Son Of Bazerk - Bazerk Bazerk Bazerk (1991)

One of the rowdiest, craziest, noisiest, most animated records the rap world has seen, Bazerk Bazerk Bazerk recalls everything from James Brown to Bad Brains to the Time to King Tubby to...well, a great number of things -- occasionally within the span of one track. With the Bomb Squad producing their singular brand of controlled chaos, Son of Bazerk's commanding, amped-up Bobby Byrd-like barks and grunts take center stage, while the four-member (?) No Self Control & the Band -- who often pipe in vocally -- act as support. Energizing lead single "Change the Style" gained the most attention for good reason; its multiple tempo shifts constantly revert to a hyperactive funk arrangement, with its diversions dipping into doo wop, dub, and thrash. "Sex, Sex and More Sex" is less about Bazerk's sexual prowess and more about the complications of a night out ("So kill all that noise about your crackhead boyfriend -- you three ladies grab your coats we five thousand."). A major change of pitch occurs in "N-41," when the whole crew shares the mike over little more than a skeletal, propulsive machine beat. Similar to most Bomb Squad productions, the album has a merciless up-down-up-down sequence, with tracks continually flowing directly into each other. This only intensifies the breathless mania of the album. The only gripe with the record is that not enough room is left for squeaky MC Halfpint; every single one of her exultations, shrieks, and background vocals is priceless.