You Can't Stop the Bum Rush

Prior to the release of You Can't Stop the Bum Rush, Len solely consisted of siblings Marc and Sharon Costanzo, who predominately made alternative rock music. The duo independently released two studio albums, Superstar (1995) and Get Your Legs Broke (1997), on their own record label, Funtrip Records.[1] Following these releases, the duo became tired of producing rock music and considered disbandment.[2] Marc explained: "I was writing, then I thought, ‘This is bullshit; I can't write this shit.' I hated playing guitar."[2] The duo, however, became inspired again after experimenting with hip hop music, opting to move in this direction after receiving positive reception from music industry officials.[2] This reception resulted in Len signing with a major record label, the Work Group, and branching outside of being a duo, with the addition of group members Derek "D Rock" MacKenzie, Brian "DJ Moves" Higgins, Philip "Planet Pea" Rae, and Drunkness Monster.[1]

The standard edition of You Can't Stop the Bum Rush includes 12 tracks; the Japanese edition includes one additional track. Len intended to create a sonically diverse album, with Marc Costanzo commenting: "We didn't want people to be mad at us when they bought the album and expected 13 'Sunshines.' There's something [on the album] for the ravers, the Adidas-wearing old-school hip-hop heads, and 14-year-old-girls."[3] The album includes a variety of styles, including rap, rock, and pop.[1] The album makes a heavy use of samples, with band member D Rock commenting that "[we] don't take ourselves too seriously."[3] Guest appearances include Biz Markie, Kurtis Blow, and C.C. DeVille of Poison.[1]

The title, You Can't Stop the Bum Rush, refers to the breaking down of barricades, with D Rock commenting that the idea behind it is that "[Len is] coming, you can't stop us."[4] However, the group maintains that the title was created as a joke, with D Rock further adding: "[Len is the] first Canadian band with no talent whatsoever to actually make it to Letterman."[4]

Len was responsible for the album's art direction, whilst Drazen helmed the cartoon art.[5] The cover features cartoon versions of the Len group members, in addition to alternative hip hop musician Buck 65, lined up on a city sidewalk.[6] The idea for the cover stemmed from a conversation between Marc and Sharon where Marc discussed "how funny it would be if we [became] cartoon characters."[7] Outside of the cover, Drazen drew a city—referred to by Marc as "Len land"—containing other eccentric characters, which is placed throughout the CD booklet.[7] The cover was originally a picture that Marc took of himself and Sharon, although this cover was scrapped as Marc believed it would fail to grab the attention of consumers.[7] The Work Group was strongly against the decision to release the album using Drazen's cartoon art.[7]

To promote the album, Len headlined the Canadian Edgefest tour in 1999, replacing Eve 6 after they dropped out due to illness.[8] The tour lasted two weeks, from July 1 to 14.[8] In the United States, Len embarked on a tour consisting of 22 shows in the fall of 1999.[9] The tour commenced on October 7 in Chicago, Illinois and concluded on November 6 in Dallas, Texas, with most appearances being at clubs and music festivals.[9] The tour was initially scheduled to begin on July 27 in Washington D.C., although the Len group members had faced difficulty in securing the proper visa paperwork in time for the tour date.[1][10] To further promote the album, Len made a variety of radio and television appearances, including an August 6 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
The New York Times	(positive)[12]
Q	[13]
Robert Christgau	[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]

You Can't Stop the Bum Rush received a mildly positive reception from music critics who praised the genre-hopping in the tracks and the light-hearted delivery used for them. John Bush of AllMusic found the rapping offbeat and the album a lesser version of the Beastie Boys' Hello Nasty but said that the production was "excellent" and the tracks "enjoyable", concluding that "the album's few derivative qualities never really get in the way of an enjoyable listen."[11] Tony Scherman of The New York Times credited the album for offering more than just "Steal My Sunshine" by dabbling into different genres, highlighting the four hip-hop songs for being injected with a sunny demeanor, concluding that: "Any unheralded group that cuts an album with at least a half-dozen memorable songs, and two addictive ones, deserves special attention."[12] Karen Schoemer of Rolling Stone praised Marc Costanzo for his versatile production on the album and for being an alternative to Fred Durst by being goofy and less serious, concluding that: "Twelve years ago, these guys might have been Camper Van Beethoven, taking the piss out of college rock. Today, another genre needs them more."[15]

Adapted from the You Can't Stop the Bum Rush inlay notes.[5]

• You Can't Stop the Bum Rush at Discogs