Below System Records is reviving a hip-hop gem of the mid-aughts with full digital release and first ever vinyl edition. Mighty Joseph is the combination of Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox) with his long-time rhyme ally Karniege. The duo’s sole album, Empire State (2008) was released during the tail-end of the last great non-commercial hip-hop period.
Purchase vinyl / digital of Empire State:
Rooted in the concrete streets but lyrically abstract, features and beats are provided by equal musical foils including Madlib, Camu Tao, Murs, J-Zone, Cryptic One, Poison Pen and Vordul Mega (Cannibal Ox) among others.
Fan and critical attention were positive with All Hip Hop summing the album as “solid post-millennium product that bridges the gap between gritty street tales and a paranoid view of the future.” Plug One Magazine added that Empire State “unravels a unique perspective, documenting not only much personal change between the two emcees but also the changes in the streets of New York City. From poverty, to the September 11 attacks, to the abuse of Hip Hop culture in general, ‘Empire State’ stands strong as a snapshot of the city.”
