Black Bastards

Black Bastards
an early 20th century -styled racist caricature of a black person hanging from a gallows, with the title underneath in the style of hangman
Studio album by
KMD
ReleasedMay 15, 2000[1]
Recorded1991 – August 1993
StudioChung King Studios, New York, New York
Genre
Length44:07
Label
Producer
KMD chronology
Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares
(1998) 		Black Bastards
(2000) 		Best of KMD
(2003)
MF Doom chronology
Operation: Doomsday
(1999) 		Black Bastards
(2000) 		MF EP
(2000)
Singles from Black Bastards
  1. "What a Nigga Know?"
    Released: March 8, 1994[2]
  2. "It Sounded Like a Roc"
    Released: 1999[3]

Black Bastards is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group KMD, recorded in 1993 and eventually released on May 15, 2000, through Readyrock Records.[4] Initially, the album was scheduled for release in May 1994, but Elektra Records canceled the album, reportedly due to the controversial cover art, which shows a Sambo figure being lynched.[5] Zev Love X's brother DJ Subroc was killed when he was struck by a car shortly before the album was completed, and subsequent releases of the album have featured dedications to him.

Elektra released promotional copies of Black Bastards and a single of "What a Nigga Know?" prior to the album's cancellation.[6] After KMD's disbandment, rarities and demo tracks recorded during the making of Black Bastards were released on a vinyl-only EP titled Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares in 1998. The album was re-released in 2001 by Sub Verse Music[7] and again in 2008 by MF Doom's own Metalface Records.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Pitchfork8.4/10[8]
RapReviews6.5/10[10]
Robert ChristgauA−[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]
Spin7/10[13]

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Douglas Siwek of AllMusic said, "The sound of the record is very raw and sounds unfinished due to Elektra shelving the project, but it doesn't take away from the magic that would have made this a suitable follow-up [to KMD's debut album, Mr. Hood]." Steven Juon of RapReviews praised the album's lyrics but mentioned he "wish[ed] they would have taken a little more care in mastering and recording".[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dingilizwe Dumile and Daniel Dumile

Side 0
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
0."Garbage Day #3"Subroc2:14
1."Get-U-Now"Subroc2:27
2."What a Nigga Know?"KMD3:26
3."Sweet Premium Wine"Subroc3:09
Side 1
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
4."Plumskinzz.(Loose Hoe, God&Cupid)"KMD1:43
5."Smokin' That S*#%"Subroc4:40
6."Contact Blitt"Zev Love X2:42
7."Gimme"KMD3:50
Side 2
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
8."Black Bastards!"Subroc4:00
9."It Sounded Like a Roc"Subroc4:34
10."Plumskinzz.(Oh No I Don't Believe It!)"Subroc1:40
Side 3
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
11."Constipated Monkey"KMD, Q42:47
12."F*#@ Wit' Ya Head"KMD4:35
13."Suspended Animation"KMD2:20
Total length:44:07
Side 3 (2001 Sub Verse Music re-release)[14]
No.TitleLength
15."What a Nigga Know?" (Remix) (feat. MF Grimm)3:36
16."Q3-113" (Bonus Track)1:11
Total length:48:54

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[15]

Personnel

Additional Personnel

  • The CMOB – additional vocals
  • Earth Quake – additional vocals
  • H2O – additional vocals
  • J.Alvarez – additional vocals
  • Lord Sear – additional vocals
  • B.Thompson – bass guitar (11)
  • Q4 – co-production (11)
  • Sub – executive production
  • Doom – executive production
  • Cas – executive production
  • Jay-G – executive production
  • Yuri – executive production

Artwork[16]

  • The EMEF – cover illustration
  • Scotch 79th – visuals

References

  1. ^ "MF DOOM DISCOGRAPHY". Stones Throw. Archived from the original on December 15, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. ^ CMJ New Music Report (March 14, 1994), CMJ New Music Report Vol.37 No.12 Issue #371 (page 26) (PDF), retrieved July 6, 2022
  3. ^ It Sounded Like a Roc (liner notes). Subroc. New York, New York: Fondle 'Em Records. 1999. FE-87.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Quinlan, Thomas (May 1, 2000). "KMD Black Bastards". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  5. ^ a b allmusic ((( K.M.D. > Biography )))
  6. ^ CMJ New Music Report (March 14, 1994), CMJ New Music Report Vol.37 No.12 Issue #371 (page 26) (PDF), retrieved July 6, 2022
  7. ^ Black Bastards (liner notes). KMD. New York, New York: Sub Verse Music. 2001. SVM15.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ a b ex, kris (April 17, 2015). "Black Bastards". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "Black Bastards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Juon, Steve (August 1, 2000). "K.M.D. :: Black Bastards :: Readyrock Records". RapReviews. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  11. ^ Christgau, Robert. "KMD". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  12. ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "KMD". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 462. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  13. ^ Caramanica, Jon (August 2000). "KMD: Black Bastards / M.F. Doom: Operation Doomsday". Spin. 16 (8): 152–54. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  14. ^ Black Bastards (liner notes). KMD. New York, New York: Sub Verse Music. 2001. SVM15.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Black Bastards (liner notes). KMD. Glendale, California: Readyrock Records. 2000. RR 2001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Black Bastards (liner notes). KMD. Glendale, California: Readyrock Records. 2000. RR-2001CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)