Underground Fossils: New Music: Quiz Ten

Underground Fossils was an indie rap focused blog run by myself (Dimxsk) and by Trylemma, who passed August 3rd, 2024 from liver failure of unknown origin at the age of 34. We mostly posted week or twice weekly, the bulk of which were rare rips we made, found on old blogs, he acquired through his insanely broad connection to the scene, etc. We did all we could to make sure we didn't post stuff that (1) You could still reasonably buy from the artist directly, (2) You could reasonably buy secondhand for cheap, (3) You could download easily elsewhere, (4) The artist(s) asked us not to for any reason. Being involved in this blog was some of the most fun I ever had, even if at times it was time consuming, challenging or intimidating (having a readership). It was the product of one of the best friendships I've ever had. If I could say one last thing, it's to encourage all of you: if you have the time and desire, make your own UGF. Find a friend who loves this shit like you do and build it together. It will bring you incredible joy, enhance your connection to this amazing community, and change your life in unexpected and exciting ways. I know it did mine. Love you all!

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

New Music: Quiz Ten - Prescription Handbills

So Pen Thief Records is absolutely killing it lately. It's been a bit scary how much their catalogue aligns with what my perfect roster of artists would look like, and that manages to encompass quite a wide variety of musical styles from Nolto the pioneering Prairie rapper to Quiz 10 aka K.Clifton, a man who sorta single handedly perfected vampire sludge rap.

Prescription Hand Bills is not a new album. In fact it's probably almost two decades old. I actually had a digital copy of it already and was eventually going to throw it up here for ya'll but Noblonski beat me to it. Apparently this was never officially released, and pretty much existed as a few physicals including one in the possession of p.WRECKS (another pretty much amazing sludge vampire). I don't know what year it comes from, but from the sound and comparing it to other old Quiz albums like Lampin' and Audible Captions I'd say it probably originally dropped around 2006.

This album is great, and big ups to Pen Thief for making it widely available. We find Quiz perfecting his production (which would later prove dope as hell, click the tag to check out a newer release of his), opting for dusty boom bap but still a very laid back sound as opposed to his newer dark cloud trap beats. This older sound is very preferable to me though, but to each their own.

His gruff voice and lyrical delivery are also worth noting, and are starting to really shine on this release. We find Quiz building the persona and style he displays on The Alligator Turtle EP, tackling drugs, music and magic in a inpenetrable thicket of poetry and stream of conscious ramblings.

Basically this album is everything I look for in a fossil. It's great to see this new label putting dusty gems like this into the world, and I'm totally stoked to see what they got in store for us next.

Get Prescription Handbills, a lost release from K.Clifton aka Quiz Ten right here on the format of your desire, only from the demonstrably awesome Pen Thief Records...