Infinite Sounds UK: Single Review: Monkeypox by Kurious and Cut Beetlez

Monkeypox

Kurious & Cut Beetlez

It’s always a pleasure to be asked to review a release by the Cut Beetlez, and their latest release alongside Kurious is no exception. This release is also the first release by fledgling record label Weaponize Records and comes from the forthcoming album ‘Monkeyman’.

Now if you are a regular reader to the blog, you will know that the Cut Beetlez have featured here a few times with the likes of What Beetlez? (2020), Gold Pyramids on Black Sand (2021 with Dopamine 189) and Jazz Spastiks vs Cut Beetlez (2022) and that’s just to name a few but, check the links to read those reviews too.

The legendary and elusive figure of Kurious has not yet featured here so here is just a little bit about him. Born of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent he first appeared on the album Dust To Dust by Pete Nice and DJ Richie Rich back in 1993 and was they who helped him to get his first record deal via the Bobbito and Nice’s Hoppoh imprint of Columbia Records. Kurious would them release his debut ‘Walk Like a Duck’ in 1992 and his debut album ‘A Constipated Monkey’, having then signed to Sony. He then withdrew from the scene, only making a couple of guest appearances, until he re-emerged in 1999 on the MF DOOM track ‘?’ from Operation:Doomsday. 2001 would then see him release the single ‘All Great’ and them making more guest appearances. His second album ‘II’ would be released in 2009. Kurious has been a regular contributor to KMD and MF DOOM projects over the years and has also worked with artists such as Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, MF Grimm, MC Search and Homeboy Sandman.

Let’s get into this single now…

As always Monkeypox has that experimental, funky jazz vibe that the Cut Beetlez are known for but, here the verses are all underpinned by this fusion of drums, keys, and bass, while the bridge between each verse brings in the horns and some furious cuts that spin you mind outta control. With all this in mind Kurious uses his slick and clever lyrical prowess to such good effect by delivering up-tempo flows of similes, metaphors and more, packed full of mind bending, witty lyricism that takes a few listens just to get a hold of. Now this might not be one of those tracks with hard-hitting story to get your mind working but, it is one of those tracks with the sort of lyrics and sound that just has a feel-good, get ya body moving, infectious vibe that gives you the sort of grin you just can’t hide. This is such a perfect slice of Jazz Hop fusion goodness that is perfect for keeping those summer parties rocking to the early hours.

The single also comes with a Monkeypox remix and I would love to say that the remix changes the whole vibe of the track while taking nothing away from the lyrics of Kurious, and maybe it does? But I can’t tell you that because that’s a secret right now, unless you we’re lucky enough to pre-order the single and you will already know how dope it is. Just another reason to grab a copy now before they are all gone…

I can see why this is the first single off the album, because if this is just a taster of what is to come on the album then, damn, Monkeyman is gonna be right up there as one of the standout albums of the year. What I really like about this is that you have one of Hip Hop’s enigmatic figures, in Kurious, teaming with one of Hip Hop’s most exciting DJ/producer duo’s, to show that not only is Hip Hop far from dead and buried but, with sounds like this coming from the underground scene, Hip Hop is building back to be a force to be reckoned with once again.

The Cut Beetlez keep pushing the boundaries of Hip Hop and Jazz fusion and here it just works so well with the lyrics Kurious delivers. The sound really creates this instant strong anticipation to see what the Monkyman LP will bring. This really does feel like on of those made in heaven Hip Hop collaborations.

That universal Hip Hop feel is here too; where Hip Hop shows how to unite us all, with Kurious from New York, USA and the Cut Beetlez from Finland, it shows that Hip Hop, and perhaps music in general, has the power to unite everyone the world over, you just have to be open to that notion and once you are, you can see the true power of the music we all enjoy so much.

The Monkeypox single is out now on Weaponize Records with a strictly limited run of fresh green 7” vinyl with cover artwork by the Cut Beetlez very own HP Lovescratch.

My huge thanks to DJ J-Man of the Cut Beetlez for sending this one my way.

On That Note,

See ya next time.

Steve.

LINKS

Get the single from Weaponize Records Bandcamp Here:

https://weaponizerecords.bandcamp.com/album/monkeypox

Kurious Links:

https://www.instagram.com/kurious97beast/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eDE3plOEiudDd9q1Ev3IQ

https://www.youtube.com/user/KuriousJorgeTV

Cut Beetlez Links: