Okayplayer.com Reviews Something Random
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 10:11 PM
By System Admin

For those who may not be up on Cheap Cologne, lets take it back a little. 2004 could be described as the year that Jay-Z dropped the acapellas to his critically acclaimed Black Album. The Cheap Cologne rendition, The Double Black Album, focused on taking tunes from Metallica and meshing them with Jay's narratives from his now famed opus. It was one of the most widely recognized remixes which got overshadowed from the fame of The Grey Album created by Dangermouse. Now he moves away from the sample based production on releases such as The Double Black Album, and Broke Ass Beats, to focus on more live instrumentation with up and coming lyricists on his newest release Something Random.

As described in the liner notes, Something Random is just that. These are mainly focused upon productions he has concocted with well-known underground mainstays and a plethora of local celebrities from his hometown of Minneapolis, but never sufficed. Some of the gems on this release show up with such locals as Carnage & Out of Bounds on ?Minnesota Nice?, The Unknown Prophets on "Not Today", spoken word artist Desdamona drops "Press Rewind" and local collective Kanser on "I Don?t Relate". The bulk of these artists drop whirlwind lyrics as Cheap Cologne comes up with clever instrumentation as the backdrop for the lyricists to drop knowledge gems on.

In addition, the underground isn't forgotten either. I Self Divine of the Micranots appears on the opening opus "Know What I Mean?", while Pigeon John from LA Symphony appears on "Barry Manilow Is Alive and Well". Elsewhere Azeem appears on "The Business" and Golden and Jayechs drop the highlight "Keep Diggin'". Icon the Mic King collaborates with Ceschi on "People Over Profit", and Matza I joins Cheap Cologne on "Dayz Ahead", whereas new jack people such as The Lucky Stiffs appear on "Passin? The Torch", and Arecee gets in on the fun with his release "Obsessive Clipping".

Something Random will prove to be the push to pursue producers to be as open to collaborations as Cheap Cologne, and at the same time show that maybe random can be good.



Pulse Reviews Just A Little Sample
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 10:01 PM
By System Admin

Minneapolis musicians have always broken new ground, especially when it comes to fusing diverse genres of music, and Just A Little Sample is no exception. Just A Little Sample is a groundbreaking collage of vocal social commentary over an expert jumble of up-tempo Hip-Hop beats with snappy high hats, kicks and poppy snares. Kind of jazzy and a bit movie soundtrack-ish at points, Just A Little Sample's blend of ambient styles has something for everyone.
"Girls and boys, this is listening time" says the '60s-style schoolteacher on "Operation," the opening cut of Cologne's 16-track album. The introductory song does a great job of preparing the listener for the sonically adventurous ride ahead (which features cameos by popular underground Hip-Hop artists including, Pigeon John, Paul Z, Slug, Circus and Awol One). "Believe Me" is a sinister track featuring the vocal clips of Charles Manson complaining about his treatment behind bars and letting listeners into a few of his diabolical thoughts. Just when the gloom and doom of "Believe Me" is about to become overwhelming for listeners, the hopeful and upbeat "Seventy One" comes to the rescue, with a helping of Bob Marley style happiness. An instrumental track, "Seventy One" could very well be a song about the highs and lows of life or love.

"Floating Away," featuring Elias, has a hook that is reminiscent of a jovial seventies television show theme song coupled with matter-of-fact inspirational lyrics ("I'm floating away, up on a cloud one shiny day.") "Faustus' Diary" featuring Gentle Jones is a downer, providing another jarring dose of sad reality a la "Believe Me." The song sets forth a grim tale (Dr. John Faustas mutiliates a prostitute and then ends his own life) guaranteed to make the listener reflect on the darker side of life. Just when the exploration of the insane psyche is beginning to become wearing, you're brought back to reality, well "Dreality" (with special guest DJ T-Rock)-a title derived from the words "dream" and "reality." The suitably surreal music captures that Saturday morning hangover feeling exceptionally well.

"City vs. Soil" featuring Gentle Jones and Unsung is a hodgepodge of environmentally conscious punch lines and phrases certain to raise the anxiety levels of anyone concerned with the earth's well being. Or at the very least inspire Jane and John Doe to start thinking about the issue. Set to a near trance-like musical accompaniment "City vs. Soil" requires close following in order to fully comprehend the gurgle of different sounds and thoughts that make up the track.

President Bush (senior) also makes a cameo describing the Gulf war in "Sound Familiar?" The similarities between the sampled speech and his son's recent speeches surrounding the Iraqi war are downright eerie, oozing with all of the same egotism and political venom. Paired with a haunted, sci-fi beat, the track expertly captures the feel of the escalation of warfare and probably should have been titled "De Ja Vu'."

