Editing Canibus (section)

=== ''Mic Club: The Curriculum'' and ''Rip the Jacker'' (2002–2003) ===
His fourth full-length album ''[[Mic Club: The Curriculum]]'' was released in 2002. Although the production was handled almost entirely by little-known producers, some of them from [[Europe]], the record proved to be a greater critical success than the previous year's release. ''Mic Club'' also saw Canibus return to a more complex rapping style, with a number of concept tracks and few songs with a [[refrain|chorus]]. The album was released on Mic Club Music, Canibus' own label, but failed to chart, selling relatively few copies.

Following the release of ''Mic Club: The Curriculum'', it was announced that Williams decided to join the [[United States Army]]. Before commencing his work with the military, however, he recorded a number of tracks which he intended to be released on his next album, entitled ''[[Rip the Jacker]]''. [[Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind]] was given the task of producing the entire record, equipped solely with Canibus' pre-recorded vocals. Due to his military obligations, Canibus himself only managed to review the album after having acquired a copy.

Upon release, ''Rip the Jacker'' received rave reviews from the majority of critics, who noted that Williams' largely scientific lyrics and distinctive, rough delivery was finally matched by equally fine production, as Canibus had a history of working with badly selected producers. Unlike ''Mic Club'', ''Rip the Jacker'' charted on both ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s R&B/hip-hop charts and the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], peaking at #34 and #197.

Critics highlighted various aspects of ''Rip the Jacker'''s originality, both in terms of beats and lyrics; Stoupe had employed a large number of samples from often obscure compositions, while Canibus himself undertook a variety of topics from various perspectives. Of note was the inclusion of "Poet Laureate II", a song exceeding seven minutes in length and lacking a chorus, with several changes of beat throughout; the track was frequently singled out as one of the strongest in Canibus' career and the album as a whole convinced listeners and the industry alike that the rapper had not lost his potential.