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Dusting off a couple of uncool records · by Sach O
Not the direction you want your battle rappers going in.
My initial reaction to Louis Logic quitting rap in favor of quasi-emo piano music was “who the fuck cares?”
(I’m assuming you all share the sentiment so I’ll give you a moment to realize that there’s more to this post than that statement.)
...
Ok? Good.
After all, Misery Loves Comedy was already a sign that the guy was more interested in bad break-up songs than the booze-n-punchline approach that endeared him to the backpacker crowd so this wasn’t much of a shock. After the initial apathy (no Chris Rios) wore off though, it did get me to dust off my old Demigodz records which got me wondering how those guys managed to fuck up so badly when they were poised to break out of the indie-ghetto.
When the 12 inch boom was drying up in the early 00’s and everyone was consolidating into new crews and labels, the Demigodz ended up being the odd-men out when they could have been the scene’s biggest success story. They weren’t as arty as the Def Jux crowd or as appealing to women as Atmosphere but their geeky mix of science-fiction based lyrical-lyricism and their intense dedication to recycling Tribe hooks did give them a potential niche market. They had their fare share of wack rappers (Esoteric, Celph Titled who really should have stuck to production) but they also had the best white rapper on the indie scene (Apathy), a nerdier Big L disciple (Rise) and the aforementioned drunken dragon. Their debut EP The Godz Must be Crazy showed a clever, half-serious approach to battle-rap that was mostly devoid of post-Wu psychobabble and heavy on snarky attitude and when Atlantic signed Apathy, the stage seemed set for a takeover.
Then Louis Logic left the crew, Atlantic never released Ap’s album, someone kept funding Esoteric releases and Rise never got proper distribution. By the time the excellent Eastern Philosophy dropped the lineup had completely changed and the Godz were reduced to tending-bag for Mike Shinoda. A damn shame, but on the other hand they were probably too white and nerdy to survive in a post-50 Cent world and they weren’t milquetoast enough for the Okayplayer scene. Plus North-Eastern white guys who remember the mid 90’s have a notorious tendency to download, severely hampering their potential sales. At this point, maybe hanging out with Styles of Beyond is the right choice.
At least we got a few good 12 inch records out of em, at their peak (after their space-rap phase but before they tried to thug it up) these guys were dropping some damn entertaining rap music.
Dutchmassive – Evaporate
(Not technically part of the crew as far as I know but whatever)
Apathy ft Open Mic – Sureshot Affair
Comments for "Dusting off a couple of uncool records"
The boy Rise used to kill it. Then he just disappeared from off the radar.
— P-Matik Jun 26, 03:32 PM
I used to like Rise, I had forgotten about him until now. That picture made me laugh.
— Mathew Jun 26, 03:46 PM
Why the hate for Eso? I can see not liking the production on the last record, but dude habitually kills it lyrically.
— R-Lex Jun 26, 05:57 PM
Great article… From 2000-2002, Lou, Ap, and Rise were my favorite artists on the indie scene and arguably the three best punchline emcees (especially Rise putting out consistent releases (even if they were only 12 inches, EP’s and compilation cameos)... I also liked Celph Titled; the “Chrome Depot Freestyle” with Ap over the Premo instrumental was my shit!
— Dom from Philly Jun 26, 05:58 PM
If you ask me, Esoteric probably had the most annoying voice in the history of rap assuming you exclude bizarre nerdcore subgenres.
— Sach Jun 26, 06:25 PM
I never got into them. Apathy is dope, but unmemorable. I respect Louis Logic’s humor, but he’s too sloppy style-wise. Fuck the rest of them. No rhythm, lame lyrics, and a geek voice—what’s not to like about Esoteric?
People are still referring to “nerdcore” as a legitimate subgenre?
— eauhellzgnaw Jun 26, 06:40 PM
Rise never got a fair shake. Dude had rhymes for days. The Demigodz definitely had momentum going for them but it seems like they’re done.
— the illatino Jun 26, 07:44 PM
Dose would be one of those bizarre nerdcore subgenres I presume. He’s got annoying cadences as well. Hey Sach you didn’t drop your last name because of a departure of heritage?
— Jay B Jun 26, 09:20 PM
I have to respectfully disagree about Misery Loves Comedy. That was the most slept-on rap record of 2006, period. I think if you equate ‘break-up rap songs’ with ‘automatically being shit,’ then of course you’re going to hate half of that record. For what it’s worth, I think Lou’s songs about heartache are way more endearing than anything Slug has written about the topic (i.e. 95% of his catalogue) and even Sage Francis’ musings on the matter(s) sometimes are too faux-literate for their own good.
And the guy’s what, 32? Do you really expect him to be rapping about getting plastered on a Tuesday night and the kind of vagina (shaved, for the record) he likes for the rest of his life? I think this is a logical artistic progression. As long as he doesn’t completely forgo rapping. I think when he sings in his self-aware, boy-band parody manner Louis is gold, but he is such a naturally talented rapper it would be a shame for him to abandon his gift completely.
