Rip the Jacker
Although he's come close before, the third time's the charm for Canibus.Rip the Jacker, the final installment of the poetic MC's indie-release trilogy (and his fifth album overall), delivers exactly what his fans have been waiting for. The album does away with the defects that plagued its predecessors, namely sub-par production and half-hearted attempts at commercial viability. Instead of spreading the wealth among a half-dozen mediocre beat makers, Canibus offers Stoupe, ofJedi Mind Tricksfame, full control behind the boards, and that level of commitment makes a world of difference. Stoupe's beats draw from a wide range of influences, meshing well with Canibus's complex imagery. Bis also shuffles the deck a bit here, adding some sophisticated narrative lyrics to his usual arsenal of battle rhymes. Speaking of battle rhymes, check out "Poet Laureate II," which is seven perfect minutes of straight spitting--no hooks and no choruses, the beat changing several times to fit the flow.--Rebecca Levine