The Day Underground Hip Hop Died

[im1ufo]

On May 25, 2008 Camu Tao died of lung cancer. I never really listened to him while he was alive but man was he on some next level shit. So many rappers seemed very affected by his death..mostly dudes from Definitive Jux records(which no longer exist). Camu's presence is still felt in 2012 in a lot of these rapper's music. Mostly notably El-P and Aesop Rock(who are no longer on speaking terms as far as I know)...both El-P and Aesop Rock released their first album since his death...both of these albums were two of the most critically acclaimed albums in the blogosphere this year....and while both of these albums may be the best of their careers as far as production/lyrics/flow are concerned....I feel like they both fell short on experimentation for the first time in their careers. This could be due to the changing landscape of the music biz...but I blame it on the death of Camu Tao...I've read a lot of great stories about how much of an inspiration he was.






and what is this 'UNDERGROUND HIP HOP' I speak of? I'll let El-P and Aesop Rock tell you about it:

 

[j.troup]

I knew Camu personally. Our GF's were best friends and room mates. This was before I got into music production.



He was real scatterbrained...would would explain his music! But he was definitely ahead of his time.



RIP to the homie.

 

[im1ufo]

nice haha



I like the story about Camu in Aesop's new song "Racing Stripes"


I knew this kid Camu
Who in the lion's mouth
Made up a fail safe way to get his life corralled
Let's say he short on the rent
His land lord is upset
He disappears with sheers yelling "I'm going George Jeff"
Bathroom door sound like a part—mech barbershop quartet
Forced into war with itself
What emerge next in a shaft of light is bald up top
Long on the back and sides
Maybe the blade oil came with a ax to grind
But granddaddy half-smile, all mastermind
He ask "how do I look?''
I said "you look insane"
He said the haircut come with a theory I'll explain
Please do
First: no hats allowed
Faux nat' male pattern when he out the house
And wouldn't crop it up until his monopoly prop pass go
‘til then walk this town like an *******
Mother****ing bzzzt!
Last week we were stoney
This week he programed beats all monday
Sold 2 wednesday, pay rent
Fabricate a whole new hedge maze
Back on his smooth shit friday at noon *****
Wow, just like that
A method I encourage you to share and apply and adapt as one day his didn't grow back