Flashback Music: Part III - Coco Loc, Shorty K & Bad Azz "I Like To Roll"

Flashback Music is back. This time I chose a track off one of the best Gangsta Rap compilations ever recorded, the classic "19th Street LBC" compilation. Coco Loc, Shorty K and Snoop Dogg's cousin Bad Azz "Like To Roll" through Long Beach on this one.



Enjoy the music and remember the time...

Snoop and The-Dream make "Gangsta Luv"

West Coast veteran Snoop Dogg is set to drop his new record "Malice N Wonderland" on December 8. His first major single "Gangsta Luv" featuring the R&B singer The-Dream just made it into the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week, entering the chart on #57. You can check out the video to this feelgood jam below:



In a recent interview with FSD in Chicago, Snoop was asked whether he was involved in working on Dr. Dre's highly anticipated 3rd album "Detox" or not. His simple answer was "Is it windy in Chicago?"
So be on the lookout for that one. You can check the full interview here.

Si-Chill

New Del album available for paid download

Del Tha Funky Homosapien stays busy. Next week he is releasing his collabo album "Parallel Uni-Verses" with Tame One which is highly anticipated.
A few days ago he also released his new solo record "Automatik Statik" via bandcamp.com - produced, written, recorded and mixed by Sir DZL. His name is all over the album as you can hear Del mentioning him on nearly every song. If you don't want to pay something for this, you can just bump the album track by track on this page:

http://delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com/

If you pay at leat 30$ for this record you will get some limited "Funk Man" headphones with the music.

Check out the cover artwork:

Flashback Music: Part II - Mixmaster Spade & Toddy Tee "Just Say No"

I return with a very old-school'd classic for my 2nd part of Flashback Music. I hope you remember the old-school rap legend Mixmaster Spade and his partner in crime from back in the day, Toddy Tee. In the year 1988 they released a 12'' entitled "Just Say No", an anti-drug song. I was stumbling over it just the other day and wondered they made a video for this. Here it is:



Many songs in the later rap history contain samples or have relation to Spade's verses on this song, for example the famous "I can't walk down the street, without my gun." quotation. So enjoy this classic of rap music and R.I.P. to Mixmaster Spade.

By the way: It is funny to see how different rappers acted to this time compared to that bling-bling stuff from the last decade. This makes me think of monkeys, even though this one seems a little bit corny sometimes...

Si-Chill

Making a remake

Today I want to share my new beat "Realest In The Game" with you. This is a remake of Marv Mitch & LeMay's gangsta hit "Rillas In Tha Game" featuring C-Bo off their 1996 "Livin' In Tha Strange" album.


This track was a true hood anthem back then, when rap on the west coast used to be dark and sinister and very instrumental. I decided to make it my way, so check it out and leave a comment.

Si-Chill - Realest In The Game

Del Tha Funky Homosapien & Tame One release "Parallel Uni-Verses" in October

Oakland native and Hieroglyphics former Del Tha Funky Homosapien keeps staying active in the music business and will release the collabo-album "Parallel Uni-Verses" with the New Jersey rapper Tame One on October 13 through Gold Dust Media:



This will be the third Del involved album within two years, after his 8-year abstinence in 2000 which was only intermitted by the Hieroglyphics release "Full Circle" in 2003.

The First single has already leaked and is called "Flashbacks". The two rappers also shot a video in Brooklyn to this very old-school sounding track. A sample-based beat and a lot of scratching make this track sound like a typical 90's rap song, so you should definitely check it out below:



For more information check out http://www.parallel-universes.com/


Si-Chill

Flashback Music: Part I - Mr. X "Flossin"

Today I'm presenting you my new weekly feature "Flashback Music" which will contain some old and almost forgotten masterpieces for you to remember. Just to keep that good old stuff alive and appreciate the music.
I will start part one of this new feature with a track by Mr. X called "Flossin". I still don't know if this guy is alive, I didnt hear anything from him besides his self-titled solo album of the year 1994. But the music is awsome - the whole album is.



Si-Chill

New E-40 album "Revenue Retrievin' " coming in November

Yes you've read correctly, the amabassador of the bay, the crazy tongue twister from "Vallejo Califoolya", the one and only E-40 will be back in November to release his new album Revenue Retrievin'. Quite exactly one year after his last release on Warner Bros. "The Ball Street Journal", 40 Fonzarelli is free of any label regulations again.
There is not much information on this album besides a supposed track called "Get Money" featuring Young Jeezy and B-Legit.

Check the cover artwork:

You can also a check a recent interview with E-40 on the blog of SubMerge Magazine:
http://submergemag.com/featured/revenue-retrieval/894/

Be on the lookout for more information soon.

