Category Archives: California

A Couple of Stray Musings on Lavish D/King Lavish D/CML Lavish D

30 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Bay Area, California

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As a long-ago Lavish D convert I wanted to take the opportunity of the new Lav/Philthy Rich mixtape and this heightening Philthy/Mozzy feud to post a few loose thoughts on King Lav that have been on my mind…

  • If I could get access to a time machine one of my highest priorities would be to go back in time to like 2016-2017 to the height of the ‘One Mob’ vs Lav beef and blow a few Bay Area rap fans’ minds by showing them this Lav/Philthy collaboration album from the future and then hop back in the time machine and leave back for the future without explaining the whole context of what led to it
  • My favorite aspect of the Mozzy/Philthy beef is the fact that Messy Marv is certainly the centerpiece of the beef – Philthy is mad that Mozzy linked up with Messy – so he then linked up Mozzy’s archenemy Lav – who featured Messy himself on the remix for arguably his biggest song (Speak My Mind/What Else remix).
  • Lav may be THE most elusive artist to conveniently find the complete discography of in all of rap, which is saying something  – I had been on a bit of a Lav kick after not listening to him in a while after seeing his cameo in the San Quinn video and I found albums/mixtapes by him on Spotify listed under Lavish D, King Lavish D, CML Lavish D, and even just CML. Given the all-over the place nature of his catalogue I might need to compile a top 10 Lav songs here in the future.
  • I guess Lav is signed to Cash Money or Cash Money West now so congrats to him on that. I wonder if that means we’ll get a Lav/Blueface collaboration some time soon.
  • Sadly I have to admit I was super hyped when I saw that this project was out but unfortunately even though I am a fan of both, I didn’t feel like any specific track really jumped out at me as a highlight and wasn’t really as good as both of their recent solo work. (I just posted the title track for this article since it’s the title track and has a new video).  That being said I’ll give it another listen and maybe that will change over time. But I felt like a lot of tracks on here were just remixes thrown together of their previous songs etc. Maybe we can get a second collaboration from them because I’m definitley still intrigued by the idea even if the execution didn’t live up to it in this case.
  • I wonder where out of town allies like Yung Cat and A-Wax will line up in this whole battle because on the one hand probably the only thing that united them on tracks like Diamonds Dancing was obviously their mutual dislike of Mozzy but on the other hand I would have to imagine none of them were like wildly in favor of Philthy either.

In all seriousness though let’s hope that this Philthy/Mozzy beef stays on wax and no one gets hurt over it

P.S. here’s what I wrote at the time after I first checked out Lav and posted about it as a young blogger still trying to come up in the blog game, not as bad as I thought…

“As a Mozzy fan I almost felt a bit sneaky and slimey deciding to check out Lavish D’s last couple of mixtapes but much like a cheating spouse eventually the curisoity and temptation got the better of me and I decided to delve into it. He has some pretty good songs and my favorite of all of them was last year’s ‘Iraq’…You’ve also got to tip your hat to any video where the actual rapper isn’t in the video because he’s behind bars so everyone is wearing shirts saying ‘Free Cash Money Lavish’ on them. After listening to a couple of mixtapes I would say that Mozzy has a bit more star power than Lavish D but Lavish D certainly isn’t just a neighborhood rapper looking to get famous by dissing Mozzy, he has a bit of star power and quite a few good songs in his own right. My other favorite by him so far is ‘Speak My Mind‘. Now that he is free I’m going to keep an eye out for his new material as it comes out.”

California Kid Like Tom Brady

19 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by in Bay Area, California

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San Quinn – Ain’t Nobody Thugging 

San Quinn has got over 25 years in the game at this point and he’s still putting out heat. This beat is slapping like a San Fran pimp when the money ain’t right. That voice singing the hook is so dope. I love the video too with the shots of the bridge and the waterfront.

“Big wads, new cars, move around with 10 large, for a verse 10 large after this I’m finna charge”

“We ain’t sippin Hen we sippin’ Dom Perignon, move along square nigga let the mob carry on”

I haven’t kept up with this whole ever-evolving Mozzy/CML/Messy Marv/Philthy etc. beef because all the moving parts make it like a multi-generational multi-city Northern California Game of Thrones and your host is too much of a square and doesn’t have the attention span for all that he just wants to enjoy the slaps, but it looks like Lavish D has a cameo here so I guess San Quinn is down with him. Wouldn’t mind getting a remix of this with Lavish on here and maybe a couple of Frisco rappers – dare I suggest Berner anyone?

These Songs are the Spirituals I Swam Against the Waves With: RIP Nipsey Hussle

03 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in California, Crip, L.A.

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Man I wish I didn’t have to post this/can’t believe I’m posting it but RIP Nipsey. I know I’m a couple of days late but wanted to just pay my respects to a west coast legend who was really pushing the envelope and setting a great example for the next generation in terms of entrepreneurship and giving back to your community. There are a lot of good choices but the above is probably my favorite song by him and one of the most profound.

