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HHHTo the Left, to the Left,
As I previously posted on the East Coast and the excellent year they’ve been having, let us not forget about their tanned and funky counterparts over on the Left.
Now, although perhaps they haven’t had as successful a run this past little while, don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re not loaded with game changers.
CROOKED I
Slaughterhouse representative. Dr. Dre approved. And one of the torchbearers for the New West. If you’ve never heard Crooked I spit, then you probably don’t listen to much rap.
Likened to a West Coast Pharoahe Monch, Crook’s versatile cadences and cutthroat wordplay made him an obvious candidate to join supergroup, Slaughterhouse. But even more importantly, he’s one of only a handful of west coast spitters that have managed to stay relevant even when the Hip-Hop spotlight has been buried deep in the south. Now, set to release a brand new mixtape as well as the launch of his new label, Dynasty Entertainment, Crook’s poised to keep his position and keep the West up.
Here’s a double dose for your listening pleasure:
CROOKED I ft. SNOOP DOGG – GUESS WHO’S BACK
CROOKED I ft. HORSE SHOE GANG & ROYCE DA 5’9″ – CYPHER
93 ‘TIL INFINITY
When the Souls of Mischief recorded 93 ’til infinity, I doubt there was any way they could’ve anticipated that in fact this prophetic song would actually live up to it’s over ambitious claims.
Now, 16 years later, I still manage to hear this song damn near every hip-hop event I go to and can’t help but love it. And well, them, as well as the entire Hieroglyphics crew are still going strong and making music strictly for the heads. Sure their popularity has died off a bit and most kids nowadays think they’re, at best, a one-hit wonder, but at the end of the day, skills is skills and they’ve got skills like a muh’.
Prepping to release their first official group album since 2000’s Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution, the Souls have enlisted the help of hip-hop innovator, 1/7 of Stetsasonic, and the man honorably known as Plug Four, Prince Paul. If you don’t know either him or Hiero, I suggest you get familiar. Now.
Off the upcoming Montezuma’s Revenge:
And as an added bonus, a brand new ode to A Tribe Called Quest from the Hiero General, Del.
DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN – LYRICS TO GO (2009)
THE KING
And finally, what would a post about the West be without an appearance by the Doggfather.
Off his upcoming 10th studio album, Malice n Wonderland:
SNOOP DOGG – I WANNA ROCK
West West Y’all.
Enjoy the Sun.
Triple.
www.ppfhouse.com
Word. We bring you another Ol’ Heads Thursday Edition and I’d like to kick this Thursday off with a lil’ tribute to Xtra P aka The Large Professor. He is well known for his work with Main Source, ‘discovering’ Nas, and for filtering basslines on the Emu SP-1200. He worked with talent like ATCQ, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo, AZ, and Boot Camp Clik just to name a few.
Here is “ijustwannachill” for your audiovisual enjoyment:
Good work Xtra P. Another tasty joint courtesy of Pete Rock, Kool G Rap, and Large Pro.
TGIF tomorrow
Digit
So, during my search yesterday for six 6-artist posse cuts, I realized one thing…there are A LOT more 5-emcee posse cuts then there are six (the majority of which include Busta Rhymes). I also realized that the West Coast generally don’t do posse cuts unless it includes EVERYONE from the west.
Anyways…since yesterday was so much fun, I thought I’d do it again.
Five Classic 5-Man Posse Cuts (in no particular order — and I’ve done my best not to include Busta in all of’em):
1. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario
Predictable? Yes…but I had to. A Tribe Called Quest…Leaders of the New School…you know the rest.
2. Dungeon Family – Trans DF Express
One of the most ridiculous collections of talent the world has ever seen. Somehow Outkast, Goodie Mob, Witchdoctor, Cool Breeze, Slimm Calhoun, Bubba Sparxx, Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade, Mr. DJ and affiliates sold WOOD with their only group album, ‘Even in Darkness’. The weird thing is, I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t love this album. And with cuts like Six Minutes, Follow the Light, Crooked Booty and especially since it came hot off the heels of Stankonia’s destruction, I can’t figure out why this didn’t get a bigger push. Check out EVERYONE molest this track……..grab your ticket….
3. Kardinal Offishall Feat. IRS & Jully Black – Ol’ Time Killin’
After 3 years of being on Canadian college radio, it’s programmed in my blood to include Cancon (Governement regulated Canadian Content). And well, I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes it was a struggle to find Canadian tunes that were air worthy, this one here will tear down any club in Toronto for good reason. Directed by Brampton-native and Hype Williams protege, Lil X….this is that stuff….
4. Master P feat. Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X & Mystikal – Make’em Say Ungh
This song belongs in the dictionary as the third definition for Contemporary Southern American Urban Music. Just try NOT punching someone in the face while you listen to this…I couldn’t do it. Sorry Charles.
5. B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J & Busta Rhymes – Hit’em High
There were so many options for this last spot, but I picked this song strictly for nostalgic reasons (plus Flava In Ya Ear is still played regularly on MTV).
I love this song.
*BONUS VID*
The Luniz Feat. Dru Down, Shock G, Spice 1, E-40, Richie Rich & Cap’n Sav’em – I Got 5 On It (Remix)
Not a 5 man posse cut but a classic nonetheless, plus it’s the title of this post and the only way I could get the West properly represented.
WEST UUUUUP!
The Party’s in 5 days. Hit us up for your discount cards NOW!
Facebookers Click Here.
Triple.
FOLK!
It’s FRIDAY! And what better way to start the weekend then with some new-old music!
It seems the crew and I have been on a bit of a Native Tongues tear lately and well, personally, I’m rarely NOT on a Native Tongues tear (this also includes all Native Tongue branches: Okayplayers, Soulquarians, Spitkickers, the Ummah, Dave Chappelle, Michael Rappaport, etc.)
Sooo…as promised, I bring you the first of many unreleased Q-Tip joints that hopefully, according to him, will see the light of day within the next few years, but with the way labels make promises these days……
These first tracks were off, what was supposed to be, Tip’s sophomore LP entitled ‘Kamaal the Abstract’. What many aren’t aware of is that, aside from being the main producer in A Tribe Called Quest (No, it WASN’T Ali Shaheed), Q-Tip is actually a trained musician and an established Jazz producer producing for some of the scene’s heaviest hitters including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Garrett and more (the Former he actually went to school with alongside De La Soul and Afrika Baby Bam of the Jungle Brothers — Damn…good school). Unfortunately, outside of a few pieces of promo wax, this never saw the light of day.
Anyways…nuff yackin, onto the goodies.
Q-Tip – Barely In Love
Q-Tip – Blue Girl
And since Digit gave you the track yesterday….today, I present the Vid.
A Tribe Called Quest – Find A Way (Prod. by J Dilla)
And this one just because….
I always keep my promises.
Triple.
In May 1994, the world of hip-hop and late-night TV suffered an ‘L’ that they have yet to recover from.
Before Magic Johnson had his (thankfully) short run on late night TV and before Vibe had their straight-to-the-can blip of a talk show, we had the Arsenio Hall show. A show where (contrary to what many of my classmates growing up thought was just some corny talk show where the guy from ‘Coming to America’ came out and barked) I, and many other viewers were able to regularly tune in to see two of our favorite things on one show: Good Ass Rap and Wrestlers.
And although, the host (and in-turn, the show), is well-known for stepping on the toes of my favorite group of all time (*see Subject heading), his contribution helped to propel and upgrade the careers of several underground legends into Hip Hop Icons. So for those that don’t have a clue as to what I’m talkin about….
Some Good Ass Rap and Wrestlers.
High Heels and Hi-Tops 
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