Cannibal Ox’s Vast Aire released his 3rd solo album recently “Ox 2010 : A Street Odyssey” on Man Bites Dog Records.
Featured artists include Raekwon, Cappadonna, Karniege & Vordul Mega, with production from Kount Fif (Killah Priest / Nas), Harry Fraud, Thanos, Surock and P.O.V.
Also included on the album is the “The Verdict” featuring Guilty Simpson, produced by Vast’s fellow New Yorker, Ayatollah. In June this year a brand new remix was recorded live in the studio and added the additional feature of the UK’s Haze from Eurogang. Today marks the worldwide launch and demonstrates the growing level of international hiphop collaborations, this time via New York, Detroit and London.
In early autumn, Vast will release a new EP “A Space Iliad” and there are plans for a European tour in February 2012. Also look out for another special release featuring the UK’s MC Context shortly as well as a number of new collaborative projects due to be released next year.
Vast Aire launches new single, video & album “Ox 2010 : A Street Odyssey”
LABEL – MAN BITES DOG RECORDS / FAT BEATS
RELEASE DATE – SINGLE 16TH MAY / ALBUM 31st May (digital)
Cannibal Ox legend returns with 3rd solo album
Although mostly associated with Jamaica, Queens, Vast Aire has lived in every borough of NYC, and it was his time in Harlem as a teenager which sparked the career of one of hiphop’s most respected artists.
Performing in many of the city’s underground spots, it was in 1994 that the 16 year old met fellow emcee and best friend Vordul Mega, and the pair would go on to form Cannibal Ox.
Vast and Vordul began collaborating with legendary Company Flow producer El-P, the result of which was the classic debut album “The Cold Vein” in 2001, an album which helped launch El-P’s Def Jux imprint.
Vast Aire has a long history of working with different artists on various projects. As a member of the group Atoms Family, he followed up Ox’s debut release with the launch of “The Prequel”. As a member of The Weathermen, which included Copywrite, Aesop Rock and the late Camu Tao, they released “The Conspiracy” in 2003. In 2004, his debut solo album “Look Mom…No Hands” featured MF Doom, Aesop Rock and Sadat X with production from Madlib, RJD2, Blueprint, Ayatollah and Da Beatminerz.
Following 2005’s collaboration with DJ Mighty Mi “The Best Damn Rap Show”, he re-united with old friend Karniege to record “Empire State” in 2007 under the group name “Mighty Joseph” before releasing his second solo album “Deuces Wild” the following year, an album XXL Magazine placed in their Top Ten Albums of 2008.
Over the past 10 years he has featured on tracks and albums from Aesop Rock (NY Electric), Jean Grae (Swing Blades), Wu Tang (Slow Blues), MF Doom (Super Friendz), and toured the world with Lauren Hill, Wu Tang, The Roots, Black Star and Boot Camp Click. In 2010 he put pen to paper on a new deal with Man Bites Dog Records, making him labelmates with Copywrite and Killah Priest, and the new album is the first of many planned projects.
The album is full of the cerebral rhymes those accustomed to this New York “ghetto spokesman” would come to expect, intelligent, witty and pushing the boundaries of the imagination.
With production from Ayatollah, J Zone, Harry Fraud, Kount Fif and Thanos, and a UK/European tour planned for autumn 2011, the new album is set to reinforce his position as one of hiphop’s finest ambassadors and capture a new audience, beginning with the first single Nomad.
VIDEO
Follow on twitter @vastaireofcanox & @urbanelitepr
