Customer Reviews

Bl-Ck B-St-Rds

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm pretty sure most of you know the story behind the album. If not, let me fill you in. KMD consisting of Zev Love X (now known as MF Doom) and his brother Subroc. Somewhere in 1993, Subroc was hit by a car and died on impact, leaving Zev Love X to finish the album by himself. When the album was done in 1994, Electra Records shelved the album because of its lyrics and the cover art showing a sambo character being hung. Electra would soon cut KMD from their roster, leaving Zev in obscurity. But the album officially sees the light of day in 2000, when MF Doom released it independently.

One thing I have to commend is the great movie samples that are on this CD. Starting with the intro "Garbage Day #3" which is made up of them. "Sweet Prenium Wine" is a song about knocking back a few drinks while the samples play as the hook. Most of the songs here on this CD are about smoking, as heard on the song "Smoking That S**t" which features vocals from Earthquake, Lord Sear, and Kurious. "Contact Blitt" (could be titled "Contact Blitz" or "Contact Blunt") is a song about Zev ride a bus to Los Angles with an arrogant bus driver, while smoking. "F Wit Ya Head" featuring vocals from H20 and CMOB and the song "Suspended Animation" are more songs dedicated to weed, all more to offend the higher-ups of Electra Records. One great track is "What A Niggy Know" (could be titled "What A Nigga Know") is Zev and Subroc comming correct with a serious attitude that will make your head nod. The 12 inch single was the only item released by Electra Records, but since the album was shelved, the single was pulled also. MF Grimm would drop in to help Zev do the remix. Subroc would get in a few solos also. He shows he had the lyrics on the song "Gimmie" (could be titled "Give It Here") as he says "Give me a choo choo train for my badass tracks..." He would also do his thing on the song "It Sounded Like A Roc."

One thing I have to knock is what many people have been saying in other reviews, the sound quality. Some songs sound like they have been worn out over the years so it sounds like a bootleg of a bootleg, making the vocals sound like they're held back by a sound barrier. A great example is the Zev Love X anger expressed song "Get-U-Now" and "Smoking That Sh**". Also I'm sure some of this album was recorded off a record. How did I come to this conclusion? The song "Plumskinzz" is exactly what I'm saying. The song has a nice piano sound and is going good as Zev spits his verse. As soon as it gets halfway through the hook, it sounds like the vocals were taken away and the beat freezes up. Then all of a sudden you hear MF Dooms [recent] voice come in and say "Loose Hoe God&Cupid" or as many listeners have interpeted "You're so GODDAMN stupid!" I don't EVER want to hear that again! Obviously he used a 12" single and someone hit the needle causing it to skip loudly to the instramental. The song would resume later on in the CD when a woman would come in and say "Oh Now I Don't Believe It!" as Subroc would continue his verse. Whats ironic about this whole song is that this song was recorded in 1991, and a former KMD member named Onyx the Birthstone Kid (many people who are familiar with late MF Doom albums know him as Rodan) had a verse on that song between Zev's and Subroc's (and believe it or not, Onyx had the best verse out of the three). So there is no actual musical vibe because those interludes causes a big chunk of the song to be missing. (How about recording the song correctly Mr. Dumille?) If you want to hear the uncut clear version of it, just find a "Nitty Gritty" 12 inch single because its the flipside of that, or you can locate a 1994 bootleg of the album.

Overall I'm happy that this album was finally released, since it was one of the biggest albums in 1994 that was shelved. But the way that this album was put together soundwise, that title could have been easily taken away. I recommed this album to those who want to hear more examples of Doom's early 90's production, the way MF Doom sounded in 1993/1994, or just curious of the lost album. Otherwise, you're better off buying "The Best Of KMD Album" which is a combination of this and the Mr. Hood album, or wait until Mr. Dumille decides to remaster the album and reissue it.

Rest In Peace Subroc

Lyrics: A-
Produciton: A
Musical Vibes: C+
Overall: B+

Standout tracks: What A Niggy Know, Sweet Prenium Wine, Contact Blitt, What A Niggy Know (remix), Smoking That Sh** (Plumskinzz would have been a standout if it were a full song)

If it makes anyone feel better, the excessive dropping of artists and lack of record sales would have cause Electra to go out of business and be bought out by Atlantic Records.

I was very happy to get an official copy of this album after listening to so many bad bootlegs of it for years. This album is a true gem and it is filled with so much funk and soul it's amazing. KMD definitely got a style of their own. The record manages to be challenging, inventive and deep without ever sounding too arty, weird or inaccessible. What you hear on most of the tracks is fresh jazz sampled production with bouncing beats that are guaranteed to snap your head. The lyrics are complex and conscious but manage to be funny enough to entertain. Of course, the fact that KMD have a distinctive and original vibe might not appeal to every Hip Hop fan. But it is hard however to deny the overall quality and inspiration of the album and it is definitely something worth checking for.

i'm not the only one who thinks so - look at ego trip's "rap book of lists".

kmd was poised to take over the reins. their original label, elektra, thought the cover artwork was too controversial and refused to put this out.. BIG MISKTAKE.... aside from denying us amazing works of smart material over jazzy loops, this was a gold selling record if it had come out.

grab a piece of history - - this is mf doom's old group when he was known as zev luv x. there have been some bootlegs of this - be sure to cop this sub verse release, its digitally remastered and has mf grimm remixes.

If you know MF Doom, you probably know the history of this album. KMD was the original group consisting of Subrock, Zev luv-X (Doom) & Onyx. Onyx left and then while working on this LP Doom's brother Subrock was killed in a car accident. As the LP was finished Elektra shelved the album and dropped Doom due to the controversial cover art, (a sambo hanging from a gallows.)

