-scars-were-gorgeous DJ Shadow - The Outsider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDmQRvJIikg&list=OLAK5uy_ndwPXxxQtj-D6sw8CYj58ZHOPi27g50-k Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Under https://gravediggaz.bandcamp.com/album/6-feet-under Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9x2x0xM0-o&list=OLAK5uy_k9YHPtN2oUPHPwzkZAMGucrhw8ULUetVM Beach Boys - Pet Sounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9keMETFIbk Brian Wilson's Smile (Slowed, Reverbed & Echoed) https://youtu.be/Q4tXYxDNvw4 Filkoe - Lost Zoo Keys and the Animal Spirits that Haunt Them https://endemikmusic.bandcamp.com/album/lost-zoo-keys-and-the-animal-spirits-that-haunt-them Ice-T - O.G. Original Gangster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww7rF_afCi4&list=PLvsYXqtYjMYeW0LsTeAGMw0c-WPWTwjcW Circus Vs. Andre Afram Asmar - Gawd Bless The Faceless Cowards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg_PB-CHhyQ&list=OLAK5uy_lEVw4bI5anPHa23gKnWAS6zFBqFQve8N8 Fu-Schnickens - Nervous Breakdown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUkreGeE_fY&list=OLAK5uy_mW2ElfBodAukjI2le4HpltKEHGZ66QeGI Beans - Now Soon Someday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7oBLU0vw-I&list=OLAK5uy_mx74M3ratTHtwtMDdH_BEpe1wLxRbCihg David Banner - MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water (Screwed & Chopped) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndgl-JbuKE4&list=PLWlZUx9-m9LgfWMDhDax5HDGa3NOhe9oy Yo-Yo - Make Way For The Motherlode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E8oHziBUPs&list=PL5zx5HhTG2-GRC8-uVIbr-P6a50JiLMaX Ying-Yang Twins - USA United State Of Atlanta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_CwKxLGEaA&list=OLAK5uy_m9su4kuwV6pAhwQiT4lPjitktlUKbetvk James Pants - James Pants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO_-jgtQ_GY&list=OLAK5uy_m-6eom2q-SGI4_F8iIKHA5meIHAvfFeUU Fog - Ether Teeth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgAksObe8EQ&list=OLAK5uy_m8GhCMeNbTOHNSZQvZd39Pl0sxqejk1MA Jeremiah Jae - Raw Money Raps https://jeremiahjae.bandcamp.com/album/raw-money-raps Tim Love Lee - Confessions Of A Selector https://timlovelee.bandcamp.com/album/confessions-of-a-selector Bonus episode - More reviews (Darc Mind & Ropeladder 12) and a 22-minute mix, at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap. http://extraordinaryrap.org 

Epic

Epic has incited many a hardcore head to clench their cheeks and shout, "This shit ain't hip hop!"  But a look into Epic's work reveals him as a deep admirer of the culture and a learned student of the craft.  Instead of adopting inner city affectations, as so many other white rappers have, Epic chose to be himself and lean into his Canadian prairie roots. While not shying away from humor, and rapping about such un-hip-hop subjects as snow sledding, Epic is also no stranger to rap battles, shit-talking with the best of them, and at other times his rhymes gets so raw and real you might be brought to tears. After a near-decade hiatus Epic is readying several new albums, and his work sounds as fresh as ever.  Nassau Manor, a collaboration with producer robcrooks, comes out later this month on Hand'Solo Records. In our conversation (which Epic described as "heavy"), we discuss his outlook on the haters, his approach to the craft, aging as it relates to rap, and much more. Also in this episode, a look at the excellent debut album by Wave Generators (AKA Nosaj of New Kingdom and Height Keech). Our bonus episode reviews a slew of past releases that may deserve another glance, including works by Rob Base, X-Ecutioners, Jamalski, Ween, Devin The Dude, Tricky, Beck, Method Man, Mike Ladd, Slick Rick, King Geedorah, Biz Markie & more.  Exclusively at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap. For Kool Keith shirts, Rammellzee and StapleMouth records, pedestrian tapes and zines, and much more, visit http://extraordinaryrap.org.  

