I was digging for records this past Spetember and picked up a really nice find in the dollar bin by a DC rapper named Southpaw.

The songs on the record are called "Homicide" and "Sun Up to Sun Down."

What's really cool about this record is the drug-kingpin theme. While not new and bordering on hackneyed today, this shit came out in 2001 and comes off as genuine, almost like listening to a Mobstyle cassette or an Azie demo. The production, provided by Bear1, is light and almost airy; quite removed from the trap-hop soundscapes of today that employ the same lyrical theme.

Southpaw is a good writer and his laid-back flow is as soothing as the beats are. He does a good job switching up from his views as a drug dealer to that of a man trapped in his project frustratedly pointing out the hypocrassies of Jessie Jackson.

Oh, and as you'll hear, Southpaw really doesn't like whitey all that much.

As for where Southpaw is today, no one really knows. He did do some work with Lord Finesse just after this 12' dropped but nothing has come out from those sessions.

Producer Bear1 has moved to Philly and works at Def Jam. Word is that he has some beats on Jim Jones album. He is half of the production duo "The Control Freaks" with Kleph Dollaz and word is those guys have some serious heat. The work on the Southpaw record is really nice so I don't doubt it.

For your enjoyment:

Southpaw- Homicide

Southpaw- Sun Up to Sun Down

Some more West Coast love...

After getting hit off with a link to Rappin 4tay's album Don't Fight The Feelin' and revisiting the music that helped define my pre-teen years I decided to revisit another West Coast album that I played the fuck out of: True Game by Mad CJ Mac.

Being located on the East Coast created a bit of a problem in getting ahold of this album. Unlike the 4tay album, which had two moderate hits, the Mad CJ Mac album didn't have the radio exposure to get a widespread release on the East Coast. The reason I even knew about it was because I was addicted to BET's Rap City. If I wasn't glued to the videos I was jerking my meat to Big Lez and let's face it, even though she was dumber than a box of turds (anyone remember when she hit the Stretch and Bob Show and asked "What moves are people like Puffy making in the underground" and they laughed in her face?) she was the black version of the dumb white blonde and her stupidity made her even sexier.

Anyway, what captivated me the most about this album was how mature the subject matter was. While Death Row artists were shooting up the strip and the Wu was bringing the motherfucking ruckus, Mad CJ Mac was telling the world about the harsh realities of the prison system and how it functions as a billion dollar business. To that end, a justifiably mad CJ Mac expounded on how laws were passed to oppress the poor and vulnerable to keep the prison business profitable. As a young white boy who would grow into a teen and later into a man who had too many run-ins with the law to accurately recount, my anger toward the police became better focused because of this album. If only my actions and behavior durring those years were as advanced as my mindstate...

Mad CJ Mac brought his own brand of thinking-man's rap to the table but don't think this album was a complete downer. There are a lot of enjoyable tracks suitable to ride to and of course their is also Mac's infamous dis to Spice One on the track "Powder Puff." For all of you people on the East who only bumped Dr. Dre and Tupac in your West Coast rotation, please do yourself a favor and download this album. It is really one of the best in the genre for its period.

Mad CJ Mac- True Game

Underated like a motherfucker:

1.) Tha Dogg Pound's "What Would You Do" from Murder Was the Case.

Prolly the hardest beat I've ever heard from the West Coast. I'm glad that I've been revisiting old shit as of late. This bodies any thing out right now. Throw it on your next mix cd and bump this in your car.

There are so many classic songs on this soundtrack. Shit, Nate Dogg's song is even good.

2.) NYC indie rapper Naturel. If you're old enough to rememeber "Live People" and "Make It Or You Die" you'll know what's up. That was a great 12'. The artwork for it is great too.

These mp3s came straight from my vinyl.

Producer SPK deserves half of this spot because he produced those tracks for Naturel. He provided Akinyele some BANGERS for Aktapuss. Thugged Out Entertainment had beats for days.

Side note: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO BI-COASTAL RECORDINGS? CAN ANYONE PROVIDE ME WITH A COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY?

I WANT AN MP3 OF "BIG DADDY ANTHEM."

HOOK IT UP OR DIE IN PAIN YOU FUCKING FAGGOTS.

3.) Joey Jihad. Yeah, I've praised him before but this guy is just getting sicker and sicker with each appearance.

Remember when rappers would come up to radio stations and tear the fucker down? Well, I think Jihad is the the only one doing it now. This little treat recently made it onto Gillie the Kid's new mixtape. Don't buy it, Gillie is trash. All that shit about Gillie writing for Lil Wayne has to be bullshit, but I don't think it's out of the question to think that Jihad was writing for Wanye. The have a lot of similarities in terms of content, speed, and flow. Jihad just does it a lot better.

Joey Jihad, Reed Dollaz, and Gillie the Kid on Cosmic Kev's "Come Up Show."

Shouts to Reed Dollaz too, homeboy bodied just as many beats a Jihad did.

4.) Rappin 4tay- Don't Fight the Feelin' (1995)

In the early 90s I was tansfixed by the revolution in hip hop that was being initiated by the new breed of West Coast artists.

As a young boy of 12 I remember hearing "Playaz Club" for the first time. When I stole the album I was disapointed because none of the songs on it sounded as rich as the two singles (the other being "I'll Be Around.") and you can blame that on my age, location, and bias for boom-bap shit. But, it didn't take long for me to develop an ear for the sparse production that was provided by Franky J, Black C, and J Mack. 4tay's buttery fow is what really made this a great album to me. The laid-back confidence that became a trademark of 4tay's rhymes and the verbal blueprints he provided for becoming a self-actualized hustler really kept this album close to my heart.

For years I only owned this on cassette and I lost that in 1999. I recently was provided with an mp3 link to the album and I've been playing it non-stop. I've already been to half.com to get a legit copy.

If you haven't heard this album and are intentionally putting it off you are doing yourself a great diservice.

Rappin' 4tay- Don't Fight the Feelin'