All of the tracks on this diversely styled album are vivid constructions, fitting of the colorful cover design provided for them by Minneapolis artist Corey Hanssen. Cheap Cologne isn't afraid to venture into challenging territory (musically, politically or psychologically) and seems intent on daring his listeners to follow him throughout the winding trip that is Just A Little Sample.
- Kandis Knight Pulse Of The Twin Cites



MTV.com CC & DM Inspire Jay-Z/Linkin Park Collab
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 9:19 PM
By System Admin

While Shinoda masterminded the project, Jay lit the first spark by contacting Linkin Park about a possible collaboration after hearing Danger Mouse's Grey Album (which combined Jay-Z's The Black Album with the Beatles' White Album) and Cheap Cologne's Double Black Album (a blend of The Black Album and Metallica's Black Album).

www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491889/20041004/jay_z.jhtml



Inbox Magazine Something Random Interview/Article
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 8:21 PM
By System Admin

Random Minneapolis Hip-Hop By Kandis "Kandi-apolis" Knight

Being a music journalist in Minneapolis has turned me into a spoiled music monster with an insatiable appetite for random music. In Minneapolis, we boast about our music because it is all the diverse offspring of random Minneapolis? greats. From Prince, to Bob Dylan, to Spy Mob, to Sounds of Blackness, to Atmosphere. Yes, we especially like our hip-hop random.

Want to talk about random Minneapolis hiphop? If rock and hip-hop were to have a child, the baby would definitely be the tattoo clad Minneapolis? rocker/ hip-hopper Cheap Cologne. This kid is always busy in his Uptown Minneapolis basement studio listening to, studying and making music. Like a wizard churning up a special potion, Cheap Cologne brings good mixed genre music together.

On this beautiful Minneapolis autumn day, Cheap Cologne had none other than Rhymesayers intellectual hoodstar, I Self Devine, in a session. How random is that? Think Deftones meets Public Enemy random. But it is all love in my city where random musicians have made music together for years. I Self is riding high off the recent release of his highly anticipated album Self Destruction. Self Destruction is definitely on legendary status make sure you cop it. I mean it when I say we have a phenomenon on our hands here in Minneapolis because there is a plethora of random hip-hop music all ready to take off. Today I Self finished a song titled ?Know What I Mean?? ?Know What I Mean?? is the final track to go on Cheap Cologne?s latest project, Something Random released in 2006.

Something Random is exactly that...something random, said Cologne. ?It just kinda happened. These are songs that I have either recorded or remixed for someone that is either unreleased or on another project in a land far, far away from me. They (the beats) just need a home.?

Random beats found a home when matched up with a slew of random artists such as New Orlean?s hip-hop group The Lucky Spliffs, (Bionik Brown & KnowOne, DJ Quickie Mart). Cheap Cologne was able to network with a host of out of state hip-hop artists while on tour with his label, Bomb Hip-Hop.

You will fall in love with a track called ?Minnesota Nice? featuring Minneapolis wordsmith Carnage and Out of Bounds.
Back Pocket features New York?s emcee Arecee and you can hear the years and wisdom in Zach and Unicus?s voice, in a song called ?I Don?t Relate? by Kanser (Minneapolis). Another song that goes off the deep edge is ?Electronic Arts? featuring Gentle Jones (Delaware). ?Dayz Ahead? features a young Midwest prophet going by the name of Mazta I (Minneapolis). The track ?People Over Profit? features Ceschi & iCon The Mic King (Illadelphia). This track definitely adds to the intellectual theme embedded in both lyrics and production sewn through this entire project. ?Not Today? is the offering by The Unknown Prophets, their gritty Northeast Minneapolis style always makes you feel like you are in an abandoned industrial warehouse somewhere. On the album you will also find songs such as ?Liquid Cement? featuring Braille (Oregon), produced with the help of KG of Out of Bounds, ?Stay Tuned? is a track by newcomer Capaciti (Minneapolis) and Defcon 4 featuring Caligula (New Orleans). One of my personal favorites is called ?Crosstown? featuring Dialogue Elevaters Crew (Minneapolis) and the only female track on the album is called ?Press Rewind? it features well-known spoken word artist Desdemona (Minneapolis).

Something Random is set to bring a lot of much needed attention to our random Minneapolis hip-hop scene, full of random but fantastic musicians.



