KMD – Bl_ck B_st_rds

Black Bastards is the second and final studio album by KMD (an American rap trio featuring an early alias of MF Doom), completed in 1993 and eventually released on May 15, 2000, through Readyrock Records. Initially, the album was scheduled for release in May 1994, but Elektra Records canceled the album, reportedly due to the controversial cover art, which shows a Sambo figure being lynched. Zev Love X’s brother DJ Subroc was killed when he was struck by a car shortly before the album was completed, and subsequent releases of the album have featured dedications to him.

Rare and demo tracks recorded during the making of this album were released on a vinyl-only EP titled Black Bastards Ruffs + Rares in 1998.

The album was re-released in 2001 by Sub Verse Music and again in 2008 by MF Doom’s own Metalface Records.