Operation Beatbox is a various artists compilation album released on September 17, 1996 by Re-Constriction Records.[3] The album compiles covers of popular hip hop tracks performed by electro-industrial acts, many of whom were part of the Re-Constriction roster. It served as a direct sequel to the similarly themed cover album compilation Shut Up Kitty, released in 1993.[4]

Operation Beatbox
Compilation album by
Various artists
ReleasedSeptember 17, 1996 (1996-09-17)
GenreIndustrial rock, electro-industrial
Length74:01
LabelRe-Constriction
Re-Constriction Records V/A chronology
Re-Constriction 10* Year Anniversary
(1996)
Operation Beatbox
(1996)
Built for Stomping
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Alternative Press[2]

Reception

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Alternative Press gave the album high praises, awarding it five out of five stars and saying "there's no doubt that when it comes to rewriting rap's classic moments, industrial/goth bands say more for the cultural links between the two black sheep of modern musical culture than one might have dreamed."[2] Aiding & Abetting gave it a more mixed review, saying the material ranges "from the sublime (SMP thrashing out "Prophets of Rage") to the utterly silly (as any cover of "Gangsta's Paradise" was bound to be)."[5] Sonic Boom found the compilation's absurdity to be part of its charm, saying "don't be surprised if you find the majority of these tracks more than amusing as there is something fundamentally wrong with a gang of privileged white kids trying to sound like a band of inner city black youths."[6]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Natural Born Killaz" (Dr. Dre & Ice Cube cover)James Anderson, O'Shea Jackson, Andre YoungChrist Analogue4:09
2."I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" (Cypress Hill cover)Louis Freese, Lawrence Muggerud, Richard Todd Ray16Volt4:15
3."Jump Around" (House of Pain cover)EverlastThe Clay People3:34
4."Colors" (Ice-T cover)Ice-T, Afrika IslamSociety Burning4:56
5."Night of the Living Baseheads" (Public Enemy cover)Carlton "Chuck D" Ridenhour, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Hank ShockleeTerminal 464:11
6."The Devil Made Me Do It" (Paris cover)Oscar Jackson, Jr.Apparatus4:00
7."Gangsta's Paradise" (Coolio & L.V. cover)Stevie Wonder, Coolio, Doug Rasheed, Larry SandersBattery4:52
8."Push It" (Salt-n-Pepa cover)Hurby Azor, Ray DaviesNumb4:40
9."Fight the Power" (Public Enemy cover)Hank Boxley, Keith Boxley, Carlton Ridenhour, Eric SadlerD.C.K.4:20
10."Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun" (Beastie Boys cover)Mike Diamond, Adam Horovitz, John King, Michael Simpson, Adam YauchTinfed & Killing Floor3:55
11."Prophets of Rage" (Public Enemy cover)William Drayton, Carlton Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, Hank ShockleeSMP3:21
12."Wicked" (Ice Cube cover)O'Shea JacksonColla Destra4:47
13."Typical American" (The Goats cover)James D'Angelo, Swayzack, Maxx Stoyanoff-WilliamsSlave Unit3:14
14."King of Rock" (Run–D.M.C. cover)Darryl McDaniels, Jay Mizel, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith, Russell SimmonsInstitute of Technology4:56
15."Mama Said Knock You Out" (LL Cool J cover)James Todd SmithApolitiq5:17
16."Can You Rock It Like This" (Run–D.M.C. cover)J.T. Smith, Larry Smith, Rick RubinInsight 234:37
17."Two Three Break" (Beastie Boys cover)Mike Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Rick Rubin, Adam YauchAbstinence4:57

Accolades

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Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
1995 CMJ New Music Monthly United States "Dance" 17 [7]
"*" denotes an unordered list.

Personnel

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Adapted from the Operation Beatbox liner notes.[8]

Release history

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Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States 1996 Re-Constriction CD, CS REC-023

References

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  1. ^ "Various Artists: Operation Beatbox > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  2. ^ a b columnist (February 1997). "Various Artists: Operation Beatbox". Alternative Press: 66.
  3. ^ Baumann, Tina; Baumann, Travis (2002). "Compilations". Virtual Night Angel. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  4. ^ Thugs 'n' Kisses (booklet). Various artists. San Diego, California: Re-Constriction Records. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Worley, Jon (October 7, 1996). "Operation Beatbox". Aiding & Abetting (120). Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  6. ^ Christian, Chris (August 1996). "Various Artists: Operation Beatbox". Sonic Boom. 4 (7). Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Dance Top 25". CMJ New Music Monthly. 40 (7–12). CMJ Network, Inc.: 52 December 1996. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Operation Beatbox (booklet). Various artists. San Diego, California: Re-Constriction Records. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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