Cannibal Ox: The Cold Vein - Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl 4LP

Harlem, 2001… Cannibal Ox came out hard as shit with an album that was the total antithesis to the jiggy Harlem World sound that defined Uptown at the time (pre-Dip Set). Over El-P’s dystopic lo-fi psychedelic boom-bap beats, Vordul Mega and Vast Aire suddenly lent real street cred to the otherwise nerdy whiteboy Def Jux sound, weaving tough street tales with enough PKD-inspired paranoid psychosis to keep up with El and his bullshit. Only real equivalent would be Jay Electronica circa 2008, or maybe Run The Jewels (which is basically just a watered down version of this). Peep “Pigeon,” “Scream Phoenix,” “Atoms,” “Iron Galaxy,” “Vein,” “Stress Rap” and “Real Earth.” This expanded 4LP reissue includes El-P’s instrumentals on the third and fourth LP which stand up tall on their own. There’s been a couple represses in recent years but all have been super hard to get ahold of; this one probably won’t last too long either. Recommended.

• deluxe edition of seminal 2001 Def Jux album produced by El-P, includes original album plus full album instrumentals
• translucent blue colored 4xLP vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• limited edition of 500
• music label: iHipHop Distribution 2018

reviewed by winston wolf 03/2019