Review Summary: Mystic styles of the ancient mutilations, torture chambers filled with corpses in my basement.
Historically, naïve middle schoolers have been fascinated with old rock songs having “satanic messages” when played backwards. But in 1999, thuggish hoodlums were fascinated with new rap songs having “satanic messages” when played forwards. Meet Robert Cooper – best known as Koopsta Knicca, and known best as the guy who robbed a man in a wheelchair at gunpoint. Let me take you inside the mind “of a f*cking lunatic.” Sure, Koop likes to puff on a blunt, and yea, he likes a good blow job every now and then, but he likes robbing and killing more. With the creepy, ghastly beats as a backdrop, and his soulful halfsinging-half rapping and mellow voice as nothing but cast members, Koopsta makes the focus of
Da Devil’s Playground the demonic plot.
Arguably the best rapper in Triple Six Mafia, Koopsta Knicca’s impeccable flowing abilities and smooth voice made him a favorite amongst underground rap fans, and thus, his rapping ability is never in question. With ominous, voodoo curse beats with eerie synths; dark pianos; lurking bass; and menacing samples – often found in the chorus or hook – to match in sound, feel and tempo, Koopsta definitely has the pure musical aspect of this album down pat. And as the title suggests, Cooper has similar lyrics to those of pre-Oscar Three 6 Mafia. Bluntly served, often with no dressing, are the cold, monstrous musings of Koopsta Knicca. The everyday life of Koop includes smoking marijuana, having sex, worshipping Satan, robbing, and brutally murdering those who dare screw with him. What he lacks in the metaphor and punchline department, he makes up for in sheer entertainment, often found in the forms of sheer imagery and storytelling ability, or – if you’re sensitive to/into that kind of thing – his wickedness. But Koopsta Knicca isn’t happy with it, sometimes hinting at suicide.
But whether you see the soulful side or the menacing side of him, you are sure to enjoy a devilishly good show put on by one of the best underground MC’s of all time. Sure to satisfy any rap fan, no matter which element you focus on. It’s a shame he was kicked out of Three 6 Mafia, and eventually had to resort to robbing paraplegics to make money. Coincidentally, this was the same night that his former homies were winning their Oscar for, basically, selling out. Koopsta Knicca is about as real as it gets.
