Canibus burns with animus
Wyatt Erchak
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Sometimes, a rap feud can taint a rapper's entire career. For Canibus (Can-I-Bus, sometimes shortened to just Bis), this is definitely the case. Ever since Bis's infamous feud with LL Cool J, ignited by his verse on the latter's "4, 3, 2, 1," the former has largely been panned by critics and listeners as a wannabe. At the same time, he has built a solid, loyal fan base of hip-hop heads who swear he is one of the best rap lyricists alive.
Canibus, born Germaine Williams in Kingston, Jamaica, began his rap career in the mid-'90s as an underground battle rapper in a group called T.H.E.M. After participating in a freestyle cipher with the Wu-Tang Clan, the budding rapper gained respect and went solo in 1996.
He released his debut album, "Can-I-Bus," in 1998 after the fame-bringing feud with LL. Although the record went gold, it was written off by critics and fans. A bitter Canibus would attribute the album's criticism to lackluster production by Wyclef Jean (sparking a feud with Jean in the process).
Canibus's subsequent albums would be met with a similarly lukewarm response, until 2003's "Rip the Jacker" was released to rave reviews, though sales continued to be underwhelming. He joined the military prior to its release, only to be discharged for smoking marijuana in 2004.
His next two albums were again met with mediocre reviews and sales. In 2007, the rapper released "For Whom the Beat Tolls" to praise and good sales, setting the stage for a new album, which he began recording in 2009.
On Feb. 2, 2010, Canibus released "Melatonin Magik" in hopes of changing hip-hop's state of affairs.
"Melatonin" begins with a short instrumental introduction before it takes off on the titular second track, where the blaring horns usher in images of military marches.
Bis explodes in super-lyrical fury: "Give me the mic/I'll call in an airstrike." The overpowering pianos of "Kriminal Kindness" allow the rapper to break down his superiority while simultaneously ripping corporate-run music apart, taking shots at MC's who let it slide.
Canibus, born Germaine Williams in Kingston, Jamaica, began his rap career in the mid-'90s as an underground battle rapper in a group called T.H.E.M. After participating in a freestyle cipher with the Wu-Tang Clan, the budding rapper gained respect and went solo in 1996.
He released his debut album, "Can-I-Bus," in 1998 after the fame-bringing feud with LL. Although the record went gold, it was written off by critics and fans. A bitter Canibus would attribute the album's criticism to lackluster production by Wyclef Jean (sparking a feud with Jean in the process).
Canibus's subsequent albums would be met with a similarly lukewarm response, until 2003's "Rip the Jacker" was released to rave reviews, though sales continued to be underwhelming. He joined the military prior to its release, only to be discharged for smoking marijuana in 2004.
His next two albums were again met with mediocre reviews and sales. In 2007, the rapper released "For Whom the Beat Tolls" to praise and good sales, setting the stage for a new album, which he began recording in 2009.
On Feb. 2, 2010, Canibus released "Melatonin Magik" in hopes of changing hip-hop's state of affairs.
"Melatonin" begins with a short instrumental introduction before it takes off on the titular second track, where the blaring horns usher in images of military marches.
Bis explodes in super-lyrical fury: "Give me the mic/I'll call in an airstrike." The overpowering pianos of "Kriminal Kindness" allow the rapper to break down his superiority while simultaneously ripping corporate-run music apart, taking shots at MC's who let it slide.
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mikewararchang
posted 3/09/10 @ 6:06 PM EST
well you and many others are now beginning to see what canibus fans have been seeing in him for years
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