weathermen, def jux, cardboard city, central services
Influences
PKD
VANGELIS
H. ELLISON
THE GROUNDHOGS
G. ORWELL
BOOKER T
BORGES
J. CARPENTER
KAFKA
D. DELILLO
FAT BOYS
Sounds Like
PASTE MAGAZINE SAYS:
"el-p's latest transmission from the frontline is an aunt jemima-thick, front-to-back instant classic, welding the sort of noise the Bomb Squad once specialized in to the precision-crafted rhyme schemes that made his former outfit, Company Flow, so special. Already the best hip-hop release of 2007, and it ain't even close."
4/5 stars
URB MAGAZINE SAYS:
"El-P's production often lives and grows unpredictably on it's own. There's a biological weapon mutation taking place all over this record, and yet, it's the moments of humanity that'll freeze out the haters."
4/5 stars
BIG CHEESE MAGAZINE:
"All punching beats, bass tremors and synth hits..."
4.5 out of 5
SPIN MAGAZINE SAYS:
"I'll Sleep When You're Dead's blood type is B-boy-positive, but it's imbued with EL's ever-changing moods and styles. Equal parts faithful-but-twisted boom bap ("EMG") and avant-indie rock (the epic, Mars Volta-guested "Tasmanian Pain Coaster"), the album drips with elbow grease."
the following was written by people trying to make me look cool: To simply say that El-P is serious about his music would be an understatement. Upon first listen to his upcoming album, I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, it's readily apparent that this record – a magnum opus 4 years in the making - represents a culmination of profound musical, personal, and political experiences reaching their tumultuous climax. This record is about the struggle faced by those living in a rapidly changing society, El himself calling this his post-traumatic stress album where he attempts to capture the political by representing the internal. Evoking vocals and production aesthetics so viscerally indicative of the current era, El-P has outdone himself yet again, effectively mastering his brand of cutting-edge head-nodders and pushing forward a genre that has long held him as an undisputed kingpin. I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead embodies everything that is El-P – a groundbreaking artist, virtuosic producer, profound lyricist, label founder, A&R maverick and underground icon reacting to the malignant societal changes occurring today – a very serious matter indeed. This record is an urgent document, a collective representation of a critical individual crossing their personal Rubicon, assessing the dismal reality inherent, and deciding to forge on despite the cost. With appearances by Trent Reznor, The Mars Volta, Cat Power, Aesop Rock, Cage, Matt Sweeney, Tame One, and others, this is an album poised to extend a genre into a new realm of artistic expression.
Yes please , cause I really would love to add " Hold the Floor" to my profile being that it was the first Definitive not Def Jux colab. So what do I gotta do to rock that shit! " I shoulda seen her tattoo on the back of a praying mantis!"
if u say my rhymes aint great u get stabbed in the face.....with the opposite end of the mic.....timing is nice.......(devostated r.i.p camu t.a.o MhZ) lik da balls........seriousss. uk b1ess stay up '-lp. 1
THE FIRST OF THE BIRDS HAVE TAKEN FLIGHT - THREE FEATHERS HAVE FALLEN TO THE GROUND - IN WAVES ARE THE THINGS TO COME - THIS BATTLE IS LIKE THE FIGHT TO AWAKEN FROM A NIGHTMARE; OUR STRUGGLE IS TO OPEN OUR EYES - FILL OUR WOUNDS WITH HONEY - CALM THE CHILDREN, EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT - STAY STRONG AND GOD BE WITH YOU - MUCH RESPECT EL-P
Just ordered the black and gold joints Designed By Bisc 1. Definitely gonna be the only Home Depot employee rockin em. (well, at least at my store.) R.I.P Camu, I still got a 12" of Hold The Floor b/w wireless sealed and my 2 other copies are almost groove-less at this point. He'll influence my beats/music till the day I'm gone...
Just got the Sleep when your dead instrumentals and was blown away. I have the lyrical album but when listening to it without vocals I can really appreciate your backgrounds as well. Amazing work. I love both versions.
Camu Tao had one of the best voices I’ve heard. Props to Def Jux for bringing him to the ears of people with an ear open. And please know the influence made it to the far reaches of the planet. I’m in Oz and I know peeps in Sth America, Europe and South East Asia that have mourned this loss, and rightly so. Camu is indicative of a label that has dedicated itself to not only a ‘new’ sound, but a sound that is real, raw and true. I can’t tell you how much I will miss the man, in all honesty. His is one of the voices that has defined the sound of DJX, and my personal taste in hip hop. So it's not one that is easily forgotten. It’s taken a minute to process but we’re still feeling the loss, and I’m anticipating that that feeling will last for a while to come. Can’t imagine what it was to know the man. Love to all the Def Jux family xx
"For rapid eye movement improvements I sleepwalk when I do shit,down to makin music, now I got more than labels know what to do wit',stupidly putrid equal to prequals for party people,decietfully evil art from cerebrals of diesel Hebrews"- TAMEWZA "THE MOST PREFERRED N-WORD EVER HEARD TALKIN THIS,THAT n A THIRD,READY TO DROP LIKE A TURD FROM BIRDS PLAYED TO DA CURB " EP -pt.3