Pulse Roundup "Best Mix Cd and Best Producer
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:20 PM
By System Admin

When I started writing this column over a year ago people said it wouldn?t last. They said there weren?t enough local Hip-Hop artists to be profiled. I found the opposite to be true. There aren?t enough local journalists to cover all of the shows, album releases and stories that need to be reported. As we say ?peace out? to 2004, I?m celebrating my second New Year writing VERB. It?s still a great honor and I?m constantly busy trying to keep up with the many talented local Hip-Hop artists.

VERB was created to express the existence, the occurrence and the very action of what Hip-Hop is here in the Twin Cities. With the help of my editor, Rob van Alstyne and the entire staff at the Pulse of the Twin Cities, I believe we have accomplished our goal. Pulse of The Twin Cities took a big risk by assigning a journalist to exclusively cover local Hip-Hop locally?and I like to think it has paid off.

In 2004, local Hip-Hop received a ton of media attention. Many artists put out albums and there were shows nearly every night of the week. We saw new venues open their doors to Hip-Hop performances and new Hip-Hop related businesses emerge, including Balance (BalanceTC.com). As 2005 approaches we are witnessing other Hip-Hop related businesses grow, including the Fifth Element, headquarters of Rhymesayers Entertainment which is currently expanding into the building next door and adding a second level!

We saw BIOHH and Underground Music and Fashion expand their clothing lines and put on some pretty impressive Hip-Hop fashion shows. We watched other Hip-Hop related businesses grow, including Mindstate, Vital Vinyl, Digital City, DJ?s Music Emporium, etc. I want to thank those who support VERB and local Hip-Hop and encourage you to continue to do so in 2005.
On behalf of VERB and Pulse of The Twin Cities we congratulate the following artists and groups for work well done in 2004. We look forward to the release of your new projects in 2005.
The 2004 Year In Twin Cities Hip-Hop (?YITCHH!!) Awards

1. Best Hip-Hop Artist - P.O.S.
2. Best Group - Doomtree
3. Best New Artist/Group - Big Quarters
4. Best Producer - Cheap Cologne
5. Best Mix CD - Double Black Album
6. Best All Around Album - Falling Forward, Traditional Methods
7. Best DJ - Nikoless
8. Best Hip-Hop Radio Show - RSE RADIO
9. Best Live Venue for Hip-Hop - The Dinkytowner
10. Best Hip-Hop Event - 3rd Annual Celebration of Hip-Hop



Counterpunch On Double Black
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:19 PM
By System Admin

When Jay-Z released the accapella version of his Black CD, remixers jumped on the album, and the mash-up was on. DJ Dangermouse flipped it with Beatles samples, which roundly brought charges of blasphemy from the Recording Industry Of America (RIAA), EMI and others who had a vested interest in the Fab Four's musical catalogue. Since the Beatles' White album was flipped with Jigga's Black, it was dubbed the Grey album. When Weezer's Blue CD was hooked up with Jay-Z's CD, it would snag a title that was already made famous by the Rolling Stones, the Black And Blue album.

Now, enter Sandman. The Double Black CD is Jigga spitting over Metallica, courtesy of Minnesota DJ, Cheap Cologne. Because both Metallica and Jay-Z have a Black album, this CD is known as the Double Black album

When the RIAA caught a whiff of Cheap Cologne, they quickly sent him a letter, warning, "This activity has not been authorized by our member record companies, and must cease immediately." Before Lars Ullrich could even show up to complain on CNN, a copy of the March 5, 2004 letter made its way to Lee Ballinger and Dave Marsh's longtime music industry newsletter, Rock And Roll Confidential. In the letter, Cologne was threatened with prison ("up to five years"), and/or a fine up to $250.000. The turn of events with the Black album had the RIAA only seeing red.

Fresh out the frying pan, into the fire, Cologne explained on MTV that the whole thing was just a joke. Even if he does happen to be an incredibly talented producer. No doubt, the album proves that you can be mad talented and have an uncanny sense of humor. Just ask Eminem.

Cologne says that without any explanation, the RIAA called him "a few days later and said it was a mistake." When he asked for further clarification, it was refused.

Ironically, the Mouse, or at least his musical work, is attracting major cheese. People were paying up to $160 on ebay for various incarnations of the Grey Album. That kind of makes you wonder about those claims from The RIAA that sales were down just because "people don't want to pay for music anymore, and they just want to download it for free." Ironically, the Grey album is one of those records that proves people are willing to pay for their music---that is, if they don't feel like they're getting ripped off.

Cologne says he only pressed 300 copies, which are promotional items, in exchange for those who donate on Paypal and get his stickers bearing his moniker, which are quickly becoming a fashionable statement.

Meanwhile, the Double Black album has received critical acclaim. Even the NY Times acknowledged, "Metallica riffs turn Jay-Z into a rocker." Double Black is permeated with quality, although it doesn't carry the Good Housekeeping Seal of the RIAA.

