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For months now it has been impossible for even the most uniformed to avoid Canibus. First, one of underground rap's most vitriolic MC's somehow found his way onto the radio-friendly remix of Wyclef Jean's "Gone 'Til November." Then came the blistering "Second Round K.O.," perhaps one of the single best rap records in years; almost four minutes of scalding, scolding, rapid-fire venom spit all over one-time rap legend L.L. Cool J. Needless to say, Canibus' debut album has been highly anticipated--usually a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, there are some songs on 'Can-I-Bus' which are all that and then some. "Get Retarded," "What's Going On," the aforementioned "Second Round K.O." and "Buckingham Palace" particularly stand out as singular displays of Canibus' abundant lyrical talent. The bad news is that the whole album just doesn't measure up. It seems as if executive producer Wyclef Jean attempted to do on a smaller scale here what he previously did so successfully on his own album. Yet, some artists weren't meant to try style after style on song after song and most can't pull it off. When at his best, Canibus shines brighter than virtually any rapper on the landscape; but when he's at that best, it's because of his simplicity. Beats and rhymes; two turntables, a mic, and an unceasing lyrical flow. Could Canibus have been provided only these first two, there is no doubt he could have provided the third and walked out with an album almost reminiscent of Eric B. & Rakim's classic 'Paid In Full.' As it is, he walks out with something that is good, but something that still falls just short of greatness. |
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