Canibus Talks Cloak-N-Dagga’s ‘Def Con Zero’

Rapper Canibus has teamed with longtime/collaborator Phoenix Orion as Cloak-N-Dagga and the duo recently released the album, Def Con Zero. The title is a reference to a nation’s Defense Readiness Condition and according to Canibus, the album reflects the rapper’s stint as a member of the Army’s Stryker Brigade. “I spent my teen years learning […]

Rapper Canibus has

teamed with longtime/collaborator Phoenix Orion as Cloak-N-Dagga and the duo recently

released the album, Def Con Zero.

The title is a reference to a nation’s Defense Readiness Condition

and according to Canibus, the album reflects the rapper’s stint as a member

of the Army’s Stryker Brigade.

“I spent my teen years learning my craft, how to rhyme

and translate the information I was seeing and feeling into poetry,” Canibus

said. “The kinds of songs I wrote in my adolescent years, I mastered in

my 20s. The album is mature, like my indie album Mic Club from a few

years back, but reflects all of the life experiences I had in the army as part

of the Stryker Brigade. The 19 tracks summarize all of my experiences.”

The album is Canibus’ debut for Head Trauma Records in

association with First Kut, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Kent Entertainment

Kent is owned 48-year industry vet Morey Alexander, who helped

launch the careers of Eazy-E, N.W.A., Kid Frost and Mellow Man Ace.

Canibus said this album contains his most recent material and

is a throwback to the style of rap music he made before his first album

Can-I-Bus, which was released through MCA in 1998.

“I’m implying that we as a society are very much

at the end of our rope, at the edge of a cliff looking over,” he says.

“There will be an after, but right now we’re on the edge. On the

more personal and artistic side, Def Con Zero is my attempt to make an album

for my fans that would remind them of the more hardcore, uncensored style of

rap music I made before I made my first album for MCA.

The album, which comes with a companion DVD, was executive produced

by DJ/world champion K-1 kickboxer Dewey “Black Cobra” Cooper.

Guests include Kool G. Rap, Free (106 & Park), K-Solo, Zookeepa

and others.

Def Con Zero shows once again my allegiance

to and the integrity of my music,” Canibus continued. “What pleases

me is that it falls in line with the technical strength and lyrical dexterity

of my best work. The DVD is also the first of its kind for a rap project, so

that’s exciting as well.”

Def Con Zero

is in stores now.