Jay-Z's remake of Ice-T's "99 Problems," laced with Metallica's "Sad But True," spins so sick, it's terminal. Another impressive track on the disc is "Change Clothes," which was mixed with Metallica's " Wherever I May Roam." Throughout the entire CD, as Metallica rides shotgun behind Jay-Z, it becomes strikingly clear that there will continue to be more of these studio creations in the future, whether sanctioned or not.

Had it been Dr. Dre who had recorded this, it's likely that his label would have left no stone unturned to get most of these samples cleared. Unfortunately, Cheap Cologne doesn't have such corporate back up, and with his talent, he really should.

Sad but true.

Phyllis Pollack is a music journalist and publicist in Los Angeles.



Downhill Battle On Jay-Z/Metallica Mash-Up
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:18 PM
By System Admin

When, in December of 2003, Jay-Z released an acapella version of his final record, The Black Album, many DJs took it as an opportunity to test their mixing skills. In January, LA-Based DJ Danger Mouse released The Grey Album, a mix of Jay-Z's vocals from The Black Album with music built from samples of the Beatles' White Album. With no commercial promotion, The Grey Album became extremely popular and received critical acclaim. When Minnesota DJ Cheap Cologne heard Danger Mouse's creation, he had an idea. He, too, would remix Jay-Z's Black Album, but with a different color than White. Cheap Cologne would use Metallica's eponymous "Black Album" as a backdrop for Jay-Z's Black Album's vocals.

Described by Cheap Cologne as a "joke that went too far," The Double Black album is a very compelling second look at both Metallica and Jay-Z's creations. Cheap Cologne transforms Jay-Z?s Black Album into what rap-metal always should have been; metal with a "heart", rap with an "edge" and impressive as both a rap and a metal record on its own terms. The result maintains the integrity of both Black Albums and this is its most significant achievement.

Like every other Jay-Z remix that has appeared (see jayzconstructionset.com for more), Cheap Cologne did not ask either Metallica or Jay-Z for permission to sample their music. For most DJs, attempting to gain the legal clearance to sample is impossibly difficult and expensive. It?s unlikely that Metallica would have authorized this album under any circumstances, but if they did, the expense would have been well beyond what Cheap Cologne could afford. But DJs like Cheap Cologne are not creating these remixes for the money; instead, The Double Black Album is an exercise in creativity. Cheap Cologne knew he couldn?t sell this disc commercially, he just wanted people to hear what he had created. He pressed only 300 copies of Double Black and distributed most of them for free.

Still, on March 5, 2004, DJ Cheap Cologne received a cease-and-desist order, not from neither Metallica or Jay-Z, but from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), an industry group that represents the five major record labels. The letter threatened both jail time and a $250,000 fine if he didn't comply with the RIAA's demand: that Cheap Cologne curtail all distribution of the Double Black Album, effectively censoring the album. A few days after he received the letter, Cheap Cologne went on MTV to explain that Double Black was a "joke". Bizarrely, he received a phone call the following day from an RIAA official who retracted the letter they had sent, telling him that it was a "mistake", and refusing to give a more detailed explanation.

-Rebecca Laurie, Downhill Battle



City Pages Blurb
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:15 PM
By System Admin

Cheap Cologne: His Jay-Z/Metallica remix was genius. He had the RIAA on his back threatening to hem him up for copyright infringement. He is laughing now. I keep my eye on this man's next move: He understands the business, he has talent, and he is working with some of the best MCs in this city.

--Kandis Knight



City Pages Something Random Article
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:13 PM
By System Admin

"Nobody's mad that this CD is coming out," says Minneapolis hip-hop producer and DJ Cheap Cologne about his latest album, Something Random (Broke-Ass Records). "There's no illegal mashups or anything." "For a change," he might have added. Rarely recognized at shows, Cologne's name is known around the world for combining Jay-Z's The Black Album and Metallica's self-titled "black album" as 2004's The Double Black Album, which has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times since being made available for free at Bannedmusic.org. (Jay-Z even said it gave him the idea to work with Linkin Park.)

The Recording Industry Association of America sent Cologne a cease-and-desist letter shortly after the mashup appeared, but later called to say they'd made a mistake. Even James Hetfield gave the thumbs up. "There's some creative minds out there putting things together," he told Canada's CanWest News Service.

