Stress: The Extinction Agenda

Notes

Additional personnel: Q-Tip, O.C. The Large Professor (vocals); D-Ave (scratches). Producers: Buckwild, Organized Konfusion, Rockwilder. Engineers: Antonio Smalios, D. Anthony "The Bomb" Johnson, Anton Puchshansky. Recorded at Unique Studios and Battery, New York, New York; Power Play Studios, Long Island City, New York. Samples include "Mingus Fingus No. 2" (as performed by Charles Mingus), "Rain Dance" (as performed by Herbie Hancock), "Melody For Thelma" (as performed by Blue Mitchell) and "Who Sey Me Dun" (as performed by Cutty Ranks). Recording information: Battery, New York, NY; Power Play Studios, Long Island City, NY; Unique Studios, New York, NY. After earning both BET video play and underground cred (reaching beyond the rap community) for their 1993 debut with clever and twisted rhymes delivered with unique cadence, the duo of Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po returned two years later with another classic late golden age of hip-hop record. About the only change-up on STRESS: THE EXTINCTION is hinted at in the title; there is a stronger sense of urgency on Organized Konfusion's sophomore slice. While "Let's Organize" contains some playful call-and-response, the general tone is solemn seriousness; no one would dare question the pair's commitment to change. Meanwhile, the disc confirmed Pharoahe as one of the premier voices in political hip-hop with dexterous refrains like "a driver sprayed my face with mace/she didn't know I enjoyed the taste of radioactive waste" spit in a style combining Kool Keith staccato with Chuck D sound and fury.