Cannibal Ox

Manhattan hip-hop duo Cannibal Ox made a startling debut in 2001 with their album, The Cold Vein. On it, the uptown crew accomplished the mighty task of creating a whole new way to view inner-city life. Produced entirely by Definitive Jux chief El-P, MCs Vast Aire and Vordul crafted a startling world that resembled an impoverished Harlem as imagined by sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick. Over jagged beats laden with thick keyboards, Vast and Vordul kick clear-eyed rhymes of hope ("Atom"), despair ("Iron Galaxy"), and fond nostalgia ("A B-Boy's Alpha"). The Cold Vein is a testament to the independent creative spirit that fueled the best of underground hip-hop.

Sadly, Can Ox has yet to make a followup. In 2004, Vast Aire released a rather underwhelming solo debut. Despite the presence of top-notch producers such as Madlib and RJD2, the MC seems to have abandoned the mixture of sensitivity and toughness that made him so special. (CHRIS RYAN)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide