Kutmasta Kurt may just be the most underappreciated and overlooked producer over the past decade. The Bay Area beatsmith has produced a handful of excellent albums from front to back (“Sex Style,” Dr. Dooom, Ultra, Masters of Illusion, Motion Man), and was instrumental in launching the career of Dilated Peoples with the classic single “Work The Angles.” With “Redneck Games” featuring multi-platinum artists such as The Beastie Boys and Linkin Park, Kurt may get a little more of the recognition he deserves. As it stands, he certainly got the attention of the US Olympic committee who hit Kurt and Waxploitation with a cease & desist for his original title “Redneck Olympics.”
“Redneck Games” isn’t really anything new, it’s a collection of hits, rare b-sides and remixes. To no surprise, you’ve got Dilated’s aforementioned “Work The Angles,” as fresh as it was the day I first heard it. Kurt and Motion Man’s dope remix of Linkin Park’s “In The End” (which Mike Shinoda specifically sought out Kurt for), and his classic “Body Movin” remix with the Beastie’s featuring his trademark chops and hard-hitting drums. “Golden Age” remains one of Planet Asia’s best songs to this day, and you can bet its here. Not to missed is his India-meets-The Bay banger “Wildin Out Remix” with Mos Def and Diverse. Even better is “360 Degrees” featuring Del and Mr. Lif, surely a backpackers wet dream. His remix of Blackalicous’ “Redemption” somehow blows away the original “Straight From The Heart” with PMD is the only thing that saved his last album from total disaster.
Sounds like a lot of good stuff no? I could go on (“Bringin’ It Back Remix,” “1,2,3,4 Remix,” “Ready To Rock With Us”), but all I’ll say is get the damn album. This is just a great collection of Kurt’s work outside of his full length productions (which you should have to), join the Redneck Games today.
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