Pitchfork

Back atcha: Following two chilly years in suspended animation, the hallowed hip-hop duo known as Cannibal Ox have reemerged at last, and they're fixin' to start something. Pitchfork has just learned that the wizards of Ox are planning a follow-up to 2001's celebrated The Cold Vein, which will drop next year on Def Jux. Jux guru and producer extraordinaire El-P will commandeer the boards for the currently untitled release, as he did on Vein. Guest producers are slated to include the RZA and Pete Rock. Hot.

Cannibal Ox's Vast Aire and Vordul Mega/Megilah have each spent the last two years immersed in solo efforts: Aire's Look Mom...No Hands hit us in April of 2004, followed by Mega's The Revolution of Yung Havoks last November. This past April, Vast Aire partnered with producer Mighty Mi for The Best Damn Rap Show. Aire and Mega also contributed to the Wu-indie smorgasbord, Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture, which blew up shops two weeks ago.

According to a press release, Cannibal Ox have signed on for a "multi-album worldwide deal," which will hopefully translate to a steady onslaught of spooked-out beats and off-kilter rhymes in the years to come.

As for live appearances, the revitalized Ox has one show scheduled so far, on November 12 at Emo's in Austin, Texas. But an eight-date tour of grim metropolises near you is in the works for December.

* Def Jux: