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This week I have been knockin' some older material that I hope you haven't slept on...

I'm taking it back a few years this week with Lateef & The Chief's 2004 release Maroons:Ambush. Reppin' the Bay Area's Quannum Project, which includes acts such as DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, and Pigeon John, Lateef and Chief come with some real fire. Ever since I first heard Maroons: Ambush several years ago, it has been in my regular album rotation and I don't see it going anywhere any time soon. The first thing you have to notice when bumpin' Maroons is Chief XL's clean production. Every beat is crafted with the care and precision that is often skipped over in favor of catchy hooks and flashy lyrics. Xl's beats and production are just as important as Lateef's lyrics. Some of the best production can be found on tracks like 365/First Draw and Beautiful World. Lateef can truly spit and Maroons:Ambush is the platform that he chose to show the world that he is the real deal. Lateef can ride a beat yet bend his lyrics to form to the the lush production of Chief XL. If is a politically charged track that doesn't point fingers at one single person but begs the question, "what if"? It is defiantly one of my favorites on the album. Other lyrical highlights include Matter of Time, Lester Hayes, and Ambush; these tracks drip with style. I know that this is an older album but classics never get old. Go out and get Maroons:Ambush and I'm sure you will be slappin' it for some time to come. 

 

This week I have been slappin' The Jacka's 2009 release Tear Gas. I know this album has been out for a while but, I sort of slept on it and I want to make sure that no one else does. Repping Pittsburg California, The Jacka of the Mobb Figgaz gives us Tear Gas, arguably his best work to date. Featuring a wealth of Hip Hop's best rappers including Freeway, E-40, Planet Asia, Paul Wall, Devin the Dude as well as a ton of Bay artists, Tear Gas is one part turf one part Qur'an. I'm sure you all heard the first single Glamorous Lifestyle featuring Andre Nickatina, it was in heavy rotation on KMEL during the 2009 summer, it is defiantly one of the hardest hitting songs on Tear Gas and Nickatina kills his verse. I have heard this song several time in the club and it will get the party officially started. On the more thoughtful side of his raps Jacka gives us tracks like Dreams, What Happened to the World?, and Callin' My Name. Callin' My Name featuring Mistah F.A.B., is hands down the best track on Tear Gas. With a heavy piano loop and a bass heavy beat, Callin' My Name is an ode to street life that is not afraid to be honest. The Jacka's gangster comes out on tracks such as Won't Be Right, The Movement, and Greatest Alive. These tracks remind me of The Jacka from the past which was cool but it is nice to see him evolve. The Jacka doesn't forget the ladies and addresses them on Girls, and What's Your Zodiac. Both tracks are fun to listen to and I make sure to roll my windows down when I'm rollin' to these tracks. Tear Gas is a divers entry from one of the Bay's most popular and hardest hitting rappers. I will be bangin' Tear Gas in my trunk for some time to come. East Bay respect.