Cannibal Ox

The Profile

Cannibal Ox is an American hip hop duo from Harlem, New York, consisting of MCs Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. Their debut album The Cold Vein (2001), produced by El-P and released on Definitive Jux, became a landmark of underground hip hop. They returned with the follow-up Blade of the Ronin in 2015.

Members: Vast Aire and Vordul Mega. Origin: Harlem, New York City. Debut: The Cold Vein (2001) on Definitive Jux, produced by El-P. Follow-up album: Blade of the Ronin (2015).

A passionate appraisal of Cannibal Ox’s The Cold Vein, praising El-P’s futuristic production and the duo’s technical and visionary rhymes. Highlights include “Iron Galaxy,” “Raspberry Fields,” “Vein,” and the phoenix-themed closer. The review frames the album as epoch-making for underground hip hop.