Icon feat. Too $hort: "Butta So Soft"

These Icon cats crack me up with their shirtless early-90s aesthetic. Their music isn't bad, but I'm having a hard time believing this picture is of a present day R&Bay group, and not a vain Jodeci cover-band.

Their first single, "Sexy and Hood," featured Oakland emcee Balance, and their latest release boasts the inimitable $horty The Pimp. I doubt he's a huge fan of greased-up male divas with Jesus abs, but take a listen, it's pretty smooth.

DL: "Butta So Soft"- Icon feat Too $hort

Local Love: Introducing Soil Clothing

The t-shirt is the number one fashion staple of our generation. Even as urban style transitions away from 5X "Hood Life" tall tees towards snugger v-necks, your tee is still the center of your outfit. It speaks volumes about you whether you're a fan of vintage concert tees, ironic hipster joints or plain white v-necks.

For me my t-shirt game has always revolved around Oakland. In fact I would guess that I have about 30+ articles of clothing that feature Oakland, so I know my Town apparel. In recent years it seems that Oaklandish has had the Oakland clothing market cornered, but now Soil Clothing is entering the fray. They offer high-quality tees with a wide variety of designs, but clearly their local iconography is my Achilles heal.

I love the Life Is (Too $hort) and Hail to The Thief tees you see above (though I ordered them in 2005 sizes. smh). Both illustrate local legends that have had a world-wide impact. Mr Ty Shaw birthed the pimp-hop sound that has come to characterize much of rap over the years, and Rickey is a native son who will go down as the greatest lead-off hitter to ever play the game of baseball. The word "thief" and the bandit bandana concealing his face are reminders that he owns both the single season and career record for stolen bases–records that could stand forever.

The tees are nice and thick and the imagery is bold and iconic. So if you want some fresh threads for summer, head over to Soil Clothing's website.

"Plane In The Air" Video: Erk Tha Jerk & $hort

38th Notable: Drug Lord Darryl "Lil D" Reed

The infamous Darryl "Lil D" Reed ran the Bay Area's drug market during the 1980s crack epidemic and is the subject of the new movie Weight, now in production. A director is still being sought, but casting has already begun. Too $hort and E-40 are among those serving as advisors for the film. The write-up below is courtesy of Weight's website.
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The year is 1983. The Place is Oakland, CA. The Drug Game in Oakland is booming, even though there has been an end to the reign of the notorious drug kingpin Felix “The Cat” Mitchell and the 69th MOB due to Federal Grand Jury indictments. With the introduction of crack cocaine comes a different game than that which Felix successfully held the reigns to over the last several years.
A 15 year old, Darryl “Lil D” Reed, is already groomed to the rules of the dope game and daily operation of 69 MOB business, and sets off at establishing himself in the streets as a major player. Armed with organizational skills and business savvy that would rival that of today’s most successful CEO’s, Lil D managed to build his own drug empire from the ground up pulling in millions of dollars by the age of twenty.

Raised in a modest working class family where the value of an education was greatly emphasized by his parents Darryl excelled both in the classroom and in athletics. He would develop a reputation throughout East Oakland first as a skillful and competitive baseball and basketball player and later for his exceptional leadership qualities and natural street hustlin’ skills. His small stature would earn him the nickname “Lil D”, a name that would soon be recognized and respected throughout the streets of East, West, and North Oakland; as well as Berkeley, Richmond, San Francisco, East Palo Alto, San Jose, Pittsburg, Vallejo, and Sacramento, CA.

Maturity beyond his years, and an uncanny knack for networking with fellow hustlers with whom he came in contact, would eventually catapult him to the top of Oakland’s drug trade before he was legally able to purchase alcohol. All this would abruptly come to an end when Darryl “Lil D” Reed was indicted on federal drug charges shortly after his lavish 21st Birthday Party. Sentenced under newly instated Mandatory Minimum Federal guidelines for drug offenses Darryl was given a sentence of 35 years with no parole - of which he is currently serving. After 20 years of incarceration the name “Lil D” is still heard throughout the streets of the Bay Area and in the lyrics of countless Bay Area rhyme spitters.

Late Night Left Coast Lust and Misogyny

So this is definitely 2am jump-off music. On this first song, "Oh My," YB offers playerific play-by-play while Weezy adds his signature croakish croon on the hook. Off Ya Boy's forthcoming mixtape Mohawks & Heavy Metal.

"Oh My"- Ya Boy feat. Lil Wayne

The second track, "When We're F*ckin," is an OG Cali collabo between B-Real, Kurupt, Young De and Too $hort. You know any time $horty The Pimp is involved the subject matter will be risque. He continues to ensure this guarantee.

