Shamar Gardner (born March 24, 1979), better known by his stage name Vordul Mega (a.k.a. Vordul Megallah), is an American rapper from New York. He is one half of underground hip hop duo Cannibal Ox and a member of the hip hop group Atoms Family.

• 2Discography

Cannibal Ox - Samples, Covers and Remixes on WhoSampled. Discover all Cannibal Ox's music connections, watch videos, listen to music, discuss and download. Still going through it, but pleasantly surprised about the production. Sure it cant top the Vein, but this is a great addition to their discography so far. Vast Aire continues his babbling self - 'Did i mention, i like to fight imps from the 5th dimension' LOL WHAT. Vordul thankfully is still sharp as ever.

Career[edit]

Vordul Mega's debut solo album, The Revolution of Yung Havoks, was released in 2004.^[1] That same year, Vordul Mega also put out a supplemental compilation LP composed of new and rare work, some of which was not included on Revolution Of Yung Havoks. This second album, titled Yung World, features guest appearances by Aesop Rock, PR Terrorist (also known as Dom Pachino), Keith Masters and Billy Woods. It was released exclusively through Sandbox, an online retailer based in New York City. Vordul's counterpart and fellow Cannibal Ox member Vast Aire appears with Vordul on a track titled 'Handle That' from Vordul's Revolution Of Yung Havoks. Vast Aire released a solo album called Look Mom.. No Hands earlier in 2004.

Vordul has also been involved in numerous side projects with record labels ranging from Think Differently Music to Backwoodz Studioz to Embedded Music. His work with Billy Woods on the 2002 album Camouflage was billed as a collaborative effort, but has since come to be viewed as Billy Woods' solo debut, despite Vordul's presence on one-third of the tracks. Camouflage's limited pressings, quirky production, and socio-political commentary right after the September 11th attacks garnered some accolades.

In 2005, Vordul again collaborated with Backwoodz Studioz as part of a ten-member ensemble of New York based MC's called The Reavers. The Reavers include artists Akir, Vordul Mega, Karniege, Billy Woods, Dom Pachino, Kong, Keith Masters, Goldenchild, Privilege, Hasan Salaam and Spiga. The group thus incorporates members of several New York City crews and collectives including Cannibal Ox, Monsta Island Czars, Backwoodz Studioz, Killarmy, and 5th Column. Terror Firma, The Reavers' debut album, was applauded in some circles for its creativity and gritty aesthetic, despite being poorly received by other critics. Shortly afterwards, Definitive Jux announced that it had signed Vast Aire and Vordul Mega to do a second Cannibal Ox album with El-P. Vordul appeared on Keith Masters' Bioluminescence on the tracks 'Amongst The Havenots' and 'Where Did Life Go Wrong', released in 2005. Vordul also appeared on C-Rayz Walz' Year of the Beast on the track 'Street Reppin'.

In 2008, Vordul released his second album Megagraphitti.^[2] The album was pieced together over the course of 8 years, taking breaks for side projects, and his debut solo album. In 2011, he appeared on the Backwoodz Studios' compilation The Cost of Living on the track 'Antz' also featuring Junclassic and Billy Woods.

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

• The Revolution of Yung Havoks (2004)
• Megagraphitti (2008)

Compilation albums[edit]

• Pure Sickness (2004)
• Yung World (2005)

Singles[edit]

• 'Spitamatic' b/w 'Neva Again' (2004)
• 'Believe' (2005)

Guest appearances[edit]

• Billy Woods - 'Minimalism', 'Undeclared Wars' and 'Dirge' from Camouflage (2003)
• Vast Aire - 'Life's Ill Pt. II (The Empire Striketh)' from Look Mom.. No Hands (2004)
• Billy Woods - 'Mind Control', 'Pit & the Pendulum' and 'Last MC's' from The Chalice (2004)
• C-Rayz Walz - 'Street Reppin' from Year of the Beast (2005)
• Mighty Joseph - 'Blood Sport' from Empire State (2008)
• Vast Aire - 'Mecca and the Ox' from Dueces Wild (2008)
• Vast Aire - 'Thor's Hammer' from OX 2010: A Street Odyssey (2011)
• Billy Woods - 'The Darkness' from History Will Absolve Me (2012)

References[edit]

1. ^Howe, Brian (November 4, 2004). 'Vordul Mega: The Revolution of Yung Havoks'. Pitchfork Media.
2. ^Martin, Andrew (September 7, 2008). 'Vordul Mega: Megagraphitti'. PopMatters.