— Renato Pagnani Jun 27, 03:07 AM
I got into Demigodz through Rise. He dropped some cracking lines like,
<em>You ain’t better because you’ve been rhyming longer than Rise.
I’ve been nice a few years, you’ve been wack since ’85.</em>
from ‘Do You Know Him?’. Apathy released on of the greatest Demigodz tracks with DSLs (Dick-Suckin’ Lips).
— Mystik Journeyman Jun 27, 09:07 AM
How the fuck do you make words italic?!
— Mystik Journeyman Jun 27, 09:08 AM
Man, I thought Misery Loves Company was wack to death. But I thought Logic killed it on the Vaudeville Villian joint. one.
— CommishCH Jun 27, 09:29 AM
On a related note, check out DutchMassive – Junk Planet. Pretty good. Ish.
— Mystik Journeyman Jun 27, 09:33 AM
Mystik, the link below the commenting fields that says “Textile Help” explains how to do the formatting.
For italics put an underscore immediately before and after whatever text you want italicized.
— Rafi Jun 27, 12:53 PM
“but dude habitually kills it lyrically.”
....
— Ninoy Brown Jun 28, 02:41 AM
Hating on Celph Titled? Come on now, dude is simplistic stylistically but goofy as hell. He’s almost like a faux-hardcore compliment to J-Zone.
I thought Esoteric spit some pretty nice verses once in a blue moon as well (I liked “Dangerous Connection” or whatever), but his voice grates.
— train Jun 29, 12:07 AM
Celph Titled is funnier than ten of Sacha’s reviews put together.
— DJ Flash Jun 29, 12:49 AM
^Co-sign.
Celph Titled a wack rapper? Sach, you’er dead wrong© BIG. Celph is fockin hillarious & lyrical.
— NoMamesBuey Jul 1, 07:03 PM
Celph really REALLY should should of stuck behind his immitation primo. Apart from word association & that stalking song, Eso was straight trash.
I wish I had lasers for eyes. I actually enjoyed those Apathy, Rise & that one Dutchmassive 12”. Have’nt used them for razor disc yet.
— Swag Diesel Jul 2, 10:51 PM
Esoteric sucks and Celph Titled used to be a beast on a mic he’s downgraded over the years. Lou’s new album shows that he’s growing i love it any artist that stays in the same place for too long is not good the music becomes stale such as mobb deep who has made the same album since thier first. And Apathy is the most consistant demigodz member which is also why he’s the biggest.
— catalyst Jul 4, 05:19 PM
On the real, I think that the Demigodz have (or had) this really narrow perspective about Hip Hop. Apathy, Celph, and Eso (especially Eso) all had that “No backpackers allowed. No Nerds. It HAS to be hardcore,” philosophy. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of that. I’m white, I’m from the suburbs, I’m an MC, and I will NEVER be hardcore. I find it funny that these guys call people backpack and yet in reality…that’s probably the basis of their fan bases. I like to spit a battle rhyme here and there…but could these guys have had a smaller array of topics? I mean, that’s all they did. And call me a hater or what not, but I think Apathy’s album was trash. His topic songs sound like highschool essays. Eso’s just a rich boy trying to act tough (got his ass handed to him on a silver platter by El-P). Rise was pretty dope but he fell off the face of the planet and Louis is just on some new shit.
It’s like you compare an MF Doom or a Slug or even an El-P to these guys…c’mon, who’s more creative? Who’s more embracing? Who progresses Hip Hop forward? Not the Demigodz.
— Learning Curve Dec 5, 03:29 AM
Your opinion sucks!! Apathy had an annoying voice, he was talented,but overrated Celph Titled was hilarious, and his production underrated, Rise was DOPE lyrically but his voice sucked, Louis Logic sounded corny to me, but he had cool concepts and intellect, Esoteric’s flow was atrocious, but he had slick lines, the rest of the Demigodz were never heard of off of the “Godz Must Be Crazy Song” so I can’t speak for them, but some of them sounded terrible. One Two was a wannabe version of Apathy, which doesn’t say much, L-Fudge put out some cool songs, but went MIA, SpinForth was dope with Yaggafu Front, but was rarely heard of, Metropolis sounded cool, sort of like a Q-tip meets Magoo but was never heard of again, Open Mic was average at best but again didn’t put out much material, Motive was very gangster/hardcore and I heard some of his material with Apathy, which I wasn’t very impressed with although he had one liners, Jabber Jaw was also another member never heard of again. THe Jedi Mind Tricks crew was corny to me with all that yelling from Vinnie Paz, and now SOB is cool, I dig Ryu more than Tak, but Mike Shinoda should reconsider the rapping career. Overall the best member was Rise to me with the clever lines, and cool songs, but his latest stuff is TRASH! and his production skills need a medic. J-zone, although he worked with Celph Titled, I believe was never a member. He was one of the more comical rappers I have heard though. I don’t think I’m forgetting anyone and if I did, they weren’t worth mentioning. These guys were by far better than the weathermen and Def Jux.
— Don Bling Jan 14, 03:47 PM