In this episode, a handful of new album reviews and a bunch more of old album reviews:

P*vlyn - Tenant Of The Old Rock
https://ineda.bandcamp.com/album/tenant-of-the-old-rock

Andrew Mbaruk & Wet-Jet Seymour - Weirdward
https://andrewmbaruk.bandcamp.com/album/weirdward

Elucid - Revelator
https://elucid.bandcamp.com/album/revelator

Tokyo Cigar - Meagan 6: All The Scars Were Gorgeous
https://tokyocigarmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-megaman-theory-6-all-the-scars-were-gorgeous

DJ Shadow - The Outsider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDmQRvJIikg&list=OLAK5uy_ndwPXxxQtj-D6sw8CYj58ZHOPi27g50-k

Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Under
https://gravediggaz.bandcamp.com/album/6-feet-under

Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9x2x0xM0-o&list=OLAK5uy_k9YHPtN2oUPHPwzkZAMGucrhw8ULUetVM

Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9keMETFIbk

Brian Wilson's Smile (Slowed, Reverbed & Echoed)
https://youtu.be/Q4tXYxDNvw4

Filkoe - Lost Zoo Keys and the Animal Spirits that Haunt Them
https://endemikmusic.bandcamp.com/album/lost-zoo-keys-and-the-animal-spirits-that-haunt-them

Ice-T - O.G. Original Gangster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww7rF_afCi4&list=PLvsYXqtYjMYeW0LsTeAGMw0c-WPWTwjcW

Circus Vs. Andre Afram Asmar - Gawd Bless The Faceless Cowards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg_PB-CHhyQ&list=OLAK5uy_lEVw4bI5anPHa23gKnWAS6zFBqFQve8N8

Fu-Schnickens - Nervous Breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUkreGeE_fY&list=OLAK5uy_mW2ElfBodAukjI2le4HpltKEHGZ66QeGI

Beans - Now Soon Someday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7oBLU0vw-I&list=OLAK5uy_mx74M3ratTHtwtMDdH_BEpe1wLxRbCihg

David Banner - MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water (Screwed & Chopped)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndgl-JbuKE4&list=PLWlZUx9-m9LgfWMDhDax5HDGa3NOhe9oy

Yo-Yo - Make Way For The Motherlode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E8oHziBUPs&list=PL5zx5HhTG2-GRC8-uVIbr-P6a50JiLMaX

Ying-Yang Twins - USA United State Of Atlanta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_CwKxLGEaA&list=OLAK5uy_m9su4kuwV6pAhwQiT4lPjitktlUKbetvk

James Pants - James Pants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO_-jgtQ_GY&list=OLAK5uy_m-6eom2q-SGI4_F8iIKHA5meIHAvfFeUU

Fog - Ether Teeth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgAksObe8EQ&list=OLAK5uy_m8GhCMeNbTOHNSZQvZd39Pl0sxqejk1MA

Jeremiah Jae - Raw Money Raps
https://jeremiahjae.bandcamp.com/album/raw-money-raps

Tim Love Lee - Confessions Of A Selector
https://timlovelee.bandcamp.com/album/confessions-of-a-selector

Bonus episode - More reviews (Darc Mind & Ropeladder 12) and a 22-minute mix, at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.

http://extraordinaryrap.org

Epic has incited many a hardcore head to clench their cheeks and shout, "This shit ain't hip hop!" But a look into Epic's work reveals him as a deep admirer of the culture and a learned student of the craft. Instead of adopting inner city affectations, as so many other white rappers have, Epic chose to be himself and lean into his Canadian prairie roots.

While not shying away from humor, and rapping about such un-hip-hop subjects as snow sledding, Epic is also no stranger to rap battles, shit-talking with the best of them, and at other times his rhymes gets so raw and real you might be brought to tears.

After a near-decade hiatus Epic is readying several new albums, and his work sounds as fresh as ever. Nassau Manor, a collaboration with producer robcrooks, comes out later this month on Hand'Solo Records.

In our conversation (which Epic described as "heavy"), we discuss his outlook on the haters, his approach to the craft, aging as it relates to rap, and much more.

Also in this episode, a look at the excellent debut album by Wave Generators (AKA Nosaj of New Kingdom and Height Keech).

Our bonus episode reviews a slew of past releases that may deserve another glance, including works by Rob Base, X-Ecutioners, Jamalski, Ween, Devin The Dude, Tricky, Beck, Method Man, Mike Ladd, Slick Rick, King Geedorah, Biz Markie & more. Exclusively at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.

For Kool Keith shirts, Rammellzee and StapleMouth records, pedestrian tapes and zines, and much more, visit http://extraordinaryrap.org.

pedestrian doesn't work well with the algorithm. Web searches for his indistinct moniker are useless; his small number of music releases is poorly-distributed; and while he's received a fair amount of critical praise, most was never, or is no longer, online. Even before the internet was so integral to a musician's career, James Brandon Best, as he was born, didn't play ball with the music industry. With no press photos, no music videos, rare and often-bewildering public performances, obscure lyrics, only two albums in over two decades, and not being the type of guy who gets invited to industry social gatherings, pedestrian's music hasn't reached nearly the amount of listeners it deserves.

While the collective that he named, anticon, blew up in the early 00s, establishing an unprecedentedly poetic, rough-hewn brand of hip hop, and his cohorts toured the globe, releasing a torrent of critically-praised projects, seemingly reaching the extent of popularity that could be achieved with cryptic, trend-eschewing rap music at that time, Brandon, as he's known personally, opted out of most of the opportunities afforded by popularity. The now-long-disbanded group of artists remain successful in their individual music careers, each settling into their own contemporary art ecosystems, except, that is, for pedestrian, who remains on the fringes of obscurity, quietly allowing his artistic legacy to wither.

Unwilling to bend to the norms of a modern career artist, Brandon is arguably self-defeating in the extent to which he's made his work inaccessible. Even if one manages to track down any of his recordings, cursory listens will leave the vast majority of rap listeners confused, as much of the language is coded and chock-full of highly specific references.

UnIndian Songs Volume I has been expanded and remastered for digital and cassette release, accompanied by a lyric/photo booklet. (Pre-order it now at http://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com.)

In this episode, we sit down with pedestrian to unpack the album's many layers, references, and hidden meanings.

The album comes out digitally, on May 1, 2024, May Day, a day commemorating the historic struggles and gains of the workers and labour movement. The album itself being largely focused on the United States' atrocities against its land's native peoples, it's a fitting day of solidarity and protest against imperialist forces.

In this spirit, all profits of the album will be donated directly to providing drinking water and search-and-rescue efforts to those desperate enough to attempt unlawful crossing of the southern US border, courtesy of the South Texas Human Rights Center.

Our Patreon bonus includes another 40 minutes with pedestrian, plus a rundown of your host's recent rap listenings. Past bonus material includes even more talks with pedestrian, his unreleased Stuffed Animals album, interviews with other anticon members, and much more. Access it all for 3 lousy bucks at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.

All things Extraordinary Rap at http://extraordinaryrap.org.