Si-Chill

Snoop Dogg becomes the Chairman of Priority Records

According to the online outlet of the XXL Magazine, Snoop Dogg will be the new Creative Chairman of Priority Records on EMI. The label has been a huge stepping stone for a lot of West Coast Rap artist like Snoop himself, Ice Cube, MC Eiht, Ice-T, Eazy-E or Bad Azz in the 90's and early 2000's, before it was incorporated to Capitol Records in 2002.

Snoop Dogg is now planning to release his 10th studio effort "Malice N Wonderland" on Priority in December. I'm just wondering what happened to his deal with MTV.

Anyway, Snoop told xxlmag.com that "The business model we’ve developed will bring the musical heritage of groups like N.W.A. to the forefront."
which means, that many re-releases of some great Hip-Hop records will see the light of day soon. I'm not sure what's the use though, because there is no market for such LP's.
Snoop himself proved that he is not the born music label CEO, as he never managed to bring out a well-selling album on his own label Doggy Style Records besides his solo records.

So let's see how this will turn out...

Source: http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=56810

Si-Chill

A little piece of music...

I just made a new beat for you to check out. I called it "Take My Hand", it's nice feelgood-music and I hope y'all enjoy it and leave a comment.
And for you rap fans out there, peep the bassline ;)

Si-Chill - Take My Hand

Some 2009 albums

As the year goes on and on, it is just usual that many of us sleep on too much music. So I decided to make a little list including some of the most important west coast related records of the year.

I begin with the upcoming releases which contain some albums you may have not expected yet. The albums of Spice 1, Kurupt & Warren G are overdue, but at least the Warren G record has got a new release date. E-40 plans to drop volume 2 of the Bay Bridges compilation, produced by his son Droop-E. A surprising collabo-album has been announced by Hieroglyphics founder Del Tha Funky Homosapien, who is going to put out an album named Parrallel Uni-Verses together with Artifacts rapper Tame One. These albums should drop until the end of this year, but you know what it is, rappers and release dates are like the weather - it changes everyday.
Check the list out:

Mac Mall - Mac To The Future : August 18
Clyde Carson - Bass Rock E.P. : August 18
Warren G - The G Files : September 29
Lil Rob - Love & Hate : September 29
Del Tha Funky Homosapien & Tame One - Parrallel Uni-Verses : end of '09
Kurupt - Street Lights (produced by Terrace Martin) : end of '09
Snoop Dogg - Malice In Wonderland : end of '09
E-40 presents: Bay Bridges Vol. 2 : end of '09
Spice 1 - Home Street Home : end of '09
MC Ren - Renincarnated : end of '09

To give you a little overview of music that has been released already, you can check this second listing as well. Most recent are the group record of Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Royce Da 5'9" and Joe Budden - called Slaughterhouse - and the Daz Dillinger solo-album Public Enemiez on which you can hear more laid-back music with a lots of singing in the hooks.
Check it out:

Daz Dillinger - Public Enemiez
Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse
The Jacka - Tear Gas
DJ Quik & Kurupt - Blaqkout
Mr. Criminal - Only The Strong Survive
Suga Free - Hi-Power Pimpin
B-Real - Smoke & Mirrors
T-K.A.S.H. - Brains All Over The Street
Del Tha Funky Homosapien - Funk Man

There are two very cool mixtapes I recommend you to listen, for one thing the Congratulations To The Player mixtape by Dubb Union member Damani and for another thing Erk Tha Jerk's Hood Nerd mixtape. It's not like we've experienced a year of great music so far, but even in this weak year 2009 you can find some good music here and there, choose yourself...


Si-Chill

New visual off "Blaqkout"

DJ Quik and Kurupt decided to put out a third video for their duo-album "Blaqkout". This time, they chose the feelgood anthem "Hey Playa" and shot an unusual video for it, as you can see them both riding and rapping on camels named Chris Brown and Rihanna. The video spreads a very cheerful atmosphere and fits the song perfectly, if you ask me.
Enough talking though, enjoy the video...




Si-Chill

New Roscoe album "Philaphornia 2: Tha Philly Fanatic"

West Coast rapper Roscoe just released a new album on dubcnn.com for free download. It is a mix of older, unreleased tracks and new recorded songs. The album features artists like Tha Dogg Pound, B-Real (Cypress Hill), Xzibit, Soopafly and a few more.


You download it here.

Enjoy the album, that's straight west coast gangsta rap we're used from Young Roscoe.


