Black Bastards Explained

Black Bastards
Type:	Studio
Artist:	KMD
Cover:	Black Bastard (KMD album - cover art).jpg
Alt:	an early 20th century -styled racist caricature of a black person hanging from a gallows, with the title underneath in the style of hangman
Released:	May 15, 2000^[1]
Recorded:	1991 – August 1993
Studio:	Chung King Studios, New York, New York
Genre:	Hardcore hip hop boom bap
Length:	44:07
Prev Title:	Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares
Prev Year:	1998
Next Title:	Best of KMD
Next Year:	2003

Black Bastards (stylized as BL_CK B_ST_RDS) 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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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. 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^[4] and again in 2008 by MF Doom's own Metalface Records.

Critical reception

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".

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.^[5]

Personnel

• Dingilizwe Dumile – production
• Daniel Dumile – production
• KMD – production

Additional Personnel

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

Artwork^[6]

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: MF DOOM DISCOGRAPHY . . https://web.archive.org/web/20061215012448/http://www.stonesthrow.com/madvillain/mfdoom-discography.html . December 15, 2006 . dead . June 6, 2021.
2. Web site: Quinlan . Thomas . KMD Black Bastards . . March 19, 2021 . May 1, 2000.
3. allmusic (((K.M.D. > Biography)))
4. Black Bastards. KMD. 2001. liner notes. Sub Verse Music. SVM15. New York, New York.
5. Black Bastards. KMD. 2000. liner notes. Readyrock Records. RR 2001. Glendale, California.
6. Black Bastards. KMD. 2000. liner notes. Readyrock Records. RR-2001CD. Glendale, California.