This Ain’t Entertainment, this for niggas on the slave ship, these songs are the spirituals I swam against the waves with, made it to the shore to their amazement.” 

I saw a couple of awesome paintings/drawings of Nipsey, somedone by his peers and fellow rappers, in the days following his passing, so wanted to include some of my favorites below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsZfx5nS9y/

Image result for nipsey hussle painting

Nipsey Hussle Dr Sebi Poster

P.S. You’ve got to love this from Russell Westbrook

Ten Niggas Ten Straps We Ain’t Fighting

17 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Bay Area, California

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Offset Jim – No Pressure

Saw this one on Ray Garraty a couple weeks back. I remember seeing this guy in those Thizzler end of the year cypher videos too. This beat is so crunchy and ALLBLACK’s homie acquits himself nicely here. “Knock a nigga’s lights out like I’m Tyson, ten niggas ten straps we ain’t fighting.” I love the look on his face and the dismissive wave of the hand when he informs you that ‘we ain’t fighting’. I’m always down for an ALLBLACK cameo in a video and here he’s styling in that black Chris Webber jersey. Would it be too bold of a claim to say Offset Jim > Offset from Migos at this point in time?

ME TIME

10 Sunday Feb 2019

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Chippass, ALLBLACK, E40 – Me 

It’s only right that ALLBLACK and E-40 would finally link up; two off-kilter flowing Bay Area P’s from overlapping but different eras with their own eccentric senses of humor. Even better that these kindred spirits are spitting over this monstrous Bay beat from Sho Nuff. This beat is nasty I can’t wait to put this on full blast in the whip. Add in a verse from the always-reliable Chippass and you’ve got a perfect Tres Amigos track. ALLBLACK is one of the best out right now. You’ve got to love the fact that he’s one of the hottest names in the game but he’s still grateful on every song still humbly thanking everyone for fucking with him. For every E-40 line nowadays that makes you say, “come on E-40” he has a simple but dope line like “If I go broke I’m selling the car that I’m driving” or “If you jump ship there ain’t no getting back on my boat.” ALLBLACK’s whole verse is filthy as you’d come to expect at this point.

P.S. Ray Garraty put together a nice compilation of ALLBLACK loosies over the weekend

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We don’t do Drive-bys We Gon Bounce Up Out the Whip

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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Lazy-Boy – No Way 

Happy New Year’s everyone. Starting the year off with some serious heat from Lazy-Boy. Lazy basically continues his power of morphing into a spectacularly face-tatted Noteno version of Chris Brown or Ty Dolla $ign on this one, making magic over a wildly catchy beat. I have to admit that after listening to a ton of Lazy-Boy in 2016 and 2017 I really slept on him this past year and didn’t realize he put out so much new material. I finally caught up on all of his 2018 releases over the holidays and this was my favorite song. It’s a shame I heard it so late otherwise this would have definitely displaced something else on my 2018 top 50 list. Lazy-Boy really has a gift for these half-rapped, half-sung infectious joints over these bouncy Bay beats. There’s just something about hearing Lazy singing ‘I’ll turn a new Glock into a throwaway” or talking about calling his “brothers in the pen” over summery production like this.

Grown Ass Man, Feed My Family

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in California, Crip, L.A.

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Blueface – Respect My Crypn

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first when I first heard about him but hadn’t listened to him yet, but Blueface is starting to grow on me. The ‘mop the floor and hide the wet sign just to catch him slippin’ line’ is genius; I can’t believe no one came up with that before. And to his credit apparently he really does ‘pull up and bounce out with a briefcase when it’s time to handle business,’ according to recent news reports.

I love his tone on the ‘I’m an alpha male, ain’t no bitch in me. Grown ass man, feed my family” line, like he’s incredulous that someone is even questioning if that’s the case. The ‘Give a fuck if he like it, he gon respect this Crippin’ hook is also strangely infectious. Blueface is almost sounding like a less artsy/creative but more Crip west Coast Young Thug. And while he can be a bit over the top, he actually has the charisma and personality to pull it off.

By the way Happy Thanksgiving all! I wonder what Blueface is thankful for today.

Edit: I wish Blueface was the halftime entertainment for this Cowboys/Redskins Thanskgiving game instead of Meghan Trainor smh

Cruz Azul Jerseys and Club America Tracksuits and Farms, Oh My

03 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by in Bay Area, California, Uncategorized

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ShooterGang Kony – Numba 1 Stunna

Vallejo youngster ShooterGang Kony has all the makings of a star – He’s got a great flow, some nice lines, he’s  charismatic on camera and he’s in good company with Mozzy and Nef the Pharaoh rocking with him, but perhaps most of all, what I’m most impressed by is ShooterGang Kony’s Club America tracksuit. In fact, I’m in awe of his entire crew’s impressive collection of Liga MX Sportswear, from the aforementioned title star’s Club America ensemble (which, I may add, I couldn’t even find online to buy so he definitley went to a real tienda to grab it), to his friend’s Cruz Azul jersey, to the guy’s coat at 0:15 (not sure what team that is or even if it’s a team at all from the logo). Even Nef himself is getting in on the footy-inspired sportswear with his Kappa hoodie although unfortunately he didn’t commit to a specific Mexican top flight team like his more worldly Vallejo brethren.

