Known for bringing favored acts like The Juggaknots and Smiley Da Ghetto Child out of obscurity and back into the public eye, Amalgam Digital strikes once again, this time signing Kurious Jorge to the label.
On Sept 18, Amalgam will be re-releasing A Constipated Monkey as a prelude to Jorge's sophomore album, which features MF Doom on production and is due in early 2008. In anticipation of the re-release and his upcoming sophomore LP, Kurious asserts, “I’m real glad to be doing these projects with Amalgam Digital. This shit's gonna be another fun record. That’s my word.”
Banking on the underground success of his singles "Walk Like a Duck" and "Uptown Shit," Kurious Jorge (the rapper, not the monkey from children's books) released his debut album in early 1994. The album's subtle mix of underground vigor and flavorful party anthems pleased many of hip hop's discerning aficionados. A guest list that included The Hieroglyphics' Casual and DJ Lord Sear on the mic and a back-from-the-dead Bosco Money from Downtown Science, The Beatnuts and Pete Nice and Daddy Rich on production gave the album a session feel. The album's wide range of samples, from The Black Byrds to Fifth Dimension, made for a quirky overall musical effect.
Kurious does well to play up the strength of his honest style, a concise and careful delivery without sacrificing wit. In the end, the catchy single "I'm Kurious" positions itself as the album’s true watermark, while cuts like "Top Notch" and the B-side "Mansion and a Yacht" featuring Sadat X from Brand Nubian are also bona fide mid-'90s hip-hop jams. Of all the golden era rap records that are known to inspire feelings of nostalgia in today’s jaded listener, it is possible that Kurious’ “A Constipated Monkey” tugs at a b-boy’s heartstrings the hardest as it embodies the naturally positive and joyous attitude that is romantically linked to hip hop of the past.
In addition, the “A Constipated Monkey” re-release will feature several hidden bonus tracks (the B-Side classic “Mansion And A Yacht” and “I’m Kurious” Remix) not available on the original pressing.
Although hip hop seems to be a young man's game, there are several great new releases either out now or hitting stores in the coming weeks from the legends of the game. The Beasties Boys' The Mix Up continues to ride high on the charts … Scheduled to be released today (August 14) are a plethora of hot CDs, including Cosmic Lounge my King Britt, Guilty By Affiliation by WC (picked by many to leap into the Billboard Top 200 upon its release), Dr. No's Experiment by Oh No, Casualties Of War by Boot Camp Clik, the hilariously titled They Can't Deport Us All by Chingo Bling, another funny title in Uncle Tony's Coloring Book by Blockhead, Kinfolk by Ali & Gipp, Bone Hard Zaggin' by Big Mellow, So Help Me God by Brotha Lynch Hung, Independence by Styles P, I Luv by Ace Deuce, Wegonefunkwichamind by Big Mello, Occupation Hazardous by Boo Yaa Tribe, Featuring … Master P by, well, Master P, Dedication by Rashid Hadee, One Day by DJ Alibi, Free Bozo by, well, Bozo, Coast 2 Coast by B-Legit, The Struggle by D-Loc, and many more. Folks, that's just one day's worth of releases!
