Joyful Rebellion

k-os | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0002VYQ4I
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,175 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hip-hop continues to grow up, expanding beyond the 'hood and outside of its American birthplace. Like France's IAM or Britain's Dizzee Rascal, this Canadian rapper puts a unique internationalist spin on contemporary rap. K-os is a skilled rhyme-slinger who openly loathes "bling rap" ("Emcee Murdah") and who harks back to rap's golden era on cuts like "B-Boy Stance," a James Brown breakbeat-fuelled number. However, like Andre 3000 and his "Hey Ya" pop affectations, K-os's strongest material might be the tunes that are the least hip-hop-inspired. Between the foot-tappin', finger-snappin' "Crabbuckit" (with a rhythmic backdrop that mimics Ray Charles's "Hit the Road Jack"), the reggae-pop mix of "Crucial," and the wily Michael Jackson impersonation of "Man I Used to Be," the wide array of musical reference points show rap's sonic possibilities. The ultramodern blend of frenzied turntable scratches and classical strings on "The Love Song" is reason enough to cop this. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Hip Hop's not dead; its really the mind of the EMCEE", February 25, 2005

By 

Andrew Jacob (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joyful Rebellion (Audio CD)

It isn't easy being an emcee, let alone, being one from Canada. Most are quick to stamp on a label, but it is their own loss because K-Os' sophomore album "Joyful Rebellion" although under-appreciated and overlooked, was one of 2004's best sounding albums. Not that the lyrics were bad, that's not the case at all. Songs like "EMCEE Murdah", "Commandante", "Papercutz", and "One Blood" showcase maturity and the ability to step out of the mainstream box and not cater to its demands. However, what shines best is the eclectic production; ranging from the reggae-rock of "Crucial", old school vibe of "B-Boy Stance" & "Clap Ur Handz", the Latin-flavored "Commandante", and the "old-mixed-with-new" sound of "The Love Song". Also notable is K-Os' versatility; with a sort of "Wyclef Jean"-esque delivery, K-Os can both rap and sing. With that said, there is one thing that tends to bother me; now I'm all for the "rebellion against the superficial materialistic mentality", but K-Os, despite good intentions, tends to be a little overzealous with this particular message; numerous times its either stated or in subtext, regardless, it can get tedious. But in the end, a socially conscious emcee is better than an ignorant one.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Impressive, November 24, 2004

By 

Benjamin Norman "Trance Pants" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joyful Rebellion (Audio CD)

I didn't know what I was getting into when I chose to play this in my store one day. I'm glad I chose to though, because this album is extremely diverse, extremely fun, and K-Os just brims with talent.

I can't name songs specifically, but I can say that K-Os does an amazing job blending different styles of music. This album is truly hard to classify (although we find space for it in our Rap section) and that's something I like. I like genre-busting music. There's aspects of rock, hip hop, rap, a little dance, and some singing. This album is a great way to spend an afternoon, and you won't find yourself bored or disappointed.

It lost a star (and again, I wish we could do half stars) because of my inability to pull any specific songs or sounds to mind. I know I like it, but it's perhaps a tad forgettable.

Do yourself a favor and pick this up.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best hip-hop albums in a very long time, December 30, 2004

By 

silks "hip-hop veteran" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joyful Rebellion (Audio CD)

I lived near Toronto until 2000, and as a result I was exposed to K-Os very early in his career. I always respected him and thought he was really talented, but I thought his first album "Exit" was too eclectic to really catch on with the mainstream. "Superstarr Pt. Zero" was a cool track, but definitely not major crossover material. And besides, he's a Canadian urban artist, which immediately puts him WAY behind the 8-ball (the U.S. market doesn't even want to hear you if you aren't Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, or Nickelback). I expected him to fade into obscurity, or at best have a healthy fanbase in Canada, along with a small American following (a la Swollen Members). Boy was I wrong. If "Joyful Rebellion" is any indication, K-Os is going to blow up all over the place.

The lead single in Canada, "B-Boy Stance", is what drew me in. It's an undeniably dope, breakbeat-driven, 80's-style hip-hop juggernaut of a track (if there's a better break to rap over than James Brown's "Funky Drummer", somebody please tell me). The video displays the same stripped-down brilliance, featuring B-Boys and B-Girls throwing down crazy moves against a plain white background (if you haven't seen it, check it out at www.k-osmusic.com). I simply love this track...a hip-hop song hasn't energized me like this in a decade.

"Crabbuckit" is the second single (it's the lead single in the U.S., I believe), and it's an infectiously jazzy track that you can't help but like. When I first heard it I was anticipating some cheesy jazz-rap hybrid, but by the end of the song I was like, "You know, that's really good". It's now one of my favorite tracks on the album.

None of these songs are conventional - there aren't any tracks "for the club", there's no mention of material things, no cliches - but they're all dope. K-Os has Wyclef-like creativity and variety but without the "Look at me, I'm Haitian, I speak French and I play the guitar" pretentiousness. He puts a refreshing spin on today's hip-hop but he does it through an old-school filter.

Something must be said about the guitar playing on Joyful Rebellion. It's amazing, and gives the album such a unique sound. The acoustic track "Hallelujah" is especially great, and the spanish-flavored "Commandante" is excellent as well. The first track, the dramatic "Emcee Murdah", will have you singing its guitar-laced hook before you even know it.

I would call this album "experimental", but that's a polite term that critcs use when an artist tries something different and it's really wack. This album is simply dope. That's all I can say. If you're a fan of De La, Common, The Roots, Mos Def, Kweli, etc., you gotta have this. Peace.