Si-Chill

MC Ren plans to release "Renincarnated" this year

Former N.W.A. member and Compton's own MC Ren is planning to release his long-awaited new album "Renincarnated" at the end of 2009. The controversial gangsta rapper who released 3 solo albums in the mid-90's also criticized the recent quality of rap music and the fact that rappers put too many features on their records.

"So every record you buy is compilation records, that ain't even solo albums.", MC Ren told dubcnn.com in a recent interview.


So his new album will not feature any other rapper. The production will be handled by Compton's Most Wanted member Tha Chill and Apocalypse according to Ren, who celebrated his 40th birthday this year. "Renincarnated" is going to be his first album in 11 years.

Be on the lookout for the eponymous title track and more information on MC Ren, right here.



Si-Chill

Blaqkout: Video for "9x's Outta 10"

DJ Quik & Kurupt kept it busy in the past weeks, trying to promote their upcoming duo-album "Blaqkout" coming on June 9.

Here is the video for the their first visualized single "9x's Outta 10".
The video is directed by Dah Dah and the production by Quik is not what you are used to hear of him. I think that's what's missing in the west right now, some creativity and this one is definitely creative and innovative. In my opinion the best track of "Blaqkout" we were allowed to hear so far.

There is also a commercial video on the net, in which you get to hear some more snippets - presented by Quik himself.
Blaqkout Commercial

Check the videos and pick up "Blaqkout" on June 9.

Si-Chill

1st video for "Blaqkout" soon.

As the days pass and the release-date of the highly anticipated collabo-album "Blaqkout" between DJ Quik and Kurupt comes nearer and nearer, I'm back with some news.
The two artists are shooting a video for their first official single "9 Times Out Of 10" in North Hollywood this week. The video is about to feature cameos by Terrace Martin, Bad Lucc, Damani, B-Real, Roscoe, DJ Crazy Toones and many more.
Let's see how Quik and Young Gotti can surprise us this time.

Pick up "Blaqkout" on June, 9th and be on the lookout for more information soon.


Si-Chill

Snoop readies 10th album with "Snoop Dogg Millionaire"

West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg is about to drop his 10th solo album with the title "Malice In Wonderland" in September 2009.
While staying busy in the last months with his realityshow "Snoop's Fatherhood" and his new talk show "Dogg After Dark", the Doggfather is ready for another major business move. He left his longtime label Interscope/Geffen and signed a deal with the number one music outlet MTV to release and promote his upcoming album.

You can get a taste of the new Snoop album with his new street single "Snoop Dogg Millionaire" which features indian singer Tanvi Shah and his new group the Hustle Boyz consisting of Mac Lucci and D-Dimes. The track is produced by Wild Animals (John Legend, Kurupt & Murs) and Chase & Status.
Listen to "Snoop Dogg Millionaire".

To make you a little bit more familiar with the Hustle Boyz, check this track out:
"Don't Bother Me"


Si-Chill

Blaqkout pushed back again!

The long awaited and highly anticipated duo-album "Blaqkout" by the greatest West Coast G-Funk producer DJ Quik and the Dogg Pound member and raw lyricist Kurupt has been pushed back again. While the record was originally set to drop at the end of April 2009, the new release-date is June 9, 2009. Listen to the first internet-leak "Fuck Y'all" here.

Stay tuned for more information on "Blaqkout".


Si-Chill

New Del album "Funk Man" available for free download!!

After the kind of disappointing 2008 effort "Eleventh Hour", Hieroglyphics member and bay area veteran Del Tha Funky Homosapien is back with his new album "Funk Man". This time he decided to release this album for free through the internet-outlet bandcamp.com. While Del sounded very tired on his last album he seems to have more power and energy on this album again. The music as well as the rhymes sound more dynamic, so fans are finally able to hear the old Del again.

This album really offers music which seemed to be lost at all in the past years, as Del brings back very old-schooly funk tunes, as well as scratches and a vintage rap flow. I would even say, this one sounds like his solo-debut "I Wish My Brother George Was Here" on some parts. The album is entirely produced by Del himself except the track "Simple Satisfaction" which is produced by Zac Hendrix.
Download this album 100% free on www.Delthefunkyhomosapien.bandcamp.com and support Del to the fullest.
That's real music, enjoy it.

Si-Chill

Best of 2008 Series Part II: Lil Rob - Twelve Eighteen, Part 2

After numerous announcements, that got very tiring, chicano rapper Lil' Rob finally released his 7th solo album "Twelve Eighteen, Part 2" in late October.
While Part 1 of "Twelve Eighteen" has been entirely produced by the great Fingazz, this one has also production by Simes Carter, Bionik and Moox.



