The Cold Cut

CRS- Us Placers

I've only recently heard 'Us Placers', the first (of hopefully many) releases by CRS, or Child Rebel Soldier. This could also be short for 'Crossover Supergroup', given the pedigree of talent in this three-piece side project.

Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams are all artists that can confidently hold their own as producers, rappers and musicians on a solo standing. Put them all together, and things begin to get crazy. Kanye, the rebel, Pharrell, the soldier and Lupe, the child (echoing 'Little Weapon'), recorded 'Us Placers' a long time ago, and this was released on Kanye's pre-Graduation 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' Mixtape. The song picked up a pretty big following on the internet, which was duly noted by the three's respective record companies. According to sources, a deal is being ironed out as we speak...

Onto the song- unusually sampling (and even referencing) Thom Yorke's 'Eraser', this weird backing choice already hints that this supergroup might go the distance, both in terms of originality and commercial standing. And I needn't explain the talent of the three artists. Of the three, Kanye's experience shines through, winning the prize for best rhyme, dropping this and much more about halfway through the song:
"Just last week they want to see ID
Now they got you in VIP, huh?
How many people almost famous
You almost remember what they name is"

There are no concrete plans for a full length CRS album yet, but in Lupe's words, "Everyone's focused on something else at the moment, [We're trying to find] two or three weeks to sit down and hammer it out." Recently, Lupe let on during an interview that we can be expecting a CRS release in late 2008. It will be an agonising, infuriating wait.

The 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' mixtape can be bought here

(Image courtesy of mus-ik.com)