Cannibal Ox

Formed by Harlem rappers Vast Aire and Vordul Megilah, Cannibal Ox issued their first project, The Cold Vein, in 2001 on Def Jux with El-P handling production duties. The album appeared together with two singles, “Vein” and “The F Word.” Critics responded enthusiastically: U.K. style magazine The Face named The Cold Vein the hip-hop album of the year, while The Wire called it the strongest record in the genre for quite some time. Early 2002 brought Oxtrumentals, an album assembled from El-P’s Cannibal Ox instrumentals, and 2005 saw the release of the live set Return of the Ox: Live at CMJ. Although the pair never announced a formal disbandment, they waited until 2012 to regroup and confirm plans for new music. Confirmation came the next year with the Gotham EP; two years later Blade of the Ronin arrived, carrying production from Bill Cosmiq along with guest spots by MF Doom, eLZhi, and U-God.