Canibus
Born: 1974
Location: Kingston, Jamaica
Genre: Hip Hop
Years Active: 1996 -
Real Name: Germaine Williams
Meaning of the Name: Pronounced "cannabis". Can I Bus also means can he bust a rhyme.
Way of Working: Raps over a producers beats
Associated: The Four Horsemen, T.H.E.M.
Essential Releases
Can-I-Bus (1998)
Disappointing debut that has some gems.
2000 BC (2000)
Improved effort showcasing his dexterous delivery.
Lost Lyrics (2004)
A collection of classic verses.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Canibus is a university educated former Department of Justice employee. He attended Georgia State University and worked for the DoJ as an analyst, which isn't the usual career trajectory of a rapper. When he first emerged in the mid-90s, the scene was set for a coronation. >Hip hop had found a new king. Only it wasn't to be.
The technical prowess and lyrical proficiency displayed on early releases, such as his feature on Desperados by The Firm and on his freestyles for DJ Clue weren't enough to cement Canibus as one of hip hop's truly great emcees. While he was a brilliant rapper, he didn't connect with people on an emotional level. Some of his songs lacked replayability, weren't evocative of a time or place, and didn't speak to the heart. Canibus, or as he sometimes calls himself, the cerebral assassin, is a rapper for the mind. None of this, however, takes away from his strengths.
He paints pictures with words in a way few can: "duck down like we in Nam fighting the Viet Cong screaming incoming when I see a bomb". He also raps about a vast and esoteric range of subjects, such as microbiology, that give his songs a unique flavour. Can-I-Bus was received poorly, not because it was a bad album, but because it didn't reach the height of its expectations.
Singles and guest appearances are one thing, but the greats are forged in the fire of the album. For musicians, making a classic album is the Everest. Throughout his career, Canibus released over fifteen solo records and five as a part of a group. They include some great songs, such as Buckingham Palace, but none are great albums. Nas released a classic on his first try.
The difference between potentially great and great seems small but is enormous. It's the ability to connect with people on an emotional level that puts them in the middle of a song as an active participant. Listeners identify with the music because they feel it represents their own experiences, and as such, feel a sense of ownership over it. "This is our song" people say as they dance the first dance at their weddings. Canibus never reached those lofty heights, but as a pure spectacle of lyrical dexterity, his work is some of the best.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
55
Mental Impact
95
Originality
65
Artistry
65
Authenticity
60
Live
75
Production
65
Musicianship
60
Rapping
95
Songwriting
85
Danceability
35
Fun
65
Consistency
40
Range
40
Cool
60
Charisma
60
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications >>>
- Can-I-Bus: Gold in USA
Charts >>>
- Can-I-Bus: #2 in USA
Critics
CRITICISM
- Canibus was discharged from the U.S. army for smoking weed.
- 'Can-I-Bus', the debut album by Canibus, was considered a major disappointment by hip hop fans who had expected a classic based on the strength of his early features. The fans reaction to the album was so scathing that Canibus apologised for it and in his 2000 song 2000 B.C. he blamed the producer Wyclef for its poor performance "you mad at the last album I apologize for it, I can't call it, motherfucking Wyclef spoiled it".