On a side note, I love the setting for this video, some sort of haunted/abandoned ranch or alfalfa farm outside of Vallejo? Not to mention the slick dance moves and the cameos from Nef as well as the Mozzy chain.

“I ain’t go to college I’m a blood like a Treetop, went to one class in my bag was a knee Glock”

“You Mysterio my pockets on Bautista”

“Bitch I’m King Tut, switch lanes tell em beast up”

“Nigga, fight who? I’ma give you hella heat rocks, weed stop, always in the hood like a street knock”

The chorus is of course him stunting but it’s also a message of self-reliance and individuality. “I’m the number 1 stunna I don’t need nobody’s help, you wake up every day trying to be somebody else.” This almost sounds like it could be a Nef-style brag.

You can also never go wrong with a Chif-Fil-A mention.

I’ve been bumping Kony’s new Kony Ginobli mixtape all Labor Day weekend and since he’s fairly new to me I’ve also been going back and listening to his previous tapes March Madness and Still Kony. This is my favorite song by him so far but he has plenty of other slaps, like the Rap Music Hysteria-highlighted My City, as well and I’m sure there are plenty more to come.

On a side note, is any region having a better summer output-wise than the Bay Area/general Northern California area as a whole? Between ShooterGang Kony, Nef the Pharaoh’s new album, ALLBLACK, and even a new E-40 album, (and even though he’s from LA I almost want to throw Greedo into this mix because of the other project with Nef and all his collaborations with ALLBLACK).

Only My God Can Judge Me, Too Rich for a Judge. Unless I Get Paid I Don’t Go to Clubs

21 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in California, L.A., Uncategorized

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03 Greedo ft. Drakeo the Ruler, Fenix – Wake Me Up in Traffic 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxJNQftgsnw

Even 03 Greedo’s unreleased loosies are better than 95% of other current artist’s best material that they would choose as the singles for their new album. This guy really is on a different level. Almost reminds me of an in-his-prime Gucci Mane with all the vaults upon vaults of quality material he has laying around. I really hope this one doesn’t get taken down from Youtube! This is going to be a dope summer driving song.

“Wake me up in traffic, fell asleep at the wheeeel. Lately I’ve been trapping, kush, lean and the pillllls”.

“And I got my mask and my gloves, dead presidents chasing bank do some drugs, every day I repent but I keep fucking up, only my God can judge me, too rich for a judge…Unless I get paid I don’t go to clubs.” This line was so dope and mind-blowing to me because it was so braggadocios but also simultaneously so humble, which you would think would be impossible but Greedo pulled it off.

03 showcases so many different flows, voices, and cadences on this one it’s almost ridiculous. His cohort, Drakeo the Ruler, who if not for Greedo would almost certainly be the most dynamic rapper in L.A. right now, also contributes a dope verse as does, according to Youtube, someone named Fenix of Shoreline Mafia who I know nothing about but if he has Greedo’s approval than he’s alright by me. Let’s keep our fingers crossed/prayers up that Greedo and Drakeo both beat their cases and we can keep getting awesome collaborations from them for years to come.

03 Greedo has easily usurped the Dos Equis guy as ‘The Most Interesting Man in the World’ at this point.

Image result for 03 greedo drakeo

I Dog a Bitch Like Beethoven, Ron Ron just like my Zaytoven

15 Thursday Mar 2018

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03 Greedo – Baytoven 

Another ridiculous banger off the new Greedo album. The drums on the beat hit hard AF as Greedo melodically yells about how he’s quick to dog a bitch like Beethoven (presumably the sloppy St. Bernard from the 1992 movie Beethoven as opposed to the more famous 18th century composer by the same name, although it’s certainly plausible that that Beethoven would also similarly ditch a female companion) and then gives a nice homage to one of his main producers Ron, Ron, comparing him to Zaytoven (and also favorably compares his other producer Beat Boy to Metro Boomin’).

“Dog a bucket head bitch like a cocker spaniel, 03 Greedo got it lit just like a Roman candle”. I’m not entirely clear on what a bucket head bitch is but presumably it’s not a desirable trait and the line flows nicely. I also love how he always says the full ‘Oh three Greedo’ instead of just 3 Greedo or Greedo in songs.

So many other wild rhymes and rhyme schemes in this one; “Dog a little bitch like a Pomeranian, I’m in Dubai, hair-tied like Arabian, tryna know if niggas pulling triggers all my bitches gradient I be on some player shit”. I would pay to see 03 Greedo exploring Dubai and the Middle East.

I can’t get this one out of my head and I keep blasting it in the whip, it’s a perfect car song. Baytoven is in contention with Never Bend for my favorite song off of Wolf of Grape Street. I hope 03 makes a video for this one, for some reason I can picture it having an awesome dance to go with it. 03 Greedo is playing above the rim right now.

NO LOW RIDER BUT I’M MOBBING AND JEFFING!