Audiopile Review: One of thee finest moments in ‘90s underground hip-hop, the perpetually slept-on 1996 debut by Juggaknots, is finally back in print. Initially released on Bobbito’s legendary Fondle ‘Em Records, the label that first issued MF Doom’s game-changing Operation Doomsday, Re:Release was only whispered about in underground circles during the back half of the ‘90s until a handful of reissues popped up at the turn of the century, drawing new attention to the unsung gem. Even if you didn’t catch the album the firs time around or on its handful of reissues, you’ve likely already heard either Breezly Brewin or Buddy Slim—the pair who made up the initial incarnation of Juggaknots—appearing on Prince Paul’s Prince Among Thieves, Cannibal Ox’s F Word EP, alongside Mr. Len, or, most notably, via Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus reissue. Both Can Ox and Co Flow, who rose from the same mid-late 90s NYC scene, are excellent starting points for pinpointing the Juggaknots style—the production has the same industrial-strength thickness as El-P’s during this period. From the stark cello, haunting piano sample (lifted from Coltrane’s iconic rendition of “My Favourite Things”) and the rough drum breaks of “Trouble Man”, or the low-rumbling dark jazz grind of “Jivetalk”, reveal a group in step with the proto-Def Jux aesthetic. While they had the visionary impulse that was in line with their NYC brethren, they also incorporated the rugged boom-bap style that dominated the East Coast sound during the mid 90s. Heavy use of faded horns, melancholic jazz samples and, of course, the blunted breaks that were de rigueur of the era, are found across the album. The dense production is matched by the relentless flows and the concise verbiage of both Breezly and Buddy, who spin thickets of street-wise knowledge and hardened battle raps. While the Juggaknots have remained a footnote in hip-hop history, its worth mentioning that Billy Woods considers them a key influence, hearing what could be possible in hip-hop. Its high praise from an artist who is arguably at the forefront of underground hip-hop right now, making this debut all the more relevant 30 years after release.

Originally released as a nine-track LP on Bobbito Garcia’s legendary Fondle ‘Em Records in 1996, the Juggaknots’ debut made a massive impact and it remains one of the most revered and groundbreaking releases of the ‘90s independent hip-hop scene. Ahead of their time, the sibling trio of Breeze Brewin, Queen Herawin and Buddy Slim deftly combine their knack for braggadocio, humor and social commentary with thick, low-end heavy beats for their inaugural effort. It’s an album that helped lay the bedrock for what would become the alternative hip-hop subgenre that thrives today.

Re:Release: Clear Blue Skies presents their original debut LP in a whole new light with 11 additional tracks comprising re-mastered music and three bonus mixes.