Masters of the Universe is the second and final studio album from American hip hop duo Binary Star (Senim Silla & One Be Lo), released on October 31, 2000.[1] The release is largely a remixed and rearranged version of their 1999 debut Waterworld.[2] The album was one of the most acclaimed underground hip hop releases of 2000,[3] though it only sold around 20,000 copies.[4]
In a review for AllMusic, Brad Mills wrote that the album has "everything a great hip-hop album requires, with varied beats, differing rhyme deliveries, and content you'll find yourself thinking about long after it's been said." He rated the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, and noted that "without huge marketing budget from a major label, this album will probably fail to reach the level of success it deserves."[1] At RapReviews, Steve Juon rated the album 9 out of 10, and argued the album "represents everything that's right about underground hip-hop... Very few albums that come out are as well conceived or prepared as "Masters of the Universe" – which proves exactly why the title of Binary Star's national debut is truly apt."[2] In a 2014 "Album of the Week" for Bonus Cut, Daniel Hodgman wrote that the album was an "aggressive mix of raw underground hip-hop and self-conscious lyricism... Most of what makes Masters of the Universe pleasing is its relentless punchlines, vast lyrical depth and succinct production as an underground hit.[5]
