‘Smart Ass Black Boy: Redux’ is the 10th anniversary remixed and remastered edition of Fat Tony’s ‘Smart Ass Black Boy’ — the Houston rapper’s acclaimed second studio album and first for Young One Records (an early imprint of Partisan Records).

To coincide with the announcement of ‘Smart Ass Black Boy: Redux,’ Fat Tony has shared a new remix of original album highlight “BKNY,” which features new verses from Mr. Muthaf***in’ eXquire, Melo-X, and GLDNEYE.

The remix is accompanied by a visualizer that features never-before-seen behind the scene studio footage from the ‘Smart Ass Black Boy’ era.

‘Smart Ass Black Boy: Redux’ will be released digitally and on opaque red vinyl on December 1, 2023, via Partisan.

Fat Tony says:

“BKNY” (Remix) is a rapper convention with four artists from different places coming together to celebrate Brooklyn, the city that was my first home away from home as a musician. I started off the 2010s there and ended the decade there too. Even though I’m from Houston and recorded the album in Los Angeles, New York was on our mind the whole time.

“BKNY” was the first song we released from the album. I remember we threw a great party for the music video release at The Flat in Williamsburg in November 2012. Noisey/VICE premiered the video on their YouTube channel. The Village Voice wrote an article about the event with Cobrasnake-style party photos of our fun. Me and GLDNEYE did DJ sets alongside our friends Cities Aviv, Kitty Pryde, Dap from Das Racist, and more. You must’ve been there or active on Tumblr if any of those words mean much to you.

Mr. MFN eXquire was in the original song’s music video and was one of the first artists I linked with outside of Texas. He’s a true Brooklynite, and I couldn’t be happier to have him rock with us. MeLo-X and GLDNEYE are old friends through music, so their verses fit together like a glove. GLDNEYE produced the album, and he really showed out on the remix, putting the best of his production styles (plus a verse) into one track. This remix was the last song we made in the ‘Smart Ass Black Boy’ era, recording it after the album came out in June 2013 and only releasing it on Soundcloud. To me, “BKNY (Remix)” sums up the early 2010s era of obsessively online underground rappers that still aspired to be great, like the late 90s and 2000s artists that first inspired us.

‘Smart Ass Black Boy’ was one of the most acclaimed hip-hop records of 2013, ultimately becoming one of the most beloved Houston rap records of the 2010’s. The album landed on year-end lists at Complex and VICE, with Noisey and Pitchfork premiering the videos for “BKNY” and “Hood Party” respectively. It was featured in NPR’s First Listen series where they described it as “refreshing” and “promising,” while Pitchfork said it “absolutely knocks.” Robert Christgau gave the record an A- review (“homespun and imaginative”), and Rolling Stone called it a “thoroughly enjoyable batch of smart-ass raps.” Fat Tony has since released records with Don Giovanni and Carpark, most recently this year’s ‘I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy’.

‘Smart Ass Black Boy: Redux’ tracklist:

1. Smart Ass Black Boy (Redux)
2. Final Destination (Redux)
3. Creepin’ (ft. Jahlil Nzinga) (Redux)
4. BKNY (ft. Old Money) (Redux)
5. I Shine (Redux)
6. Never Let You Go (ft. Shan) (Redux)
7. Hood Party (ft. Kool A.D. and Despot) (Redux)
8. Frenzy (ft. GLDNEYE) (Redux)
9. Father’s Day (Redux)
10. Sleepover (ft. Shawn Neon) (Redux)
11. The More Things Change (The More They Stay the Same) (Redux)
12. BKNY (Remix) (ft. Mr. Muthaf***in’ eXquire, Melo-X, GLDNEYE)

Hi-res artwork here

FAT TONY – ‘SMART ASS BLACK BOY’
10TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE + REMASTER
OUT 1 DECEMBER VIA PARTISAN
PRE-ORDER/SAVE HERE

NEW REMIX OF:”BKNY”
FEATURING MR. MUTHAF***IN’ EXQUIRE, MELO-X, GLDNEYE
STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE

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