Description
CASSETTE
LIMITED TO 125 UNITS WORLDWIDE
When Eastern Philosophy dropped in 2006, it marked a defining “I’m here” moment for Apathy. Years spent with the Demigodz collecting props and connecting dots sharpened his skills and set the stage for an album that remains a masterclass in Hip Hop craftsmanship.
Already respected for his alien-tongued lyricism, pop-culture flair and penchant for blunt-edged Boom Bap, Apathy delivered a mosaic of chest-thumping bravado, witty intellect and real-in-the-feel vulnerability, cementing Eastern Philosophy as a true underground classic. He parallel parks on the rambunctious knock of the title track, warning of the danger that comes when the East is in the house. On “The Buck Stops Here”, he flexes concept and storytelling as he traces the journey of a dollar bill through several spots from a stripper’s underwear to a church collection plate. The album closes with “The Winter”, where Apathy’s zero-below flow paints a stark mis-en-scene colder than the Fortress of Solitude.
To mark its twentieth anniversary, Eastern Philosophy returns in a form worthy of its legacy. Reissued for the first time by Coalmine Reissues, a series built on the belief that every detail matters, this remastered edition honours the original vision and the fans who’ve kept it alive in their hearts and headphones for two decades.
- Chris Mitchell
Breaking Atoms, Actual Facts
Side A:
01. Eastern Philosophy
02. 1,000 Grams
03. All About Crime
04. 9 To 5 (feat. Emilio Lopez)
05. Here Come The Gangstas
06. Can’t Leave Rap Alone (feat. Celph Titled, Ryu)
07. One Of Those Days
08. Me & My Friends (feat. Esoteric, One Two)
Side B:
09. Chemical
10. Do Raker Check (feat. Motive)
11. Philosophical Gangsta (feat. Poison Pen, The Bad Seed)
12. I Remember…
13. The Buck Stops Here
14. The Winter (feat. Blue Raspberry)
15. Chemical (J-Zone Remix)
Album Specs:
Limited to just 125 copies worldwide, this marks the first ever cassette release of Eastern Philosophy. Issued in conjunction with the album’s 20th anniversary reissue campaign, the audio has been remastered by D-Sane at Digital Age Sound and is pressed on clear cassette shells with black liners. The release comes housed in clear Norelco cases and features full color Jcards printed on both sides, with layout design by Jelle Smid, and includes the J-Zone remix of “Chemical” as a bonus track.
Critical Praise:
"Few who grip a mic today can claim the overwhelming talent that this man has." -HipHopDX
“’Eastern Philosophy’ is his exhibition of fundamental rap mastery, and it succeeds as Ap runs the gamut from bragging about mic skills, everyman storytelling, and clever conceptual pieces.” -Rap Reviews