External links[edit]

• Vordul Mega discography at Discogs

Cannibal Ox is an American hip hop duo from Harlem, New York, United States. It consists of Vast Aire and Vordul Mega, often accompanied by DJ Cip-One.

History[edit]

In 2001, Cannibal Ox released their first album The Cold Vein on Definitive Jux, which was the label's first full-length studio album. The Cold Vein received positive reviews from critics and put the duo in the underground hip hop spotlight, and has since been described as one of the best rap albums of the 2000's.^[1][2]

In 2003, the group was rumored to have disbanded. Zoiper free. However, fellow Definitive Jux rapper Murs said 'Can Ox is not broken up, it's just a rumor' between tracks on fellow Definitive Jux rapper Aesop Rock's album Bazooka Tooth.

November 2005 brought the release of the live album Return of the Ox: Live at CMJ with a statement in the liner notes hinting at a Cannibal Ox LP to be released summer of 2006. Supposedly, RZA, Pete Rock and El-P were set to contribute. However, the alleged album was never released.

In March 2007, El-P answered 'I really doubt it' when asked if a new Cannibal Ox album was coming out anytime in the near future.^[3]That same year, Vast Aire confirmed that he was no longer working with Definitive Jux, that he left The Weathermen, and that plans for a new Cannibal Ox LP were scrapped. He cited creative and financial differences with El-P and Definitive Jux as well as Vordul's alleged clinical depression.^[4]

In January 2008, Vast Aire plugged a project entitled Mighty Joseph with rapper Karniege and spoke about future projects in the works. When asked about his relationship with Vordul, he confirmed Vordul as a feature on his upcoming solo LP Deuces Wild. Vast Aire was later featured on Vordul's album Megagraphitti.^[5]

After many requests for him to produce a second Can Ox album, El-P stated on May 28, 2011 via his Facebook page that 'there wont ever be a can ox album produced by me again and thats a fact.' ^[6]

On May 31, 2011 Vast Aire released a solo record titled Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey. Vordul is featured in the song 'Thor's Hammer.'^[7]

Vast Aire revealed, “We never broke up, but the timing is now right for a new Cannibal Ox LP. Iron Galaxy Records is about to take over.” He also confirmed that he and Vordul Mega are in the studio now working on the album.^[8]

On April 16, 2013, Cannibal Ox's EP 'Gotham' went on sale.^[9] The 3-track album contains new songs produced by Bill Cosmiq:^[10] Gotham (Ox City), Gasses in Hell (Inhale), Psalm 82.

Their second album, Blade of the Ronin, was released on March 3, 2015 under iHipHop Distribution to favorable reviews.^[11] Bill Cosmiq produced the majority of the album.^[12]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums

• The Cold Vein (2001)
• Blade of the Ronin (2015)

Compilations

• Gotham (Deluxe LP Edition) (2013)

Live albums

• Return of the Ox: Live at CMJ (2005)

Singles

• 'Iron Galaxy / DPA (As Seen on T.V.)' (2000) (with Company Flow)
• 'Vein / A B-Boy's Alpha' (2001)
• 'The F Word' (2001)
• 'Cosmos / Streets Be Testin' You' (2003) (with Invisible)
• 'Gotham' (2013)

References[edit]

1. ^[1]Archived November 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^[2]Archived September 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
3. ^[3]Archived September 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
4. ^https://web.archive.org/web/20081201063003/http://www.twincitieshiphop.com/viewtopic.php?p=662&sid=892f287c051f70b5407957bf2ec355f3. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2008.Missing or empty title= (help)
5. ^[4]Archived October 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
6. ^'El-P Facebook'. Facebook.com. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
7. ^'Vast Aire Song Feature'. Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 19 February 2015r.
8. ^'Cannibal Ox Talk New Album, El-P & More'. OK-Tho.com. Retrieved 13 March 2015r.
9. ^[5]^{[dead link]}
10. ^Andrew Martin (2013-04-05). 'Stream Cannibal Ox's Comeback Single 'Gotham''. Potholesinmyblog.com. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
11. ^'Reviews for Blade of the Ronin by Cannibal Ox - Metacritic'.
12. ^'Blade of the Ronin - Cannibal Ox'. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 29, 2015.

External links[edit]