A Constipated Monkey

Banking on the underground success of his singles "Walk Like a Duck" and "Uptown Shit," Kurious Jorge (the rapper, not the monkey from children's books) released his debut album in early 1994. The album's subtle mix of underground vigor and flavorful party anthems pleased many of hip-hop's discerning aficionados. A guest list that included the Hieroglyphics' Casual and DJ Lord Sear on the mic and a back-from-the-dead Bosco Money from Downtown Science, the Beatnuts, and Pete Nice and Daddy Rich on production gave the album a session feel. The album's wide range of samples, from the Blackbyrds to Fifth Dimension, made for a quirky overall musical effect. Kurious does well to play up the strength of his style, a concise and careful delivery without sacrificing wit. In the end, the catchy single "I'm Kurious" may be the album's only true watermark, but cuts like "Top Notch" and the B-side "Mansion and a Yacht," featuring Sadat X from Brand Nubian, are also bona fide mid-'90s hip-hop jams. ~ M.F. DiBella