Album Review: BK-One – Rádio do Canibal (2009)

Album Review: BK-One – Rádio do Canibal (2009)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Potholes

DISCLAIMER: If you do not like well-executed lyricism and inventiveness in musicality, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS RECORD AND NEVERMIND THIS REVIEW!!!!

Anyone that knows Minneapolis, MN Hip Hop (and in particular, Brother Ali) has heard the name BK-One. Spending the better part of a decade spinning for Ali has afforded him a fan base as loyal as that of the talented wordsmith. Created with co-producer Benzilla (I Self Devine, Toki Wright), Rádio do Canibal (Rhymesayers Ent) is a cultural showcase ripe with influences from Brazilian music.

This is not, however, a typical ‘DJ compilation’ or a mixtape: the fluidity of the record, from start to finish, is nothing short of astonishing and manages to accomplish the same feat as Wyclef’s The Carnival: bridging Hip Hop with cultural flourishes and textures while not losing the integrity of either. Don’t forget though, this is a DJ’s album so it leans more on that ol’ boom-bap than Clef’s lauded album.

Once you hear the spoken word piece backed by guitar work on the intro, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting is…something else entirely. With a virtual who’s who of true-school Hip Hop (Brother Ali, Slug, Raekwon, Black Thought, Phonte, Aceyalone, Scarface(!), Myka 9 to name a few), BK has all but guaranteed that a good time will be had by all. Unbridled lyricism is in no short supply on this record, as each respective emcee brings their A-game while bringing out the best in each other when accompanied. I usually make it a point to select choice verses or lines from songs, but this time, I couldn’t do it. I won’t even comment on individual tracks, this record is THAT well put together.

The music is so well arranged, the songs segue into each other and no two tracks sound alike. In the vein of albums like Supreme Clientele and Madvillainy, the majority of the songs here play with traditional verse structure; this keeps the music interesting and allows room for a more organic experience. It’s clear that BK-One treated this album as a work of art and not as something to be sold for cab money after a show; the musical statement made by having emcees from all over the country on an album rooted in South American root music is beyond words.

Usually interludes on records serve no purpose, except as a reason to fill up tracks and stroke egos; the five ‘ludes take nothing from the listening, and even more so, add to it immensely.

DJ BK-One has created one of the best albums of 2oo9, any genre. As far as Hip Hop goes, I’m placing it right along with Evil In the Mirror, Only Built For Cuban Linxx…pt II, and Born Like This as perhaps the best we’ve had this year. Do yourself a favor any buy this record NOW….BK-One did us one by making it in the first place.