Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein

Def Jux

May 15th, 2001 saw the release of one of Hip-Hops finest records in Cannibal Ox's 'The Cold Vein', released on the Def Jux label.

When I first began to search for music as my interests in it were growing Hip-Hop was the thing that I naturally gravitated towards. The 2000’s was looked upon as a bit of a down period for the culture and genre in general. It had just had its heyday and the mainstream success cast a champagne and bling period over the scene. The radio rap that was coming out around this time was mostly awful, exploiting nightlife and things in general people cant afford, but when the mainstream is putting in work so is the underground.

Cannibal Ox partnered up with a producer by the name of El-P. A legend of the underground game and owner of a little label known as Definitive Juxtaposition or more simply Def Jux. The team of El-P and Cannibal Ox really couldn't have been paired together much better. The pairing and timing worked in a way similar to stars aligning. El-P's dystopian sense of musicality and experimental tendencies make The Cold Vein a perfect premonition of days to come. The events that changed the New York skyline forever were just around the corner and although The Cold Vein is maybe the last true New York hip-hop album pre these events, it soundtracks the weeks, months and years post these events, hauntingly. A feeling of something quite twisted was in the air.

Vast Aire puts in one of fhe finest MC performances ever put out to the public. Vordul Mega is up there too but there's something about Vast Aire that is utterly captivating. If you're looking for the proverbial breathe of fresh air give it a go x

Some albums capture a moment and place in time like no other. The Cold Vein is most certainly early 2000's New York. You could even say it's Blade Runner in the year 2019 and it would be understandable. A Definitive Juxtaposition at its finest.

"If first you don’t succeed try try again, step up to the mic and die again"

May 15th, 2001.