Description
THE “CARDINAL SWIRL” EDITION : PRESSED ON MAGENTA & BLACK SWIRL DOUBLE VINYL
Originally released in 2002, The High Exhaulted marked the arrival of Columbus, Ohio’s Copywrite as one of indie rap’s sharpest punchline specialists. Now brought back to wax through Coalmine Reissues, the album captures a raw snapshot of a battle-hardened lyricist, pairing razor-edged bars with timeless production, newly remastered for its most powerful presentation to date.
Backed by beats from the late Camu Tao, Mighty Mi, and most notably RJD2, Copywrite unloads his arsenal with surgical precision. Early highlights like “Fucksoundcheck” and “Holier Than Thou” flex his wit and brash delivery, while “Tower of Babble” (featuring underground stalwarts Smut Peddlers) finds him trading dense rhyme schemes with a crew equally committed to verbal demolition.
Yet it’s on the album closer “June,” produced by RJD2, where the project cuts deepest. Departing from the barbed-wire bravado, Copywrite offers a candid and poignant meditation that showcases his depth as a songwriter. With its introspection and emotional weight, “June” stands as a timeless counterpoint to the album’s otherwise relentless barrage, and critics have long cited it as the project’s most enduring moment.
Nearly a quarter century later, The High Exhaulted remains a definitive underground release — brash, witty, and uncompromising, yet not without flashes of vulnerability. In revisiting this classic, Coalmine Reissues cements its mission of preserving the gems of hip-hop’s past for a new generation of listeners.
Tracklist:
Side A:
A1. Sintro
A2. Fucksoundcheck
A3. Fire It Up
A4. Let Me In
A5. Enterlude
Side B:
B1. Three Words (feat. Came Tao, Tage Proto)
B2. Hear Me Though
B3. Badabing
B4. Centerlude
Side C:
C1. Nobody (feat. Jakki Da Motamouth)
C2. Holier Than Thou
C3. Ready, Aim…
C4. On My Dick
Side D:
D1. Tower Of Babble (feat. Smut Peddlers)
D2. Seven Light Years
D3. Theme Music (feat. Jake Da Motamouth)
D4. Exitlude
D5. June
Album Specs:
This Collector’s Edition 2xLP has been remastered by D-Sane at Digital Age Sound and is pressed on magenta-and-black swirl vinyl, dubbed the “Cardinal Swirl” edition. Housed in a 24pt direct-to-board jacket featuring a restored layout designed by Mr. Krum.
Critical Praise:
“The first thing you need to understand about Copywrite is that he's a punchline emcee.” -Pitchfork
“Copywrite’s a witty, sharp battle rapper with a flow that cuts through the track like a chainsaw.” -Chaz Kangas (Popular Opinions)