Cologne, who won't give his real name beyond "John K," grew up in South Minneapolis, breakdancing and listening to Slayer. He says that, along with future New Orleans Saint Sean Lumpkin, he was one of two kids b-boying at Annunciation School in the early '80s. At a recent house party, he could be seen inducing a wince or three when he persuaded the DJ to play his homemade Nirvana-meets-Ludacris (and -Snoop Dogg, and -Jay-Z) remix disc. The man can't help himself.

His new disc, however, is more about the voice talent. (Check out his Myspace page for more music.) Out-of-towners such as Pigeon John and Spearhead's Azeem appear on lushly orchestrated tracks alongside a cross-section of hot locals--I Self Devine, Desdamona, Mazta I, Capaciti, and many more. These songs were recorded casually, among friends, and over time. But the results are required listening for fans of any of the above. And a Truth Maze-hosted CD release party on Saturday at the Dinkytowner might be the most talent-rich local hip-hop event of the year.

"Everybody that's on my CD, with the exception of Capaciti, has been around Minneapolis doing things for years," says Cologne. "Carnage and Out of Bounds, Unknown Prophets and Kanser, they've been performing in front of sometimes 40 people for ten years now. Basically we're just all starving artists trying to make a living doing what we want to do."
-Peter Scholtes, City Pages



Universal Music Comments On Mash Up Album
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:12 PM
By System Admin

Metallica have become the latest band to go under the musical knife alongside Jay-Z's 'the Black Album'. Following the recent - and controversial - success of Danger Mouse's 'The Grey Album', which spliced together The Beatles' 'The White Album' and 'The Black Album', Cheap Cologne has put out a taster of the next possible instalment of the craze. - Universal Music

XLR8R Magazine # 2 on The Lucky 13
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:12 PM
By System Admin

"CHEAP COLOGNE "JUST A LITTLE SAMPLE" (Bomb/US/CD) Dave Paul always comes with the goods, like his latest installment of the seminal Return of the DJ, Volume 5, but this here Cheap Cologne is something else entireley. Part indie rock/hip-hop with turntablism and jazz licks and MCs, they've just gotta be from someplace bizarre like Minnesota or Chicago. Tracks to check are "Sobercab", the lovely "Wheezing" and the almost indescribable "Poke @ The Art"." - #2 on Toph One's Lucky 13 (XLR8R)

New York Times Comments On Jay-Z/Metallica Mash-Up
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:11 PM
By System Admin

CHEAP COLOGNE "The Double Black Album" (www.broke-ass.com): An inevitable combination: Jay-Z meets Metallica's black album, the 1991 "Metallica." Metallica's somber power chords and brooding slow arpeggios underline what Jay-Z calls "my pain and my struggle." The Metallica riffs turn Jay-Z into a rocker with a perpetual chip on his shoulder. . -Jon Pareles, NY Times

MTV.com Blurb
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:11 PM
By System Admin

The Double Black Album. "It started out as a joke when I made one song," Cheap Cologne said, "but like a lot of jokes I guess it went too far." - MTV News

Rolling Stone Comments On Double Black
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:10 PM
By System Admin

Jay-Z vs. Metallica: The Double Black Album - Minneapolis' Cheap Cologne brings metal cred to Jay-Z by combining both artists'Black Album "Enter Sandman" finds a new roll as the eerie backdrop for Hova's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "99 Problems" sounds perfect with Metallica's "Sad But True" - Rolling Stone

James Hetfield Comments On Jay-Z Vs. Metallica Album
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:08 PM
By System Admin

Hetfield still isn't a fan of illegal downloads, but he likes the idea of DJ Cheap Cologne's unauthorized reworking of Metallica's Black Album with Jay-Z's Black Album. The Recording Industry Association of America is trying to block the distribution of the so-called Double Black Album, but Hetfield won't. ``I think that's cool,'' he says. ``There's some creative minds out there putting things together. Why not? I don't see how we can stop it.- James Hetfield of Metallica tells Edmonton Journal 3/19/04

XLR8R Magazine Just A Little Sample Blurb
Tue, 09-Jan-2007 7:07 PM
By System Admin

This here Cheap Cologne is something else entirely... If Dick Clark were commissioned to produce a hip-hip record, Just A Little Sample would be his brainchild. Funneling pop culture references from all walks of life, Twin Cities producer/DJ Cheap Cologne has created a divinely diverse, devoted and just plain hilarious maiden LP. Like any white suburban youth who grew up on equal parts Pantera and Public Enemy, Cheap Cologne drops a schizoid mix of Anglo angst. Whether it's Pigeon John resurrecting Tony Danza, Slug sparring over Slayer's "Spirit In Black" or CC's cheeky homage to pacifiers and glowsticks ("Ravers Suck"), this album seems to have the Axe Effect. - Carelton Curtis, XLR8R Magazine