Since it’s rare that I post something that hasn’t already been shared by at least a half dozen other blogs, the fact that I’ve got the new Knux single first has me running around my apartment doing my Best DJ Clue impression. Granted, there are probably a few other places the song has already appeared and really, all I did was play “Exclusive New Shit,” a couple times, but hey, its a good song.
So is “Bang Bang,” the track that pretty much confirms what I had already suspected: The Knux are very much for real. I’ve long thought that you could cleave the good rappers from the great by judging how they fared on bad or un-rappable beats. So when I heard the first 35 seconds of “Bang Bang” with its Studio 54 drums, Gnarls Barkley chants and sub-Bloc Party guitar churn, I feared for the worst. Then the Knux start rapping.
The effect is something akin to Stankonia-era Outkast. Big words sure, but it’s almost impossible not to hear the influence of “Bombs over Baghdad,” in the Knux’s tangled but perfectly paced raps and Crescent City accents. It’s a little jarring at first but catchy and when you listen to it enough, you realize that all three of the Knux’s first three singles rank among the year’s catchiest and best rap songs. Save for the fact that Krispy uses the phrase, keep it poppin’ like Reddenbacher which was played-out when Wayne used it earlier this year. Personally, I’m just waiting for a rapper to use the phrase, “keep it poppin’ like John Popper.” Because Blues Traveler is funny. Inherently.
Download:
MP3: The Knux-”Bang! Bang!”
MP3: The Knux-”Cappucino”
MP3: The Knux-”Cappucino Remix”
Bonus (I Mean Why Not?):
MP3: Nature-”Exclusive New Shit”
14 comments
Nate P. says:
July 28, 2008 at 6:24 pm (UTC -7)
I hear a bit more “The Whole World” than “Bombs Over Baghdad”, but yeah, this is hot. It also sounds relatively restrained, like they could be going flat-out hyperactive but they’re focusing on just being tight instead, which works fine.
Passion of the Weiss says:
July 28, 2008 at 9:38 pm (UTC -7)
Good call. Which reminds me that I still need to listen to that Killer Mike album.
hungrych says:
July 28, 2008 at 11:16 pm (UTC -7)
I have incredibly high hopes for The Knux, but when will the album actually drop?
Zilla Rocca says:
July 29, 2008 at 7:07 am (UTC -7)
Yeah this is definitely on some “Whole World” shit.
And this is god’s honest truth–10 minutes ago I was dropping off the Cosby kids at the pool and thought to myself, “I wonder if the Knux are ever gonna drop. Maybe I should strongarm Jeff Weiss to get them to get on a song with me since their in major label limbo.”
And then I walk in to here “Bang Bang.” Weird.
Zilla Rocca says:
July 29, 2008 at 7:08 am (UTC -7)
And the best Nature song of all time is “You Ain’t Never Heard No Shit Like This”
Dart_Adams says:
July 29, 2008 at 9:24 am (UTC -7)
Hopefully, The Knux don’t make me less and less hopeful that their album is gonna be good like The Cool Kids have. “The Bake Sale EP” and “That’s Stupid” mixtape both made me stop caring anymore.
It’s sad really.
One.
Passion of the Weiss says:
July 29, 2008 at 12:13 pm (UTC -7)
Album’s supposed to drop 10/14. Hopefully, Interscope won’t push it back.
DocZeus says:
July 29, 2008 at 1:14 pm (UTC -7)
“Album’s supposed to drop 10/14. Hopefully, Interscope won’t push it back.”
Foolish, foolish mortal. It’s Interscope’s mission to not release album’s peoples are actually anticipating. If this was a Flo Rida album I’m sure this would’ve been released already.
Granted, the Knux album is only anticpated by the five people who have blogs but anticipation is still anticpation.
CommishCH says:
July 29, 2008 at 3:21 pm (UTC -7)
Very nice…I been checking for these cats. I’m sure the 10-14 will turn into 11-18 then December then “early 09.” Freaking labels.
On a side note, I worked at Red Rocks in the mid 90s and John Popper was not a very nice dude. Maybe it was the thin air.
Trey Stone says:
July 29, 2008 at 3:48 pm (UTC -7)
i mean, the beat’s too happy-go-lucky (probably a better word) for my taste, but these are the only alleged hipster rappers i’ve heard that sound like they might have some promise. thought people were trippin’ off “Drivin’ Down the Block” and “The Mixtape About Nothing” (know Wale isn’t lumped in with that set, but still)
if they get better production behind ‘em ’08 hip hop might be worth a little more of a shit
Next Thing » Blog Archive » Next Thing In Music - The Knux - Bang Bang says:
July 29, 2008 at 6:53 pm (UTC -7)
[...] New joint from the Knux, bangs like the first one, have to say I’m feeling these New Orleans MC’s. Big up’s to http://passionweiss.com/ [...]
Funky Funati says:
July 30, 2008 at 5:44 am (UTC -7)
there are too many new MC’s to watch, it’s easy not to give a fuck.
but Cappucino (should be in any top “10 songs of the year list”) caught my attention and now i’m a fan.
Bang Bang is dope too, so now i my hopes just got higher for that album, it’s gonna be called “remind me in 3 days” right?
10x for the Exclusive Jeff, u can make for a great DJ Clue!
(i donno if that’s a compliment)
Nati
Jerusalem, Israel.
The Knux – Bang Bang. | Metal Lungies says:
August 3, 2008 at 10:32 am (UTC -7)
[...] dudes definitely are bringing an original sound to the table. I originally saw Weiss post the ex-x-x-xlusive, but Lee of Foundation reminded me that I had to put it up when he hit me up with a 192kbps version [...]
Nah Right » Blog Archive » The Knux - Bang Bang says:
January 4, 2009 at 9:47 pm (UTC -7)
[...] haven’t heard anything new from these guys in a minute. I see Mr. Weiss had this yesterday. Touché [...]