Extraordinary Rap Podcast Extraordinary Rap

Epic has incited many a hardcore head to clench their cheeks and shout, "This shit ain't hip hop!"  But a look into Epic's work reveals him as a deep admirer of the culture and a learned student of the craft.  Instead of adopting inner city affectations, as so many other white rappers have, Epic chose to be himself and lean into his Canadian prairie roots.
While not shying away from humor, and rapping about such un-hip-hop subjects as snow sledding, Epic is also no stranger to rap battles, shit-talking with the best of them, and at other times his rhymes gets so raw and real you might be brought to tears.
After a near-decade hiatus Epic is readying several new albums, and his work sounds as fresh as ever.  Nassau Manor, a collaboration with producer robcrooks, comes out later this month on Hand'Solo Records.
In our conversation (which Epic described as "heavy"), we discuss his outlook on the haters, his approach to the craft, aging as it relates to rap, and much more.
Also in this episode, a look at the excellent debut album by Wave Generators (AKA Nosaj of New Kingdom and Height Keech).
Our bonus episode reviews a slew of past releases that may deserve another glance, including works by Rob Base, X-Ecutioners, Jamalski, Ween, Devin The Dude, Tricky, Beck, Method Man, Mike Ladd, Slick Rick, King Geedorah, Biz Markie & more.  Exclusively at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.
For Kool Keith shirts, Rammellzee and StapleMouth records, pedestrian tapes and zines, and much more, visit http://extraordinaryrap.org.
 

pedestrian doesn't work well with the algorithm.  Web searches for his indistinct moniker are useless; his small number of music releases is poorly-distributed; and while he's received a fair amount of critical praise, most was never, or is no longer, online.  Even before the internet was so integral to a musician's career, James Brandon Best, as he was born, didn't play ball with the music industry.  With no press photos, no music videos, rare and often-bewildering public performances, obscure lyrics, only two albums in over two decades, and not being the type of guy who gets invited to industry social gatherings, pedestrian's music hasn't reached nearly the amount of listeners it deserves.
While the collective that he named, anticon, blew up in the early 00s, establishing an unprecedentedly poetic, rough-hewn brand of hip hop, and his cohorts toured the globe, releasing a torrent of critically-praised projects, seemingly reaching the extent of popularity that could be achieved with cryptic, trend-eschewing rap music at that time, Brandon, as he's known personally, opted out of most of the opportunities afforded by popularity.  The now-long-disbanded group of artists remain successful in their individual music careers, each settling into their own contemporary art ecosystems, except, that is, for pedestrian, who remains on the fringes of obscurity, quietly allowing his artistic legacy to wither.
Unwilling to bend to the norms of a modern career artist, Brandon is arguably self-defeating in the extent to which he's made his work inaccessible.  Even if one manages to track down any of his recordings, cursory listens will leave the vast majority of rap listeners confused, as much of the language is coded and chock-full of highly specific references.
UnIndian Songs Volume I has been expanded and remastered for digital and cassette release, accompanied by a lyric/photo booklet.  (Pre-order it now at http://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com.)
In this episode, we sit down with pedestrian to unpack the album's many layers, references, and hidden meanings.
The album comes out digitally, on May 1, 2024, May Day, a day commemorating the historic struggles and gains of the workers and labour movement.  The album itself being largely focused on the United States' atrocities against its land's native peoples, it's a fitting day of solidarity and protest against imperialist forces.
In this spirit, all profits of the album will be donated directly to providing drinking water and search-and-rescue efforts to those desperate enough to attempt unlawful crossing of the southern US border, courtesy of the South Texas Human Rights Center.
Our Patreon bonus includes another 40 minutes with pedestrian, plus a rundown of your host's recent rap listenings.  Past bonus material includes even more talks with pedestrian, his unreleased Stuffed Animals album, interviews with other anticon members, and much more.  Access it all for 3 lousy bucks at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.
All things Extraordinary Rap at http://extraordinaryrap.org.