This record was supposed to come out in late 2006 at first, it finally hit the stores in late 2008, so many fans lost their interest on it, it's a big question why it took so long for Upstairs Records to put it out. True fans will forgive Lil' Rob though, because he really let the music speak on this record as you can hear on the album's entrie "Bringing It Back" which features production and talkbox by Fingazz. A typical westcoast track to bump in the lowrider, with a heavy kick and the obligatory whistle in the background. Lil Rob also uses a voice-sample off one of his most popular cuts "Summer Nights" on this track: "Right next to the pacific, to be specific." - that's where he's at and the music sounds exactly like that.
The second track "Slow It Down" is the generic ladies-track, with a smooth bassline and a r'n'b-sounding hook by Frankie J. Many of you will know Frankie J from the Baby Bash hitsingle "Shorty Doowop" back in 2003.

1218 Part 2 starts really chilled and smooth as 4 of the first 6 tracks are slow jamz, mostly female pleasing and slow-flowing. You got the hanging-out "Leanin On The Weekend" with its nice bass and sleepy hook and the lowrider anthem "Let's Go" which features Fingazz again, on which you are able to experience the usual crispy clean rap by Lil Rob, it's for the good times. On "Let Me Come Back" you hear Lil Rob using the popular auto-tune vocoder. For those of you who will think of T-Pain now, there is no need to worry because Lil Rob brings a very vintage feeling to this track which is backed by Fingazz on the hook, he doesn't sound like a copycat at all. The production of this song is awsome, Fingazz still does what he does best: Summertime anthems.

Of course you can find the more party and up-tempo tracks as well, but they don't sound as much mainstream as they did on "Twelve Eighteen Pt. 1". I would call "Bang Bang Boogie" and "Fast Life" the only tracks with mass appeal. "Bang Bang Boogie" with another Fingazz production and vocal feature starts like a typical T-Pain single but turns into a bangin club joint. The heavy synthezisers and the booming bass make this song sound very vivacious. You could compare it to Rob's 2005 hitsingle "Bring Out The Freak In You" but this one sounds even more stylish and colourful. The other track, "Fast Life", is just a corny contribution to Michael Sembello's "Maniac (Flashdance)".
The other perfect track to dance to is "Do It", an 80's-influenced cut, very funky and happy-tuned. On the other hand you find a dedication to the oldies with "Out Of My Mind" as well as gangsta rap with "Brown Side". To feed some stereotypes, you will always find the brash and street-smart tracks like "Microphone Rippin" on Lil Rob's albums, which is nothing new at all but it still does its job.

"Just One Of Those Days", "Stuck With You" and "Cortez Shoes", the three singles of this album (while the two first mentioned tracks were released in 2007) are the perfect examples why this album is in my list of the best albums in 2008: They all got the summertime vibe to it, a catchy hook and a not too attention-craving sound. I guess this is the secret behind this type of records, especially behind the countless Fingazz productions in the past years. You want to hang out with your friends? Bump this record. You need background music while barbecueing? Bump this record. You want to boogie a little bit? Just bump this record. The biggest minus of this album is just the release-date, because this isn't really an album for the winter.

----Rating: 8,0 / 10

Si-Chill

The West Coast Invades Europe!

The West Coast is going to invade Europe with two crazy festivals in Amsterdam (April 1st, Heineken Music Hall) and Paris (April 2nd, Le Zénith).

Yes, it's true: A line-up so big that you are immediatly remembered of the 'Up In Smoke'-Tour, who would have ever thought that this will happen in 2009? Ice Cube, Xzbit, WC, DJ Crazy Toones, E-40, Tha Dogg Pound (Daz & Kurupt), Too $hort and Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs, some of the greatest West Coast rappers / musicians of all time will perform live on stage and make sure that you put your hands up in the air and wave 'em around like you just don't care!

The ticket price for the event in Amsterdam amounts 49,50€ in the regular pre-sale. The West Coast rap network dubcnn.com offers a discount ticket-price of 40€. To order the tickets send an email to tickets@dubcnn.com or visit http://www.heineken-music-hall.nl/ .

This will be a great day for rap-fans, so get your ticket now and have a really nice evening with some of the greatest rhyme-spitters and storytellers in the game.


