Cex: Tall, Dark And Handcuffed : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Sick of the cloistered pretension that has come to characterize IDM, Baltimore, Maryland's Cex launches a full-scale kiss-off to sterile laptop glitchery with the greatest geek-hop album ever made. Self deprecating cock jokes and shouts to middle class culture icons abound, proving that whiteboy rap doesn't need to employ false cool in order to work. In fact, if there was a Most Earnest MC award, Cex would take home this year's prize for his songs about weird wardrobes and the first day of school. Shudder to Think's Craig Wedren shows up to play a sneering hipster version of Nate Dogg to Cex's bratty Snoop over beats that are intricate without being showy, recalling Aphex Twin in 4/4 and 36 Chambers-era RZA. Ultimately, what could have been a novelty record showcasing the ramblings of a gold toothed, art gangsta succeeds because it's honest, smart, and funny as all hell.

(E. STEUER)
(October 1, 2002)