Mighty Joseph
Empire State
Mighty Joseph is the combination of emcees Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox) with his long-time rhyme ally Karniege. The duo's sole album, "Empire State" (2008) was released during the tail-end of the last great non-commercial Hip-Hop period. Rooted in the concrete streets but lyrically abstract, features and beats are provided by equal musical foils including Madlib, Camu Tao, Murs, J-Zone, Poison Pen and Vordul Mega (Cannibal Ox) among others. Fan and critical attention were positive with All Hip Hop summing the album as "solid post-millennium product that bridges the gap between gritty street tales and a paranoid view of the future." Plug One Magazine added that "Empire State" "unravels a unique perspective, documenting not only much personal change between the two emcees but also the changes in the streets of New York City. From poverty, to the September 11 attacks, to the abuse of Hip-Hop culture in general, "Empire State" stands strong as a snapshot of the city." Production on tracks 1 & 9 by Karniege, tracks 2 & 6 by Aerz Nights, track 3 by DJ Priority Muzik, tracks 4 & 11 by Melodious Monk, track 5 by Cryptic One, track 7 by Madlib, track 8 by Camu Tao, track 10 by Sebb One, track 12 by 4th Pyramid, track 13 by Up Media Inc and track 14 by J-Zone.