Haiku D'Etat is the eponymous debut album of the underground hip hop

Alternative hip hop

Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...

 supergroup

Supergroup (music)

In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....

/project featuring Aceyalone

Aceyalone

Eddie Hayes, better known by his stage name Aceyalone, is an American rapper.He is a founding member of the Freestyle Fellowship. Apart from his role in Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone is also a member of Haiku D'Etat and The A-Team , and he is a co-founder of Project Blowed.After releasing a...

 and Mikah 9 of the Freestyle Fellowship

Freestyle Fellowship

Freestyle Fellowship are a rap group from Los Angeles consisting of rappers Aceyalone, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter and producer J Sumbi...

 and Abstract Rude

Abstract Rude

Abstract Rude is an American rapper, from Los Angeles, CA. He is the MC for the hip hop group Abstract Tribe Unique , alongside dancers Zulu Butterfly Prince and Irie Lion Locks, Turntablist DJ Drez, and Underground Hip Hop producer, Fat Jack...

 of Abstract Tribe Unique, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music

1999 in music

-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....

).

The album merges jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 tunes with the underground hip hop sound and "literate rap" which the group members, particularly Aceyalone, had become known of. AMG's Stanton Swihart tags the album as "one of those albums destined to go undeservedly neglected but deservedly revered" on the group's page.

The only guest appearance on the album is of fellow Freestyle Fellowship member P.E.A.C.E..

A haiku

Haiku

' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...

 is actually featured in the bonus track at the end of the album (in the original Pure Hip Hop release):

MC's come and go


Using little skill to show


While we overthrow

The song "Non Compos Mentis" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

-External links:* on the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine...

.

In the liner notes to the Pure Hip Hop release, either intentionally or due to a pressing mistake, the song "Kaya" has lyrics which include 'west side slip and slide' and the untitled closing track has lyrics which include 'kaya'.

Pure Hip Hop release

1. "Haiku d'Etat" (4:00)
2. "Non Compos Mentis" (4:19)
3. "Studio Street Stage" (4:52)
4. "Los Dangerous" (5:27)
5. "Pro Tool Robots" (3:13)
6. "Wants vs. Needs" (4:08)
7. "S.O.S." (4:29)
8. "Firecracker" (4:48)
9. "Still Rappin'" (4:53)
10. "Other MC's" (4:03)
11. "West Side Slip and Slide" (2:17)
12. "Kaya" (featuring P.E.A.C.E.) (7:17)
13. "Untitled" (18:45)

Red Urban/Decon release

1. "Haiku d'Etat" (4:01)
2. "Non Compos Mentis" (4:11)
3. "Studio Street Stage" (4:48)
4. "Los Dangerous" (5:26)
5. "Pro Tool Robots" (3:13)
6. "Wants vs. Needs" (4:09)
7. "S.O.S." (4:29)
8. "Firecracker" (4:46)
9. "Still Rappin'" (4:53)
10. "Other MC's" (4:02)
11. "Slower Traffic to the Right" (4:49)
12. "Kaya" (featuring P.E.A.C.E.) (3:56)
13. "Wo Wo Wo Yeah Yeah Yeah" (2:04)