Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ‎– Bandana

The Rappcats Directors cut is the definitive version overall at this point.hands down. This is a different master and cut of the album based on Madlib's original submission before sample clearances. Doing an A/B test with the standard (or VMP) version the audio quality difference is present.. this is just slightly more crisp, the cut slightly louder and there's less surface noise. Maybe not huge improvements there, but I happen to believe that the major difference is that the source master for this one is just mixed better. The jacket is still flimsy.... but the cover is absolutely brilliant. i don’t hate the Hollywood cover, but this one feels more fitting of the album's theme and content. being Madlib's original take there are some slight alterations to skits (for the better) and some of the intros/outros/bumps beats are slightly longer (for the better). The album transitions extremely well with this version and yet it's not so drastically different that it throws you off if you're used to the "final" release. For the purposes of listening on wax tightening up the flow of the album is a big plus and the small tweaks have a big impact.

Essentially this is as close to the complete vision of the album that Madlib and Freddie wanted to release (maybe minus John Gotti Karate). it's what I prefer listening to along with the Bernie Grundman Test Pressing when I want to show off my system a little more.

Listening to the standard version, I couldn't get into it. It feels all over the place, really short on flow & really nauseating as an LP listen (not to say each track individually isn't worth your ears, of course). I gave it 3 goes & wrote it off as a 'non-connectable with' experience.

Here on this directors cut, it's a different experience altogether; the whole thing feels right & makes sense, the tracks flow into one another & it feels like Madlib. By that I mean, it's as smooth as you'd expect from a cat like that.

The master is also favourable over the 'Keep Cool' releases, it's clean & proud. I'll be forgetting all those bar the instrumentals (always handy) & sticking with this gem, along with the duo's previous classic 'Pinata'.

Definitely prefer this to the original. Although the differences are subtle, it’s more concise and has more of a vintage Madlib feel to it. Plus the artwork is super dope

No idea why they didn't put this version out for a wide release, I prefer it to the original

This could be one of the best rapping long players of 2019. I had to wait until my mam went out to play it (as you know she hates all rap and trap music as she is a staunch Christian) but as soon as the needle hit the opening grooves, I knew I was listening to a classic album. One of my favourite tracks is ‘Half Manne, Half Cocaine’, as it is a violent, lurching trap banger, and when I listen to it, it makes me feel tingly inside and wave my fingers around as if they are guns. Gibbs rides the beat like it is a petulant horse, his voice loaded with menace as he threatens to “kiss your wife and then piss on your grave”, and I don't think he is joking, I think he would ACTUALLY do that. Thankfully me and my lovely girlfriend are not married yet!!

Is this the rappcats edition? Or are they different limited edition release ?