Search - Mr Len :: Class X: Tribute to Co-Flow

A must have for any true Co Flow fan

Gift | 09/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think it may be slightly confusing to some people that this record was released as a Mr. Len CD when it is simply a Company Flow compilation. Not that Len doesn't have every right to do that. That aside, this compilation is excellent. This is the best comapanion piece to Funcrusher and a must-have for any Co Flow completist. As many know, Company Flow only released one album, aside from the instrumental album "Lil' Johnny.." There were many bangin' singles and rarities that I've been collecting for years and most them are included on this CD. For the casual fan this means copping all the rare sh**t it took me years to find in one shot, and you really can't beat that. Included are the first Co Flow single "Juvenille Techniques", the "End to End Burners" remix, "Krazy Kings Too" (one of my all-time favorite Co Flow tracks), "Patriotism" from the second Soundbombing, the original version of "Info Kill", and the green vinyl version of the original "Krazy Kings." (Funcrusher Plus was originally released as Funcrusher on colored green vinly on Offical Recordings, well before Rawkus, and sold independently). Also included on this CD are some of the greatest hits/straight bangers like "Fire in Which You Burn (with the addition of the 12" version's intro)", and "8 Steps". Also included is the infamous diss track "Linda Tripp" which has got to be one of the best rebuttals in hip hop history. For those who don't know, Sole from Anticon released an EL-P diss record entitled "Dear EL-P" making all kind of stupid accusations to the effect of calling EL-P a fake. I guess he then called EL-P at some point to attempt to apologize. (I'm uncertain about the specifics here). EL-P recorded the phone conversation (hence the title) and samples Sole saying that he loves Company Flow, and that he wants to be down over and over again throughout the song, while tearing his rookie ass apart lyrically (all behind a sample of Bjork's "Hunter"). It's pretty freakin' hilarious. And as pissed off and uncalled for I thought "Dear El-P" was when I heard it, I actually feel bad for Sole every time I hear this track. Not that he didn't deserve it, with his bs pretentious excuse for underground hip hop. (Sorry all you kids out there riding Anticon's nuts, wake up and buy and Organized Konfusion record or something, please). All in all I think this CD is well worth the purchase, but if you haven't really listened to Co Flow start with Funcrusher, then proceed here, then start worrying about anything on Def Jux. My only complaints are that I wish Len had included the lost mix of "8 Steps" (from the "Blind" 12"), and the original mix of "End to End Burners." He also might as well have included "Blind" too, a Co Folw classic single."

The Co Flow Memories (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars)

Chandler | Atlanta (College Park), Georgia | 03/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Company Flow which consisted of El-P, Big Juss, and Mr. Len, was probably the group for hip hop heads and back packers to listen to. What I especially liked about the group was their hard hitting B-Boy type lyrics. Co Flow really never sugar coated a rhyme whatsoever. They only released one album "Funcrusher (Plus)" back in 1997 and then years later, they split up. Mr Len, the DJ of the group decided to release to fans of the group some of the material that wasn't heard before. Out of the 17 tracks, 1 is from the Soundbombing II album ("Patriotism"), 1 from The Lyricist Lounge ("Weight"), and 6 are from the "Funcrusher (Plus)" album, some with minor modifications like an intro before a song. Since that album is currently out of print (thanks a lot Rawkus!) you will be able to hear the tracks from that album on this here.



The unreleased material, or the material that wasn't on the "Funcrusher (Plus)" is appealing. All the tracks Len gives comentary in the linear notes on what went on when that song was being recorded. The first track "Juvenile Techniques" was according to Mr. Len the first song that he and El-P made together, and it sounds dope. Another unreleased track was "End II End Burners (Remix)". I personally liked the origonal better, and wished that that version made it on here. "Linda Tripp" was actually kind of funny because El-P disses Sole' from Anticon after recording his voice during a telephone conversation. Mr. Len choppes up Sole' voice saying "I Love Company Flow". That was brilliant in my opinion because I've never heard a diss record like that before. At the end of the album there is a El-P & Big Juss freestyle called "One Night In Austin". There are a few funky instrumentals that are enjoyable.



I give it four stars because as I said before a lot of the material is from the "Funcrusher (Plus)" album. Not saying thats a bad thing, since that was their only recorded album, but I wish there was a few more tracks that Mr. Len could have found that would have made it on here like the origonal "End II End Burners" or other 12" singles like "D.P.A." and "Simian D", two rare Co Flow singles. But thats okay though. If you're new to El-P, or Big Juss, or just want to hear how they sounded back in the 90's, this is where you will have to start, since the "Funcrusher (Plus)" album is out of print. If you can find that album, or the origonal "Funcrusher" album which is extremely rare. But even if you're a Co Flow fan like I am, you should pick this up anyway. This is sort of like a "Best Of Company Flow" Album with some unreleased material. I believed that this is how hip hop was supposed to sound like, the material that is on this album.



Lyrics: A

Production: A

Guest Appearances: A

Musical Vibes: A

Overall: A



My favorite tracks: Juvenile Techniques, People Are Shady, Fire In Which You Burn, Linds Tripp, Stupid Robot, Patriotism, Krazy Kings, 8 Steps To Perfection, Krazy Kings II, Lil Johnny's Interlude (instrumental track), One Night In Austin, Linoleum (instrumental track)



Peace everyone!!!"