Ahhh the first album I ever worked on! hahaha well not really. I had zero to do with As the World Burns outside of doing photo re-touching for the CD booklet and some promotional images and ads while intening at Matador Records, but that’s close enough right!? Anyway now that my personal association with album is out of the way lets get to why it’s up here.

By 1999 when As the World Burns dropped The Arsonists had been whittled down from a once mighty 13 members to just D-Stroy, Q-Unique, Swell Boogie, Jise One & Freestyle. Having put out a few great 12″ on Fondle ‘Em records and watching how far Rawkus had gone as an indie Hip-Hop label it wasn’t that much of a surprise that Matador decided to try their hand at Hip Hop. I’m not reallys ure what made them think that a label best known for Belle & Sebastian, Liz Phair, Blues Explosion Pavement & Yo La Tengo could seriously try and push Hip Hop. And it wasn’t like the Arsonists came out of nowhere and lacked cred , they had tons of it. I really don’t know how it all collapsed other than it probably wasn’t the right move for the label and the acts. Matador at least made a good go at by signing great acts like the Arsonists & Non-Phixion before abandoning Hip Hop altogether.

The term “Backpacker” or “Backpack Rap” has gotten lots of negative connotations over the years mostly (and rightfully so) I feel due to the Anticon movement. But there was a time when it was more closely associated with a vibrant underground late 90s Hip Hop scene in NYC and on the Westcoast. The Arsonists, Non Phixion, M.F. Doom, Siah & Yeshua DapoED, Thirstin Howl, Co Flow & most if not all of the Rawkus Records roster. As the World Burns was/is one of the great records of that time that unfortunately came out not only when the entire scene was losing steam or rather changing over into something completely different. But on top of that the album was hampered by being released on a label not really known for Hip Hop. I’m positive had this album had a Rawkus Razor gracing it’s back instead of the Matador flag this album wouldn’t have had as much trouble getting wider spread attention or just being taken more seriously by anyone who hadn’t heard of the Arsonists prior to this release.

This is a great albums and definitely one of my favorites. Amazing production, rhymes and flow through-out. Truly one of those rare Hip Hop Albums you not only should but you want to listen to from start to finish NEVER skipping any tracks which is pretty unbelievable considering there are 21 tracks on it. Plus how many people can make a B-52’s sample work and sound menacing? The Arsonists can!

On a side note As the World Turns is one of my favorite album covers. I don’t know why. The 3D rendering meets black book style usually does not age very well but something about this cover just really works and perfectly captures the time & sound. Like you could look at this and just know what to expect without ever hearing it, at least I always thought so.

Arsonists - As the World Burns