BK-ONE WITH BENZILLA – Rádio Do Canibal

I got a new DAC for the Loop Sessions, and I am getting acquainted with it by listening to various albums that I think will reveal its strengths and weaknesses. One selection is BK-ONE WITH BENZILLA: Rádio Do Canibal via a CD I bought back in 2009 when it was first released. This is one of my top 10 Rhymesayers releases. Note to self: make top 10 Rhymesayers list.

I am not much of a hip-hop guy, but Rhymesayers is a label that consistently clicks with me. Rhymesayers aesthetic has a fat analog vibe and is very musical – they are not afraid of melody and a hook. All their artist are great and curated for the brand. In the late 00s, I was all in on the Rhymesayers sound. Especially Atmosphere and Brother Ali. BK-One was Brother Ali’s touring DJ, and so this was a natural album for me to pick up when it came out. Fast forward, and as previously noted, this is one of my favorites.

I am spinning the original Rádio Do Canibal CD on a low-cost Sony Blu-ray player (Sony UBP-X800M2), bypassing its onboard DAC and connecting it to my new Schiit Mimir DAC, and listening via headphones (see more details here). The album sounds fantastic. The bass is particularly wonderful (Mimir equalizer is off, but loudness on and set at 75%). Rádio Do Canibal’s arrangements and mix are deep, so there is a lot to listen to. This is a fun album to savor with my new DAC. Everything sounds fat and immersive.

The album name pays homage to the 1928 “Cannibal Manifesto” (Manifesto Antropófago) by Brazilian poet Oswald de Andrade. The manifesto describes Brazil’s unique cultural strength as its ability to “absorb” and cannibalize foreign influences to create something entirely new. BK-One channeled his extensive travels through South America into this record. Every beat on the record relies heavily on Brazilian samples, ranging from samba and bossa nova to Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) artists like Caetano Veloso and Tom Zé. MPB is a broad post-bossa nova movement that blends traditional Brazilian styles like samba, baião, and choro with international influences such as jazz, rock, and folk. It is characterized by poetic songwriting, socially conscious lyrics, and sophisticated arrangements.

BK-One managed to create a masterpiece with Rádio Do Canibal . The combination of American hip-hop and Brazilian music is inspired. This does not sound like cultural appropriation, but cultural unification.

In addition to the great beats, the album features one amazing guest rapper (many from Rhymesayers) after another:

• Scarface
• Slug (Atmosphere)
• Black Thought (The Roots)
• Brother Ali
• Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)
• Murs (Living Legends)
• Phonte (Little Brother)
• Haiku D’ Etat (Aceyalone, Myka 9 & Abstract Rude)
• Blueprint
• P.O.S. (Doomtree)
• The Grouch (Living Legends)
• I Self Devine
• Toki Wright
• Aby Wolf

There are also some amazing instrumentals mixed in, like “Tema do Canibal” featuring The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, which is my favorite track on the album. It is absolutely epic. It is Brazilian hip-hop jazz. This track was so good that there was a spinoff EP of alternative mixes.

There are no bad tracks on the album.

A bonus is that the CD packaging is great. I hate jewel cases, so I appreciate it when a label makes the effort to be artistic in how they package a CD. It is not just a Digipak, nor a miniaturization of an LP – it is its own unique thing – pictures don’t do it justice, so I won’t even try to show it.

Tracklisting:

1. Ivan Tiririca (Intro)
2. Gitititt Featuring Slug & Brother Ali
3. Mega Featuring Aceyalone, Myka 9 & Abstract Rude
4. Caetano Veloso (Interlude)
5. The True & Living Featuring Raekwon & I Self Devine
6. Here I Am Featuring Phonte, Brother Ali, The Grouch
7. Tema do Canibal Featuring The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
8. Ivan Tiririca (Interlude)
9. Philly Boy Featuring Black Thought
10. Blood Drive Featuring Slug
11. A Day’s Work Featuring P.O.S.
12. Face It Featuring Toki Wright
13. Love Like That Featuring Aby Wolf
14. Hyldon (Interlude)
15. Blue Balls Featuring Blueprint
16. Eighteen To Twenty-One Featuring Murs
17. Call To Arms Featuring I Self Devine
18. American Nightmare Featuring Brother Ali & Scarface
19. Tom Z (Outro)