The history of hip-hop is full of eternal talents and What if… figures. New York rapper Kurious is one of them. A hot newcomer with a lot of power in the mid-nineties, the micro-magician was supposed to disappear from the scene after just one album – that alone would have been enough to create a myth, if he hadn’t briefly reappeared years later as a feature on the cult album Operation Doomsday by MF Doom, leaving behind a little nostalgia, at least among those in the know.
Now Majician has been released, the second album by Kurious, produced entirely by Mono En Stereo. Not only is it once again associated with MF Doom (who served as executive producer until his death), but it also picks up where Kurious left off in 1994 with his debut album A Constipated Monkey: between storytelling, self-reflection and lyrical style – writing about comedy and tragedy over rumble-crate beats of New York’s Golden Age flavor.
But let’s start at the beginning: Curious George is the main character of a series of children’s books (known in Germany as “Coco – der neugierige Affe”) that often follow the plot of George the monkey getting into trouble because of his curiosity, being rescued by his human friend, and learning moral lessons from his adventures. As a rapper, choosing this character as an inspiration for your own MC persona shows a certain self-deprecation, the confidence to succeed in the competitive world of rap, and above all, the courage to embarrass yourself.
Next to MF Doom
When Kurious Jorge debuted with A Constipated Monkey in the rap classic year of 1994, some would have called him a contender for the title. With mini-hits like 1992’s imaginative “Walk Like A Duck,” the streets had been watching the Spanish Harlem oddity for some time. After a label competition between Columbia and Def Jam, Jorge, of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, put his name on Kurious and released an album whose credits made the underground sit up and take notice. While some of the biggest names of the time, such as The SD-50s and The Beatnuts, made some of their most enduring productions here, the vocal lineup included Sandbox friend MF Grimm and Oakland’s own Casual, which was surprising given the growing East-West feud.
Down-to-earth attitude and class-conscious street smarts meet rap aficionados and an almost reflective hoodkid demeanor.
Jazz chops, call-and-response hooks, gut-busting bass – »CM« is a near-perfect distillation of everything that made NYC rap in the early nineties. Jorge also surprises with a twist. In addition to typical Braggadico lyricism and playful pop culture references, he is surprisingly vulnerable: »I’m thinkin’ of the past reminiscin’ on a 40/ Alcoholism started back when I was shorty/ I pray the Lord my soul to keep/ and think of how peaceful it is when I sleep«, he says on the dreamy »I’m Kurious (Remix)« about mental crises. A few months before Biggie’s »Suicidal Thoughts« from Ready To Die, mind you.
A down-to-earth attitude and class-conscious street smarts meets a rap-loving and almost reflective hoodkid demeanor – a mixture that was quite unusual in the nineties. Nevertheless, “A Constipated Monkey” remained in the ears and expeditions of only a few connoisseurs for more than three decades. It is said that Kurious then devoted himself to social projects for children. Maybe he chose the wrong label or missed the momentum of “Walk Like A Duck”. Or maybe he sensed in 1994, on the eve of the Shiny Suit era, that his down-to-earth freestyle cipher approach would only regain popularity from 1999 and his appearance on MF Doom’s Operation: Doomsday“. On the occasion of the release of Majician, 30 years after his debut, Kurious presents us his ten favorite records.
Kurious: This was the first album I had as a child and I would play it over and over, even in the summer. I became, and still remain, a huge Jackson 5 fan.
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Kurious: Love the movie, love disco and love the Bee Gees. Not only was this my introduction to the Bee Gees but to another Disco/R&B powerhouse, Tavares. I love these New York disco times and seeing my older cousins smoking and getting dressed to hit the clubs.
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Kruious: Love this album. This is The Jacksons one of many great contributions to a disco era I love dearly. Disco being a dominant factor in the background music of my childhood. Their songs, dance routines, and style will never be approached by any group ever in my opinion.
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Kurious: Mentioned this because it was the first hip hop album I owned and when I first heard their single »Rapper's Delight«, I was hooked. This album also featured 8th Wonder which is a definite classic.
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Kurious: I remember loving every song on this album. I saw the cover at a friend's house whose parent would play it and I, at maybe 9 years old, told my mom to get it for me. It was my intro to Stevie and shortly thereafter I remember getting »Musiquarium« and loving that so much as well.
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Kurious: This group was definitely background music in my Puerto Rican household and had so many classics. My Cuban dad told me later that he was also friends with some of the members.
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Kurious: Love this album, it was so funky to me and gritty while super uplifting. It's awesome from front to back and these guys were really having fun and bringing forth a feeling of what hip hop is to me at its best.
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Kurious: This record is a masterpiece of lyrical poetry and fearless artistry with a beautiful background of samples. These guys displayed an unassuming genius that is still in effect today, allowing us to just be ourselves. Otherworldly.
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Kurious: Absolutely love this album. These guys were so simple but futuristic at the same time. I did not grow up with them but visited them in my twenties. The hype was real and Revolver is one of their creative bests among many others .
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Kurious: No explanation needed.
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