January 18, 2019

Peanut Butter Wolf "My Vinyl Weighs A Ton" (CMJ, 1999)


Released on this day in 1999, Peanut Butter Wolf's debut studio album "My Vinyl Weighs A Ton" is one the most important releases to come out of indie hip-hop in the late 90s. In the March (1999) issue of CMJ New Music Monthly, Brian Coleman reviews the album saying, "San Francisco's Stones Throw label has been pumping out amazing underground hip-hop for over two years now, and it's about time that the label's proprietor, DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, finally get his chance to shine. As he proves on his debut full-length, he's not only Stones Throw's CEO and A&R Director, but also its best musical resource. As a producer, Peanut Butter has an obvious love for both hard drums and tossing changes into a track mid-song, making damn sure that you're paying attention. Outside of the three supreme DJ-centered tracks (including the breathtaking epic "Tale Of Five Cities," which features Kid Koala, Rob Swift, Shortkut, Cut Chemist and J-Rocc, among others, cutting like mad), it's the vocalists who make this the truly props-worthy package. Planet Asia kills on "Definition Of Ill" and "In Your Area," Rasco rips up "Hold Up" and "Run The Line," the skills of the late Charizma are remembered with "Keep On Rockin' It," and the Lootpack and Kazi represent solidly on "Styles, Crews, Flows, Beats" and "Breaks 'Em Down," respectively. For the best of what the left coast has to offer, you won't do much better than this." Listen to it HERE, and the original review is below...