Official Mr Bongo repress of this hip hop holy grail from Rammellzee and K-Rob, with some help from Jean Michel Basquiat on cover art! According to Ego Trip, this is one of the most expensive hip hop records of all time. The Basquiat cover is probably one of the main reasons why this piece flosses, but it's definitely more than just the sleeve. It has an interesting story behind it where Rammelzee battled Basquiat on the mic, but ultimately dropped him from the recording. The beats are pretty experimental for back then, and Rammelzee's nasal rhyme style was definitely the grandpapa of B-Real and the Beasties. A cool piece of hip-hop history resurrected on wax; worth it for the sleeve alone. Recommended.

• official 2020 reissue of influential 1983 rap 12" w/ artwork + production by Jean Michel Basquiat
• includes full-length vocal + instrumental versions
• music label: Mr Bongo 2020

reviewed by K.O.T.I. 11/2014