Si-Chill

Best of 2008 Series Part I: Paris - Acid Reflex

It is kind of late, but I will begin my "Best of 2008"-series now with the 6th album of Guerrilla Funk CEO Paris, called "Acid Reflex". This series will contain my collection of the best albums released in 2008. Unfortunately, it was quite easy to choose the best records from the past year because of the downfall of quality music in this genre. 2008 was a very bad year for music at all, especially for rap when you look at the sales-numbers also. Even Snoop Dogg didn't manage it to go platinum for the first time in his career despite his hit-single "Sexual Eruption" ("Sensual Seduction"). Nowadays, many rap-artists try to flood the market with non-quality music to make the quick dollar and the rising of digital releases reflects the crisis of the music-industry. Of course, there still are some artist trying to put out quality music instead, whether on a major label or not, but it is sad to see that even those artists rarely fulfil the expectations of the fans.

It took the self-proclaimed "Bush Killa" 5 years to put out his latest solo-effort "Acid Reflex" through his own Guerrilla Funk label and the controversial cover speaks for itself. The lyrics are highly political as usual and Paris tries to show his state of mind on the system in the election year. Still sharp, still embittered and still radical, Paris raps about a country being based on apprehension, lies and consume but the music differs a bit from the album's forerunner "Sonic Jihad". The beats are less banging and "gangster" and also less jazz-funk influenced but are more monotonous and more simple, meaning the drums do not sound that elaborate and there are only a few funky arrangements in the background. The music is still professional produced and well balanced, but it sounds more slow and similar. The barnstorming groove is kind of missing on this CD.

The albums has its musical highlights for sure, though. I have to mention the lead-single "Don't Stop The Movement" - which features newcomer T-K.A.S.H. on the hook - at first, because this sounds just like the Paris we know from "Sleeping With The Enemy"-days. You may put the CD into your system and the first track just bombs you away like "whoa!" (see also: my full review to this song here) and you sure will expect more of that sound. But you will get belied a little bit then, because most of the other songs cannot compete with this one. There is no "filler" or complete failure on this album, but most of it is not really thrilling or special - besides some of Paris' raps. As I said before, his raps can still carry you. He is still aiming on the president like on "The Trap":

>>I vote but never stop the problems around
Them soldiers, only murderin the black and the brown
I get my gun and stun 'em we run 'em out of the town
I'd rather, shoot now Congressman, shoot the President<<

When it comes to punchlines, there are only a few rappers that can see Paris at all and he proves this with his lyrics on "Winter In America" also. This song features Chuck D by the way. Paris turns the light on the abuse of 9/11 as a political and social tool to manipulate people:

>>9/11 is no longer a conspiracy
It's being used to reduce civil liberties
Speak critically, they can legally ignore you
And let the verachip think for you<<
Another great track is the drum and guitar based "True". The background effects combined with the echoed synthesizer plus the deep-toned bass keep the thing working, as well as Paris' lyrical effort does:

>>I know you think the West coast started with Eazy and finished with Pac
But think again, we got it just as hard out here
You act like the government ain't in charge out here - man
Pass the Molotov, light it up and throw it at the city hall
Administration, station
Face the Nation, I ain't talkin 'bout the President
I'm talkin 'bout the flag with the star and the crescent in it<<

He also loses a few words about the actual state of hip-hop and you can feel him not being content with it:

>>I'm a threat cause mainstream rejection didn't spook me!
Rappers tried to make me switch and couldn't move me
Kufi salute me and true niggaz choose me<<

>>Now tell me what's so gangster 'bout flossin your bank account
for some quick attention from the women while the people in the hood suffer<<

As usual, Paris' skits are also packed with a political message, so is "The Violence Of The Lambs" on which you can hear Pastor Jeremiah Wright stating some unpleasant facts about America (read here). America's chickens are coming home to roost, somewhat reminding me on the proverb "what goes around, comes around", you can have your own opinion about it.
The CD is listenable from beginning to end, with its great moments here and there, but it misses some replay value in the long run. I would name 5 standout-tracks, including the remix of "Don't Stop The Movement", which is easily the most exciting track I've heard in a minute.

With "Acid Reflex" Paris dropped a very solid and vintage sounding album, but as I said, I think he could have done a little bit better, measured against his earlier releases. This shows, that even grown artists like Paris seem like they do not really know which direction they should give to their music. Compared to the bulk of lame and uninteresting music by other rappers these days, this album is a blessing though. It's good to see that there are intelligent people, putting out intelligent music, don't let themselves get dumped by the industry and keep the funk alive (at least a bit).
So keep in mind:"The people united, will never be defeated."

----Rating: 7,5 / 10

Si-Chill

Twist Your Body

Today I want to show you some music of me. The beat is called "Twist Your Body" so be sure to take care of the bass that will hit you. This is for all of you liking Hyphy music. Feel free to drop a comment ;)

Enjoy...


Si-Chill