Holy Terror is an album by rap/spoken word pioneers The Last Poets, released in 1995.[6] The album was financed and released by P-Vine Records in Japan and then released by Rykodisc Records in the United States and the United Kingdom later that same year, with a rerelease in 2004 by Innerhythmic. The U.S. and UK releases contain a bonus track titled "Black and Strong (Homesick)."
| Holy Terror | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995; Black Arc 1993 | |||
| Genre | Funk, spoken word | |||
| Length | 62:19 | |||
| Label | Rykodisc[1] Black Arc Innerhythmic | |||
| Producer | Bill Laswell[2] | |||
| The Last Poets chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[5] |
Production
editThe lead figures in the Last Poets at this time were Umar Bin Hassan and Abiodun Oyewole.[7][1] The album was part of the Black Arc Series, launched by producer Bill Laswell in 1992.
Critical reception
editAllMusic wrote: "Containing some of the Poets' most trenchant political and social lyrics, Holy Terror shows the Last Poets, Umar Bin Hassan and Abiodun Oyewole, still as fiery and sharp as ever."[3] CMJ New Music Monthly called the album "the bomb," writing that "it's as good as anything they've recorded in their 25-plus year career."[8]
Track listing
edit- "Invocation"
- "Homesick"
- "Black Rage"
- "Men-tality"
- "Pelourino"
- "Funk"
- "If We Only Knew"
- "Illusion of Self"
- "Talk Show"
- "Black and Strong (Homesick)"
- "Last Rites"
Personnel
edit- Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, Grandmaster Melle Mel - voices
- Bootsy Collins - Guitars, Bass
- Bernie Worrell - Organ, Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer
- Bill Laswell - Bass beats, Samples, Loops
- Aïyb Dieng - Congas, Chatan, Bells, Talking Drum, Doff, Tambourine, Gongs, Percussion
- George Clinton - guest vocals on "Black and Strong (Homesick)"
References
edit- ^ a b "Last Poets". Trouser Press. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Mills, David (December 12, 1993). "THE LAST POETS" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ a b "Holy Terror - The Last Poets | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 101.
- ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 222–223.
- ^ "The Last Poets | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (October 31, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306298 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Best New Music". CMJ New Music Monthly: 14. May 1995.