Hoodlum Rock, Vol. 1

by El Pus

Overview

There's a lot of crunk slang and Southern-fried spirit on El Pus' debut, but these rappers rock like Atlanta is the new Los Angeles. With its lyrics about tricked-out bikes, crunk partying, and an OutKast-ish techno-psychedelic-booty-funk stance, Hoodlum Rock, Vol. 1 has true Southern street cred. Put a beatbox and turntable behind these rhymes and you might think Big Boi and Dre are reminiscing about their teen years, but add the power chords and crystal-clean production and you're talking L.A. smart goofiness like Sugar Ray with more of an edge, Fishbone when they really brought the funk, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers with a little less bravado but the same ambition. What keeps El Pus from being an overly thought-out and merely clever combination of these influences are rappers/multi-instrumentalists/founding members Cufi and Cosmo. The duo can mispronounce and twist words like "Marlboro" and "Mozart" to their advantage, their songwriting is genuine and on point, and their cool delivery is charismatic as they come. The band responds perfectly, chugging ahead like a rock & roll train but able to turn on a dime and wring every last drop of funk out of the slow burners. Virgin chose "Suburb Thuggin'" as the kickoff single, and while the kids down at the skate park and anyone who ever pumped a fist in the air are going to be feeling it, the track doesn't represent how unique El Pus can kick it. "Thing Thing" is a classic "do what'cha like" number with both hippie and hardcore baller appeal, "Girl" is a micro-techno meeting of Bootsy Collins and Adam Sandler with a heartache, and "Days of the BKs" is a reflective, cheeba-puffing masterpiece. Bummer that there's only 35 minutes of the quirky and delicious pop-metal-rap with a poet's heart -- and that's including the hidden track -- but at least Hoodlum Rock, Vol. 1 is as fat free in its entirety as Cufi and Cosmo are with their songwriting. A kick-ass, concise debut and one of the most accomplished marriages of rock and rap ever. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	03/01/2005
Label:	Virgin
UPC:	0724358092028

Tracks

1. The Bogard (Intro)
2. Monday Morning
3. Thing Thing
4. Girl
5. Days of the BKs (I Remember)
6. Madame Zenobia
7. Suburb Thuggin'
8. Interlude
9. Nite Train
10. Slot Machine
11. Place to Be
12. Flirtin'
13. Salutations

Album Credits

Performance Credits

El Pus   Primary Artist
Tchak Diallo   Primary Artist
20 20   Primary Artist,Vocals
Woodchuck   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Vocals
BIT 20 Ensemble   Featured Artist
Cofi & Cosmo   Guitar,Turntables,Keyboards,Vocals
Vincent DAgostine   Horn
Wesley Funderbuck   Horn
Tchaka Diallo   Featured Artist
Slick   Vocals
C.J. "Johnny Rock"   Guitar
Nick DiDia   Rap
Dave Cobb   Guitar
Anthony David   Vocals (Background)
Pete Young   Drums
Kevin Kadish   Guitar,Vocals,Moog Synthesizer
Darren Dodd   Drums
Brandon Bush   Keyboards
Tony Reyes   Bass
La Tchak   Vocals
Sigurdur "Siggy" Birkis   Drums
Bernard Coley   Drums
Cufi   Guitar,Rhythm,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Turntables
Gaelle   Vocals
Madame C.J.   Vocals
Tony M.F. Rock   Vocals

Technical Credits

Jeff Tomei   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Darryl Swan   Audio Production
Dave Cobb   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Cofi & Cosmo   Audio Production,Drum Programming
Kevin Kadish   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming
Dean Serletic   A&R
Liza Lowinger   Art Coordinator
Lynn Oliver   A&R
Jermeal Hicks   Assistant
20 20   Performer
Rashei Francis   Composer
Tchaka Diallo   Composer
Simon Durham   Composer
Rashei Kali   Composer
Russell Richards   Composer
Tchak Diallo   Performer
Jean-Marie Horvat   Mixing
John Holmes   Assistant
Matt Serletic   Executive Producer
Nick DiDia   Mixing
Alan Yates   Mixing
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner   Mastering
Mark Rains   Engineer
Karl Egsieker   Engineer,Assistant
Noel Golden   Engineer
Daryle Swann   Producer
Cufi   Arranger,Producer,Drum Programming
Sean Mosher-Smith   Creative Director
Pier Nicola DAmico   Photography