Brooklyn Conspiracy Theorists Gather Up Venomous Scraps

Comments (0) By Jon Caramanica Tuesday, Jun 22 2004

photo: Ricky Powell

Unapologetically rugged

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Non Phixion
The Green CD/DVD
Uncle Howie

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And the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon their sons, except when the kids realize that paw dukes is full of shit, and they can do the old-timer one better. Meet Non Phixion, a second-gen crew of rapping whiteboys who bow at the altar of Pete Rock and Gang Starr, who once struck backpack gold with a single called "I Shot Reagan," and whose burly, rough-edged raps suggest robust immersion as opposed to the Beasties' conscientious objectification. Their debut, The Future Is Now, is an unsung Brooklyn classic; The Green CD/DVD is their second set, a bits-and-bobs collection of venomous radio freestyles, reminiscences of life in BK's lesser-known 'hoods ("Caught Between Worlds"), and conspiracy-theory classics (live versions of "The C.I.A. Is Trying to Kill Me" and "Black Helicopters" on the accompanying DVD). Non Phixion are unapologetically rugged (member Ill Bill name-checks Suicidal Tendencies alongside Boogie Down Productions as influences), but not without a sense of humor: The DVD features a Bobbito-hosted send-up of Graffiti Rock. Though they might bristle at the notion, thanks to the Beasties, Non Phixion have the luxury of being smart hip-hop smartasses, and no one so much as bats an eyelash.