Masters of the Universe (Binary Star album)
Masters of the Universe is the second and final studio album from American hip hop duo Binary Star (Senim Silla & One Be Lo), released on October 31, 2000.[1] The release is largely a remixed and rearranged version of their 1999 debut Waterworld.[2] The album was one of the most acclaimed underground hip hop releases of 2000,[3] though it only sold around 20,000 copies.[4]
| Masters of the Universe | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 31, 2000 | |||
| Genre | Alternative hip hop | |||
| Length | 72:37 | |||
| Label | Subterraneous Records | |||
| Producer | Trackezoids | |||
| Binary Star chronology | ||||
| ||||
Masters of the Universe was re-released on July 25, 2006 by Infinite Rhythm Network.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| RapReviews.com | 9/10[2] |
In a review for AllMusic, Brad Mills wrote that the album has "everything a great hip-hop album requires, with varied beats, differing rhyme deliveries, and content you'll find yourself thinking about long after it's been said." He rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, and noted that "without huge marketing budget from a major label, this album will probably fail to reach the level of success it deserves."[1] At RapReviews, Steve Juon rated the album 9 out of 10, and argued the album "represents everything that's right about underground hip-hop... Very few albums that come out are as well conceived or prepared as "Masters of the Universe" – which proves exactly why the title of Binary Star's national debut is truly apt."[2] In a 2014 "Album of the Week" for Bonus Cut, Daniel Hodgman wrote that the album was an "aggressive mix of raw underground hip-hop and self-conscious lyricism... Most of what makes Masters of the Universe pleasing is its relentless punchlines, vast lyrical depth and succinct production as an underground hit.[5]
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Reality Check" | OneManArmy | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 2 | "Conquistadors" | Decompoze | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 3 | "Solar Powered (Intro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 4 | "Solar Powered" | OneManArmy | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 5 | "Slang Blade (Intro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 6 | "Slang Blade" | Decompoze | Senim Silla |
| 7 | "Binary Shuffle (Intro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 8 | "Binary Shuffle" | Senim Silla | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 9 | "Fellowship" | OneManArmy | OneManArmy, Senim Silla, Athletic Mic League, Decompoze |
| 10 | "New Hip Hop" | Decompoze | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 11 | "Masters of the Universe" | Decompoze | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 12 | "Indy 500" | Decompoze | Decompoze |
| 13 | "Evolution of Man" | Decompoze | OneManArmy, Brenda J |
| 14 | "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 1)" | Decompoze | Senim Silla |
| 15 | "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Part 2)" | Decompoze | OneManArmy |
| 16 | "Honest Expression" | OneManArmy | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 17 | "Honest Expression (Outro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 18 | "Glen Close" | Decompoze, OneManArmy | OneManArmy |
| 19 | "Wolfman Jack (Intro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 20 | "Wolfman Jack" | Decompoze, OneManArmy | OneManArmy, Senim Silla |
| 21 | "OneManArmy" | OneManArmy | OneManArmy |
| 22 | "The KGB (Intro)" | *Interlude* | |
| 23 | "The KGB" | OneManArmy | Malaki, Senim Silla, Texture, Elzhi, O-Type, Lacks, OneManArmy, J.U.I.C.E. |
| 24 | "Album Outro" | *Interlude* |
References
- Mills, Brad. "Masters of the Universe". AllMusic.
- Juon, Steve (23 January 2001). "BINARY STAR :: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE". RapReviews.
- "The Best Hip-Hop Albums". i am shep. 2006-01-13. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- Subterraneous Is A Movement Archived March 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- Hodgman, Daniel (14 May 2014). "ALBUM OF THE WEEK: "MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE" BY BINARY STAR". Bonus Cut.