Years later some of the rough cuts of the LP emerged on the Fondel Em' label as the "Black Bastard's: Roughs & Rares EP" giving a small hint to what greatness the album could have been. A few years later under Doom's own Metal Face Records "Black Bastards" finally saw the light of day.

The album is bittersweet; because you can't help but wonder what would have happened if it would have been released in 94. But given Doom's current fever pitch, it's no matter.

The only problem with the LP is the sound quality. It apears as if Doom had the masters on tape and wore them out, due to the distortions in several tracks.

DON'T LET THAT DISTRACT YOU. This album is amazing and worth every penny, but it is rare and tharefore hard to find. If you can't afford it, then I'd suggest "The best of KMD," it's the best 1/2's of both "Mr. Hood" & "Black Bastards."

People talk about what KMD might have been, and I guess that will never end. Elektra dropped the ball by shelving this; the cover art is provocative, but the content isn't exactly riot-inducing. I think this album is only such a big deal because of all the drama surrounding it. Subroc died soon after, Grimm almost died and is now in prioson, and Doom came back several years later with an assortment of new identities and blistering styles, and besides that, the label took forever to let this out of the vault. And then when they finally did let it out, it has bad sound quality and one entire song (plumskinzz) split in half by a loud record skip and somebody saying "you're so g-dd-mned stupid."

But on to the content of the album. The beats are generally very good, with a little jazz flavor, and have a cluttered sound that lends to the album's energy although it also obscures some of the vocal work. Someone else wrote that some of these beats may have been looted by others, since they probably thought it would never see the light of day, and that sounds right to me.

The rapping is good, although not quite as worthy of imitation. Zev love X, the spunky kid version of Doom, raps loudly and entirely according to the conventions of this period, but his style is really immature and shallow compared to where he is now. This stuff sounds a little like some of the other native tongues stuff; it would have fit right in, although I don't think their glorification of alcohol and marijuana helped the clarity of the native tonges style message, which is much easier to understand with De La Soul and Quest's music. However, this is a very strong sophomore album (i haven't heard Mr. Hood yet though) and it definitely deserves to be heard. Maybe it should have been remastered or something instead of seeing a sloppy and tardy release like this.

Eight years old but recently released, plus it outshines eveything recently released. Buy this!

Simply put, this is an underrated classic. With flows reminiscent of Eazy-E and Q-Tip, KMD proved to possess the rawness of brutal protest rappers such as NWA. The thing that makes the record so appealing is the hunger displayed by Zev Love X and company. The death of group member Sub-Roc shortly after the recording of "Bl_ck B_st_rds" would put an end to KMD (there may be a comeback in 2006...cross your fingers!). Another reason this record is underrated is due to the corporate pigs at Elektra Records. The album was shelved for the first 7 years of it's existence due to controversial cover art. Themes of drug use, alcoholism, black stereotypes, and women populate the album's content. Although the recording and production is somewhat raw, the rhymes showcased here are very well done, and are definitely worth checking out. Highlights include "Get-U-Now", "Wh_t a Nigg_ Know?" "Gimme" and "Bl_ck B_st_rds". Overall, KMD delivers exactly what MF Doom fans like myself want to hear - a young and hungry Daniel Dumile.

MF DOOM is one of my top five emcees, dead or alive, and I own all of his official material; in this long list of LP's, and a variety of aliases, MF DOOM's origins are by far radically different from his current output of music. KMD, which was originally a group with himself(as Zev Love X), his brother Subrock, and Onyx(a solo emcee, not the legendary crew), was a group straight out of hip-hop's golden-age, who released the understated classic, Mr. Hood, in the early nineties. On Mr. Hood, KMD's rhymes were part of an early conscious era of hip-hop, having a style akin to De La Soul. They were playful, but also profound, and tracks like "Peachfuzz" and "Humrush" were funky anthems out of the big apple.

A lot of things happened in the time between their debut and the creation of their sophomore album(which was slated to be released in 1994, but didn't see the light of day for seven years); Onyx left the group, Subroc was killed in an instance of manslaughter, Zev was left to finish the album, and ultimately, Elektra shelved Bl_ck B_st_rds for its controversial cover art.

It was obvious that this was a changing point in Zev's life - one that'd soon drive him into isolation, and depression for more than four years before finally re-emerging under his now famous moniker of MF DOOM. The actual music on this album took on a darker tone, with less playful concepts, and more hardcore ideas. Now, don't get it twisted; KMD aren't spitting any thuggery, or gunplay - no where in DOOM's career has he submitted himself to that - it's just that they're bringing the ruckus in their own way.

Onyx isn't really missed on this release, as both Zev and Subroc were more than ill enough to carry an album by themselves. They also handled the majority of the production, which is quite dope for the time of its release. So, with ill lyrics, and dope beats from perhaps one of the greatest emcees of all time, and a lost soldier who doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves, what keeps KMD's Bl_ck B_st_rds from reaching classic status? The audio quality. Most bootlegs have better sound quality than this, and it's a shame. If this album would've been mastered better for its offical release, I firmly believe it would be more revered today, but as it stands, this is still an undeniably dope release, that hip-hop heads, and especially fans of DOOM, should check out.

Not much to say that hasn't been said already. This is an example of mine that I use to describe mc's that put on a great head noddin' baseline on every track and then just beat the living crap out of it with great lyrics and perfectly smooth flow. The music never gets in the way, every song lets the mc shine, it complements it so well. If you were a fan of the way hip hop was in the early-mid 90's than this is something you should own. No buts about it.

Eight years old but recently released, plus it outshines eveything recently released. Buy this!