MF Doom reissues controversial KMD recording for Record Store Day

MF Doom aka Zev Love X (above) is reissuing KMD's Black Bastards album on April 18th. 

The controversial sophomore album Black Bastards (Bl_ck B_st_rds) from MF Doom's first group KMD is being reissued by Doom's own Metalface Records imprint for Record Store Day 2015 in the format of a children’s pop-up book.

This includes two CDs – the original album and second disc of bonus material – and a 7" picture disc of “What A Nigga Know” housed in the back cover featuring the group’s iconic “sambo” mascot.

In the deeper digging follow-up to Brian Coleman's Check The Technique hip-hop guide – Check the Technique Vol. 2: More Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies (Wax Facts Press) – the author writes extensively about KMD's second album and it’s critical role in shaping the MF Doom persona of the rapper then known as Zev Love X.

“There are few releases in hip-hop history with as much mystery behind them as KMD’s second full-length, Black Bastards. The album, whose cover boldly depicted a cartoon ‘Sambo’ being hanged, didn’t even receive the insult of being shelved or pushed back by Elektra Records upon its completion in 1994. Instead, it was outright refused, with very little above-board explanation as to the reason, or even much of an apology, as they ushered the group’s leader out the door.”

This being a Record Store Day release, Black Bastards will be available on April 18th at participating record stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and online at rappcats.com. The vinyl release of Black Bastards will follow.