Lyrical flesh eaters

What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about The Wu-Tang Clan? For me, it's their creativity and rap style that is best described as one of a kind. The Wu is known for being associated with a broad plethora of affiliated artists. Giving them a steady platform for a head start in the recording industry. These affiliates, also known as Wu-Fam, have been given a chance to broadcast their talent with the support of the infamous W. Wu-Tang, as a collective, have given a fighting chance to those artists who may not have been given such an opportunity under different circumstances. The Wu-Tang stamp alone helps promote albums and significantly increase record sales.

As rarely seen before, Cannibal Ox maintains the originality and intellectual lyrics that set Wu-Tang apart from the rest. Comprising of Vast Aire and Vordul Megilah(aka Vordul Mega). With both MCs capable of holding their own on the mic, each artist is able to contribute their own unique style and at the same time manage to maintain a certain balance. Fresh, insightful and somewhat violent storytelling and top notch production generate, to say the least, a refreshing and imaginative album in it's entirety. Although Cold Vein being their debut LP, Cannibal Ox has been stirring up the NYC underground with fellow crew members The Atoms Family since 1995. Teaming up with Company Flow's El-Producto(El-P), who laces track after track with his sometimes unorthodox production talent. With beats often sounding almost futuristic in a sense, Cold Vein is a refreshing burst of creativity which seems to be lacking in today's hip hop scene.

With clever play-on-words, Vast Aire proves his lyrical talent without a doubt. While Vordul Mega shows us an intricate and in detail view of NY's inner city life. With one of the most innovative and respected producers at a climax of skills and creativity, Cold Vein proves to be one of the few classics in the new millennium. The slow tempo beats compliment the grimey and dark storytelling to a point where you would think these guys have been working together for years.

After the rumors of Can Ox breaking up were cleared up by Vordul Mega, he announced the group has no intentions of splitting. We will be seeing the duo, along with El-P on the production end, releasing a new album most likely some time in 2007. Guest producers are said to include The Rza and Pete Rock respectively.

Definitive Jux - Cannibal Ox
Ukhh.com - Interview
HipHopDX - Album Review
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Track-Listing:
1-Iron Galaxy
2-Ox Out Of The Cage
3-Atom (f. Alaska & Cryptic of Atoms)
4-A B-Boys Alpha
5-Raspberry Fields
6-Straight Off The D.I.C
7-Vein
8-The F-Word
9-Stress Rap
10-Battle For Asgard(f. L.I.F.E Long & C-Rayz Walz)
11-Real Earth
12-Ridiculoid(f. El-P)
13-Painkillers
14-Pigeon

The Cold Vein - Download
The Cold Vein - Buy