Insurgent rapper/author/organizer Mic Crenshaw joins us for an in-depth look into his anti-racist actions, community upliftment, music and much more.  Plus reviews of Wet-Jet Seymour and Mars Kumari.
In our bonus episode we cover new and old releases by Danny Brown, Buck 65, Doseone, Jel, Sole & The Skyrider Band, Congplexonome, Gensu Dean & Denmark Vessey, William Crooks, and Jon Spencer, plus a look into the entire Jungle Brothers discography.  http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap
Mic Crenshaw links:
Official site: https://www.miccrenshaw.com/home
It Did Happen Here podcast: https://itdidhappenherepodcast.com
It Did Happen Here book: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1467
The Baldies documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BSDZ1DIEIQ
Rebelwise: https://www.rebelwise.link
Crenshaw & Shabazz: https://crenshawandshabazz.com
Wet-Jet Seymour: The Head
https://crossingdoubleyellows.bandcamp.com/album/the-head
Mars Kumari: I Thought I Lost You
https://marskumari.bandcamp.com/album/i-thought-i-lost-you-2
Extraordinary Rap record label, merch, links, etc:
http://extraordinaryrap.org

In this episode, on location in exotic London of the UK, we speak with vibrant young rap wippersnappers Retropxssy and JoeJas.  Plus reviews of Hester Valentine & Outside House, Andrew Mbaruk, and Cashmaster Buck.
Retropxssy does a unique range of cute/scary/heartfelt music owing influences to grime, punk, pop, and beyond.  https://retropxssy.bandcamp.com
London-based, Atlanta-raised, MC/beatsmith JoeJas makes defiantly sunny, uplifting rap music, and is an event coordinator, video producer and fashion designer under his Fat Llama umbrella.  https://joejas.bandcamp.com
The articles I mentioned on South African and London rap - http://extraordinaryrap.patreon.com
Hester Valentine & Outside House: I Can't Cut Your Hair
https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-cut-your-hair
Andrew Mbaruk: Black Squirrel: A Memoir
https://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com/album/black-squirrel-a-memoir

Cashmaster Buck: Cashmaster
https://buckyoto.bandcamp.com/album/cashmaster
Rate/review if you please at http://weirdrap.com/rating
All the ER stuff at http://extraordinaryrap.org

Featured in this episode:
Lt. Headtrip X DOS4GW - Tap on the Glass
https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/album/tap-on-the-glass
Too Birds - Soul of Too Birds
https://toobirds.bandcamp.com/album/soul-of-too-birds
BAYANG (tha Bushranger) - REDBRICKGOTHIK
https://soundcloud.com/datuizm/sets/redbrickgothik
Hemlock Ernst & Height Keech - The Fall Collection
https://alphapup.bandcamp.com/album/the-fall-collection
Carmine Moth - Pontifical Resin
https://deadorchard.bandcamp.com/album/pontifical-resin
Decuma - feeding the world serpent
https://decuma1.bandcamp.com/album/feeding-the-world-serpent
Deleeteglitch - Creature of Habit
https://deleteeglitch.bandcamp.com/album/creature-of-habit-2
Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
https://armandhammer.bandcamp.com/album/we-buy-diabetic-test-strips
(episode art by) Michael Gates
https://www.instagram.com/g8s_art
http://extraordinaryrap.org
http://instagram.com/extraordinaryrap
http://youtube.com/@extraordinaryrap

In this bonus episode, internal affairs are discussed, personal issues are disclosed, and secret info is declassified. Includes talk of Kool Keith, Decuma, Andrew Mbaruk, the Weird vs the Extraordinary, and more.  This is an abridged version of a considerably longer, more embarrasing episode, available in its entirety at http://patreon.com/extraordinaryrap.
Decuma album & more at http://extraordinaryrap.bandcamp.com.
Kool Keith shirts & more at http://extraordinaryrap.org.
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