Episode 186: Ras Kass

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Ras Kass is a California-based rhymer who is one of the most well-respected and critically beloved artists in the genre. He has been wowing rap fans with his dense, complicated, literary lyrics - often packed with historical references - since the mid-1990s. His now-classic debut Soul on Ice was released in 1996, and he has put out a slew of extremely well-regarded solo and collaborative projects since then.

But right along with his talent has been a near-equal amount of record label issues - and occasionally legal ones. Several of his early-aughts albums remain unreleased to this day, and he also spent some time behind bars in 2008-9 for issues relating to a DUI. But all that is behind him, and today Ras is stronger than ever. His latest album is Intellectual Property, and Soul on Ice 2 is coming soon.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Ras Kass, “And Then…”
2. The Cipher Episode 144: Adrian Miller
3. The Cipher Episode 57: Paul Stewart
4. The Pharcyde, “Ya Mama”
5. Ras Kass, “The Nature of the Threat”
6. Ras Kass, “Remain AnonymouS”
7. Ras Kass, “Won’t Catch Me Runnin’”
8. Sa-ra Creative Partners, “Rosebuds”
9. Ras Kass, “Etc.”
10. Ras Kass, “Greazy”
11. Ras Kass, “TV Guide”
12. Ras Kass, “Van Gogh”
13. Ras Kass, “Goodbye”
14. Immortal Technique f/Diabolic & Ras Kass, “Payback”
15. Ras Kass, “Interview With A Vampire”
16. Ras Kass, “On Earth As It Is…”
17. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass f/Larina, “Too Much of a Good Thing”
18. Meen Green f/Jazze Pha, “In the Wind”
19. Ras Kass, “Jack Frost”
20. Ras Kass, “Understandable Smooth”
21. Ras Kass, “Conceited Bastard”
22. Ras Kass, “I Ain’t Fuckin’ With You”
23. The Cipher Episode 17: Saul Williams
24. Ras Kass, “The Evil That Men Do”
25. Eminem, “Drug Ballad”
26. Ras Kass f/The IV League, “Extraordinary Vets”
27. Jimi Hendrix, “Purple Haze”
28. Kid Capri f/Ras Kass & Punchline, “One on One”
29. Montell Jordan, “This Is How We Do It”
30. Ras Kass, “Fettuccine Capone Reminisces”
31. Ras Kass f/General Steele & Sean Price, “Paypal the Feature”
32. Sean Price, “Rising to the Top”
33. Ras Kass, “Kanye Moment”
34. Ras Kass, “Kanye Moment”
35. Ras Kass & DJ Rhettmatic f/Frankie Finch, “A.D.I.D.A.S.”
36. Semi Hendrix, “Waterboarding Tinkerbell”
37. David Axelrod, “The Little Children”