CANIBUS
Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is an American rapper. He is noted for his intricate and complex rhyme schemes and punchlines, as well as his sound technique and aptitude as a battle rapper. He began rhyming in the mid-'90s and by 1995 formed a duo called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors) with Atlanta rapper Webb (now called C.I., also known as Central Intelligence). While he was with Webb, he took part in a legendary cypher with the Wu Tang Clan family in Buffalo, New York, which earned him respect from the rap veterans. For the first part of 1998, he was managed by the Fugees' Wyclef Jean, who was introduced to him by Jay-Z. It was at this time that the intense rivalry between him and rapper LL Cool J began. The battle stemmed from a collaboration with LL titled "4, 3, 2, 1" from L's 1997 album Phenomenon.
Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is an American rapper. He is noted for his intricate and complex rhyme schemes and punchlines, as well as his sound technique and aptitude as a battle rapper. He began rhyming in the mid-'90s and by 1995 formed a duo called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors) with Atlanta rapper Webb (now called C.I., also known as Central Intelligence). While he was with Webb, he took part in a legendary cypher with the Wu Tang Clan family in Buffalo, New York, which earned him respect from the rap veterans. For the first part of 1998, he was managed by the Fugees' Wyclef Jean, who was introduced to him by Jay-Z. It was at this time that the intense rivalry between him and rapper LL Cool J began. The battle stemmed from a collaboration with LL titled "4, 3, 2, 1" from L's 1997 album Phenomenon.
LL took offense to the lines, "L, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that", which referenced his tattoo of a microphone on his arm – and which Canibus claimed was his own way of showing the rap veteran respect – and wrote an indirect diss to Williams. After inking a deal with Universal Records in 1998, Canibus released his debut single, "Second Round K.O.", in which Williams commenced an all-out assault on LL for dissing him on "4, 3, 2, 1", this diss track has been considered by most to be one of the greatest disses of all time, along with other diss tracks such as Common’s "Bitch In Yoo" and Nas’s "Ether".
Canibus' debut album Can-I-Bus which included the Wyclef produced “Second Round K.O.” was certified Gold despite critics disapproval of both Canibus' subject matter and Wyclef's beats, most of which were considered inferior to both "Second Round K.O." and the artists' previous collaborations.
Canibus’ 2nd Album “2000 B.C.” released by Universal Music Group featured the first collaboration between Canibus and Kurupt, Ras Kass and Killah Priest, a rap supergroup collectively known as The HRSMN (referring to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse), on the track "Horsementality". Since 2000, the members of the group have worked together on various songs and rumors of a full-length HRSMN album are rampant to this day and include speculation about collaborations with Pharoahe Monch, Common and Rakim, among others.
After the critical and commercial failure of C True Hollywood Stories, Canibus was subject to criticism and ridicule from the rap industry until the release of Mic Club: The Curriculum, his fourth full-length album, towards the end of 2002. Although the production was handled almost entirely by little-known producers, some of them from Europe, the record proved to be a greater critical success than the previous year's release. Mic Club also saw Canibus return to a more scientific and complex rapping style, with a number of concept tracks and few songs with a chorus. The album was released on Mic Club Music, Canibus' own label.Following the release of Mic Club: The Curriculum, it was announced that Williams decided to join the United States Army, an unexpected decision which confused much of his fan base. Before commencing his work with the military, however, he recorded a number of tracks which he intended to be released on his next album, entitled Rip the Jacker.
