Sticky Fingaz Black Trash: The Autobiography Of Kirk Jones CD

Sticky Fingaz, otherwise known as Kirk Jones, presents an ambitious hip-hop outing that draws on a wide variety of influences in service of a theatrical vision of rap as multi-media experience. BLACK TRASH is packaged as the soundtrack to a nonexistent film. While this is an idea that's been pursued before, Jones so thoroughly transforms the gangsta aesthetic through his cinematic conceptualism that it seems like a completely fresh notion. The use of film soundtrack-style backing tracks and melodic structures that could have come straight from a Broadway musical, as well as the theatrical context, make the violent elements of the lyrics much more palatable. And the spoken interludes have a much more substantial reason for being than on most rap albums. The gem here is undoubtedly "What If I Was White," which features Eminem, and finds Jones tackling the racial turnabout in a novel, winningly humorous way. And the misogynist's apology "Sister I'm Sorry" is as welcome as it is overdue.

Kirk Jones;Feat.Raekwon,Cani- Bus,Redman,Rah Digga.Par.Advis

Recorded at Unique Studios, New York, New York and Lo Rider Studios, Englewood, New Jersey. Includes liner notes by Sticky Fingaz.

Personnel: Sticky Fingaz (rap vocals); lack Child, Raekwon, Rah Digga, Redman, Dave Hollister, Firestarr, Eminem, X1, Still Livin, Scarred 4 Life, Superb, Guess Who, Petey Pablo, Canibus, Columbo The Shining Star, Choclatt (vocals); Omar Epps (spoken vocals); Tony Prendatt (various instruments, programming); BNate Smith (keyboards); Charles Shaw, Roger Munroe (programming).

Personnel: Charles Shaw (programming); Petey Pablo (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Tony Prendatt; Ken Ifill; Richard Travali; Tommy Uzzo; Brian Stanley .

Recording information: Unique Studios, New York, NY.

Editors: Tony Prendatt; Sticky Fingaz.

Photographer: John Eder.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Dave Hollister; Raekwon; Rah Digga; Redman.

Personnel: Sticky Fingaz (rap vocals); Omar Epps (spoken vocals); Tony Prendatt (various instruments, programming); Black Child, Raekwon, Rah Digga, Redman, Dave Hollister, Firestarr, Eminem, X1, Still Livin, Scarred 4 Life, Superb, Guess Who, Petey Pablo, Canibus, Columbo The Shining Star, Choclatt (vocals); Nate Smith (keyboards); Charles Shaw, Roger Munroe (programming).

Producers include: Sticky Fingaz, Joe Naughty, Rockwilder, DJ Scratch, Self.

Rolling Stone (2/15/01, p.78) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...[This] has some great moments....[It] manages to bring some new ideas and energy to the rap game."
Uncut (8/01, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Kirk Jones' extraordinary LP merits reassessment: it runs the gamut from satiric outrage to gospel rapprochement..."
Vibe (p.76) - "[E]ven when he deviates from the script, like on the Eminem-assisted single 'What If I Was White,' he's funny, insightful, and one helluva storyteller."
Vibe (12/00, p.199) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...An engaging fictional account of the life of an ex-con, Sticky finds balance between acting and rapping....proving that [he] is a lot more thoughtful than he used to be..."
The Source (12/00, p.252) - 4 mics out of 5 - "...An artistic apex....arguably hip-hop's most visual work of the new millenium...a cinematic experience....a hip-hop treasure."
NME (Magazine) (6/9/01, p.40) - 7 out of 10 - "...Magic realism, hip-hop style..."