pedestrian

pedestrian doesn't work well with the algorithm.  Web searches for his indistinct moniker are useless; his small number of music releases is poorly-distributed; and while he's received a fair amount of critical praise, most was never, or is no longer, online.  Even before the internet was so integral to a musician's career, James Brandon Best, as he was born, didn't play ball with the music industry.  With no press photos, no music videos, rare and often-bewildering public performances, obscure lyrics, only two albums in over two decades, and not being the type of guy who gets invited to industry social gatherings, pedestrian's music hasn't reached nearly the amount of listeners it deserves. While the collective that he named, anticon, blew up in the early 00s, establishing an unprecedentedly poetic, rough-hewn brand of hip hop, and his cohorts toured the globe, releasing a torrent of critically-praised projects, seemingly reaching the extent of popularity that could be achieved with cryptic, trend-eschewing rap music at that time, Brandon, as he's known personally, opted out of most of the opportunities afforded by popularity.  The now-long-disbanded group of artists remain successful in their individual music careers, each settling into their own contemporary art ecosystems, except, that is, for pedestrian, who remains on the fringes of obscurity, quietly allowing his artistic legacy to wither. Unwilling to bend to the norms of a modern career artist, Brandon is arguably self-defeating in the extent to which he's made his work inaccessible.  Even if one manages to track down any of his recordings, cursory listens will leave the vast majority of rap listeners confused, as much of the language is coded and chock-full of highly specific references. UnIndian Songs Volume I has been expanded and remastered for digital and cassette release, accompanied by a lyric/photo booklet.  (Pre-order it now at http://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com.) In this episode, we sit down with pedestrian to unpack the album's many layers, references, and hidden meanings. The album comes out digitally, on May 1, 2024, May Day, a day commemorating the historic struggles and gains of the workers and labour movement.  The album itself being largely focused on the United States' atrocities against its land's native peoples, it's a fitting day of solidarity and protest against imperialist forces. In this spirit, all profits of the album will be donated directly to providing drinking water and search-and-rescue efforts to those desperate enough to attempt unlawful crossing of the southern US border, courtesy of the South Texas Human Rights Center. Our Patreon bonus includes another 40 minutes with pedestrian, plus a rundown of your host's recent rap listenings.  Past bonus material includes even more talks with pedestrian, his unreleased Stuffed Animals album, interviews with other anticon members, and much more.  Access it all for 3 lousy bucks at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap. All things Extraordinary Rap at http://extraordinaryrap.org.

Mic Crenshaw

Insurgent rapper/author/organizer Mic Crenshaw joins us for an in-depth look into his anti-racist actions, community upliftment, music and much more.  Plus reviews of Wet-Jet Seymour and Mars Kumari. In our bonus episode we cover new and old releases by Danny Brown, Buck 65, Doseone, Jel, Sole & The Skyrider Band, Congplexonome, Gensu Dean & Denmark Vessey, William Crooks, and Jon Spencer, plus a look into the entire Jungle Brothers discography.  http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap Mic Crenshaw links: Official site: https://www.miccrenshaw.com/home It Did Happen Here podcast: https://itdidhappenherepodcast.com It Did Happen Here book: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1467 The Baldies documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BSDZ1DIEIQ Rebelwise: https://www.rebelwise.link Crenshaw & Shabazz: https://crenshawandshabazz.com Wet-Jet Seymour: The Head https://crossingdoubleyellows.bandcamp.com/album/the-head Mars Kumari: I Thought I Lost You https://marskumari.bandcamp.com/album/i-thought-i-lost-you-2 Extraordinary Rap record label, merch, links, etc: http://extraordinaryrap.org

Retropxssy, JoeJas

In this episode, on location in exotic London of the UK, we speak with vibrant young rap wippersnappers Retropxssy and JoeJas.  Plus reviews of Hester Valentine & Outside House, Andrew Mbaruk, and Cashmaster Buck. Retropxssy does a unique range of cute/scary/heartfelt music owing influences to grime, punk, pop, and beyond.  https://retropxssy.bandcamp.com London-based, Atlanta-raised, MC/beatsmith JoeJas makes defiantly sunny, uplifting rap music, and is an event coordinator, video producer and fashion designer under his Fat Llama umbrella.  https://joejas.bandcamp.com The articles I mentioned on South African and London rap - http://extraordinaryrap.patreon.com Hester Valentine & Outside House: I Can't Cut Your Hair https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-cut-your-hair Andrew Mbaruk: Black Squirrel: A Memoir https://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com/album/black-squirrel-a-memoir Cashmaster Buck: Cashmaster https://buckyoto.bandcamp.com/album/cashmaster Rate/review if you please at http://weirdrap.com/rating All the ER stuff at http://extraordinaryrap.org