Break-ups are a lot more common than reunions in hip-hop. So when word leaked that Cannibal Ox was getting back together, the prospect of a new album from the New York duo ignited hip-hop circles. Back in the early days of El-P’s independent label Definitive Jux, Can O released their debut, The Cold Vein, in 2001. MCs Vast Aire and Vordul Mega were praised for their abstract poetic raps detailing the harsh realities of New York, coupled with some of El-P’s best, hardest production yet. Now, 11 years later, the pair is working on their sophomore album, slated for 2013. The LP, coupled with an upcoming nationwide tour that kicks off this Sunday (December 9) at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, makes it clear: Can Ox has one more story to tell.

“It was just time,” Vast says. “We haven’t been on the road together. Vordul is an interesting dude. He’s not the most sociable dude. But when he gets in that mood, we just run with it. He did a couple of personal travels across the country. [He] saw family. I think that did a lot for him. It opened up a path for us to tour.”

Vordul, who wasn’t available for comment, and Vast returning to the studio again brings back memories of their formative years, when the duo established themselves as the voice of conscious rap with street credibility with The Cold Vein. But the aftermath of the critically acclaimed album’s release was almost bittersweet, as rumors ran rampant that Can Ox disbanded in 2003. The reasons, however, were never clear. Many believed it was the group’s complicated relationship with El-P and Def Jux at the time, while others cited Mega’s rumored personal struggles with depression, bi-polar disorder and drugs. (Some bloggers have even claimed to have seen Vordul panhandling on 125th Street in Harlem.) But Vast says the pair never broke up—it was just a much-needed break from the pressures of the music industry.

“The rumors are going to be rumors,” he says. “People are going to speculate. We never broke up. There was nothing to break up between us. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years. So there was nothing. We in the hood. You could see us on the block. Meanwhile, you probably begging us to do an album. You know what I mean? It’s a great album to us. We love it. But we have a lot of other projects that we love and respect.”

Cannibal Ox's long history that dates back to 1998, when they came together as part of Atom’s Family, a large hip-hop collective based in New York. It wasn’t only because of their mutual respect for each other’s rhymes—it was their personalities. Even as the over 30 members of Atom’s began branching off and doing their own projects, Can O kept a lasting friendship throughout the years.

“We were the friends. We were the ones that went to every movie and called each other [to talk about] what they did with the girl on the date and all of that,” Vast says, laughing. “We grew up. We literally became men together. That’s what makes our vibe musically.”

Now that Cannibal Ox is returning to the rising New York rap scene, it’s time to get to business. Their sophomore album will be released through Iron Galaxy Records, an upstart label helmed by Vast. He has already reached out to a fresh crop of producers—Ayatollah, Bill Cosmiq, Harry Fraud—who will bring a contemporary sound to the group’s proper 2013 project. But before the wheels set into motion, Vast sat down with XXL to paint a picture of his relationship with Mega and what we can expect from their long-awaited comeback. —Eric Diep (@E_Diep)

READ ON TO LEARN ABOUT VAST AIRE AND VORDUL MEGA'S CREATIVE PROCESS AND WHAT TO EXPECT ON THEIR SOPHOMORE ALBUM

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You were talking about how you guys have a natural way of making music. When you and Mega are in the studio, is he difficult to work with?

You know, at different times, it could be as easy as grits. We are people. If you go through something in life—maybe you broke up with your girl—you are going to have a long night in the studio. Maybe you crashed your car. Maybe you had an argument. I don’t know, whatever. It’s still going to affect how you act in the studio. I would say, though, on average that it is very smooth. We generally like to zone out to a beat that we are vibing to together. One of us will dominate the hook. And we’ll start mapping the song out. It’s pretty much simple from there.

When you tell me he’s anti-social, obviously around you that’s not the case.

I mean, he’s anti-public, I would say. But if you are his friend, he’s the most loyal person on the planet. You know what I mean? If you are his friend, he’s gonna be there.

You guys are back in the studio working on this next album. What do you think that transition is going to be like? 11 years ago you were on Def Jux and now this is your own thing.

We’ll see. I helped make Def Jux. And see—this is part of the story that hasn’t been told or highlighted. We are business-savvy people. So, we understand what it takes to run a record label. As an Atom’s Family member, we cryptic [Ed. note: Cryptic One is a founding member of Atom’s Fam]. We would help run CPR Records, Centrifugal Phorce Records. We have experience in this. It’s not going to be hard at all. It’s not hard because I am actually doing it and I have been doing it since like 2003. Def Jux is no longer here. But Iron Galaxy is here for life.

Do you feel any pressure to top what you made with Def Jux?

Not at all. We already feel we topped it. So everybody else can keep their opinions. We already know our quality of music and our quality of skill and the patience that we take with all of our projects. So, you know, there’s no pressure at all.

How is what you are saying on this album going to be different? Today’s New York rap landscape is very different from 11 years ago.

Again, we make lanes. We don’t fall in. You understand? We carved a niche out and made a lane for ourselves. Was we interested in what was going on 10 years ago? I doubt it. Some of it was cool, some of it wasn’t. Are we interested now? Like I said, some of it is cool, some of it isn’t. You know, at the end of the day, we are just gonna do us. It’s real. It’s honest. It’s intellectual. It’s raw. And we are not faking. We don’t have to sound like something we are not or try to be. We are just ourselves at the end of the day. And that’s what hip-hop taught us to be. Hip-hop taught me to be myself. Run-DMC were themselves. De La Soul were themselves. Organized Konfusion was themselves. Mobb Deep was themselves. And Cannibal Ox is themselves. At the end of the day, that’s our secret. The secret is that we are ourselves. And we are not trying to be nothing else. If I fought five dudes from the streets for my life, that’s what I did.

Some fans and critics say you have more lyrical depth and a stronger delivery than Mega. Do you have any thoughts about that?

I think that’s neither here or there. That’s a person’s opinion. And what they perceive to be, it’s deep, because Vordul Mega is not the one—he will eat you alive. [Laughs] That man is a beast on the mic. Why else do we have a magic together? Because we feed off of each other. So, you know, that’s a person’s perception. Respect to them. They have their reasons to have their opinion. But in my opinion, the dude is my brother and my partner. He’s an animal. His poetry is some of the illest in a while. Like, if I was to compare him to two other people, I would probably say Breezley Brewin of the Juggaknots and MF Doom. Vordul Mega is retarded—I didn’t mean to offend anybody. [Laughs]

In 2008, on your sophomore album, Dueces Wild, you collaborated with Pete Rock and Oh No. Who are you guys linking up with now?

I am definitely going to be working with the whole team. My man Bill Cosmiq, he’s been making beats for me for a minute. And like, he really did his just deserve on these next projects. So look out for Bill Cosmiq. Also look out for my man Harry Fraud. They are various people that we have been working with throughout the years. There are a slew of producers that we have in mind. I’m definitely gonna try and get Ayatollah to lace us with some joints. It’s gonna be a crazy vibe.

Will we ever see El-P on a Can O record again?

No. We don’t talk. If you don’t talk, then you can’t make a song. [Laughs] Oh man, we definitely don’t talk at all. But you know, I hope all is well with all of them. That’s all I have to say on that matter. Pretty much. Just pay attention, man. Iron Galaxy is in the works. We are doing a lot of big things this year.

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