Late last month, one of the pivotal movements of ’90s underground Hip Hop, The Anti-pop Consortium [click to read], reunited for a small gathering at New York City’s Other Music store. It was the group’s first time together in nearly six years.
The group had formed over a decade ago, and gained recognition through their label, 75 Ark, owned and operated by Gorillaz/Dr. Octagon/Handsome Boy Modeling School producer Dan The Automator. There, the group’s debut Tragic Epilogue is widely considered their best work. Through opening slots on tours for Radiohead, DJ Shadow and Bright Eyes, the quartet of Beans, High Priest, M. Sayyid and Earl Blaze gained fans beyond the scope of traditional Hip Hop consumers.
Upon the group’s creative break-up in 2002, Beans released extensive solo efforts, while Priest and Sayyid started Airborne Audio, a group that released material on Ninja Tune Records throughout the last few years.
According to OkayPlayer.com, the reunion, which has been in place for months despite just going public, has resulted in at least six new songs. Anti-pop Consortium will be touring this summer with Public Enemy and Kool Keith.