"When We're F*ckin"- B-Real feat. Kurupt, Young De & Too $hort

I'm not going to self-righteously lash out at the entire genre of pimp rap, because you all know I slap a little Ty $haw on occasion, especially at a function. BUT it kills me that LA radio personality Julio G dedicates this record to "the ladies." Let's keep it 100, the chorus is "I only love you when we're f*ckin." That's not exactly a statement dripping with chivalry and gentlemanly decorum. While it is true that women can feel this way too, there is no female representation on this song. I'm tired of male rappers thinking that if a song is about girls, then it's a record for girls, regardless of the content.

And with a $hort quote from the above song, I am out."You can be a piece of shit for all I care."

Wait, where my ladies at??

$hort's got a brand new bag- Town Bizness

Erik Arnold just wrote a story on Too $hort's new band Town Bizness for SFGate the other day. Might be a good look for OG Ty. Props to Isa!!

When you've had a 25-year career like Too Short's, what's left to accomplish? For the pioneering Oakland rapper - who has 17 solo albums under his belt, many of them gold or platinum - the answer was simple: form a band and make some more high-quality music.

At 42, the guy who enthralled generations of hip-hop listeners with his salacious "Freaky Tales" has matured. And with maturity has come a willingness to expand his musical parameters. With his new project, a fledgling Bay Area supergroup called Town Bizness, nasty-mouthed Too Short has become grown 'n' sexy Todd Shaw. "I don't wanna go back and be raunchy-ass Too Short who just says the most outlandish things to get a reaction," he said during a recent interview at his Oakland studio. . . . (Click here for the complete article)

E-40 attempting to sell his Landy Cognac

E-40 has always had a myriad of investments outside of music, but they were typically a little off-beat and interesting- like owning Fat Burgers with former Raider Chester McGlockton. The burgers were fat, Chester was fat and 40 was fat. We got that, it was funny and I was convinced by Earl's waistline that he knew his burgers.

But now he's selling Cognac. The obese slanguist who still sports oversized tees and dreads is trying to sell us on a brandy that is typically defined as refined. When I think Cognac I see mahogany, cigars and leather bound books. Think Ron Burgundy feeling cultured or Diddy continuing to channel Frank Sinatra and Jay Gatsby. I just don't quite think Cognac when I think about my Uncle Earl. Granted hip-hop has fueled the rebirth of Cognac in the United States by most admissions, but 40 hocking stray bottles out of an an old Louie bag on Kyte just doesn't quite speak to me.

So 40, even if I could afford alcohol and drank Yac, I'd probably opt-out and hit up Fatburger instead. Lo siento Tio. Also, while we are on the topic of alcohol and 40+ year old Bay Area rappers, Ty $haw just released a song with Martin Luther, Elijah and Silky entitled "Red Bull and Vodka."

"Red Bull and Vodka"- Too $hort

New San Quinn feat. Mistah FAB & Too $hort

The City and the Town come together to produce some soulful mob music. This track is produced by Chops and is a clear divergence from the sonic limitations of hyphy. It definitely has qualities of the Bay's former forté- Mob Music, but the keys, strings and chipmunks make it a little more lush and orchestral. I am definitely feeling this right now. Check it out!

"Devoted"- San Quinn feat. Mistah FAB & Too $hort

Probs to Benhameen

Bun B speaks on Too $hort's influence

Bun B pays Tribute to Todd $haw at Vh1's Hip-Hop Honors

"For a person like Too Short, who has been around since I started listening to rap, to finally get his just due...there's so many others in this industry that don't get our proper respect and our proper appreciation. I don't think there's one emcee who's rapping today who hasn't been able to express his freedom, and express himself and his opinions, that doesn't get that directly from a person like Too Short," Bun said. In 2007, UGK did "Life Is 2009" [click to read], a song paying tribute to a Too Short classic, and his unique delivery.

Bun went on to defend Short's lyrics and legacy in the mainstream. "People think it's just all about bitches and hoes and shit like that. But anybody who really listens to a Too Short record knows, he's really one of the first people to show you what it's really like living in that Oakland, Bay area. With songs like 'The Ghetto' [click to read] showing you the poverty and what people were going through, you'll see there's more to the man than you thought."

Full article here

Mick Boogie's Honor Roll Mixtape

Mick Boogie throws down for this musical bouillabaisse of old and new. MC Serch plays host as new artists and producers go in on old classics from Too $hort, Naughty by Nature, Slick Rick, De La Soul and Cypress Hill. Enjoy- shit is fire

Full Audio: Mick Boogie- The Honor Roll

$horty the Pimp waxes hoetic

This pic seems appropriate given the contents of the post. Basically, Angela Yee just asks $hort hella questions about his promiscuity and some particulars that only XM radio can indulge. There was also discussion of a reality show where $hort throws all the girls he "fux wit" in one house and does some sort of Real World meets Girls Next Door harem scenario, though I couldn't figure how much was in jest. Definitely worth a listen for a laugh or two.

Full Audio: Too $hort with Anglea Yee on Shade 45 Radio

Since Mistah F.A.B. was at Sir Too $hort's VH1 Pre-party the other night, is in this picture and is from Oakland- I thought I might say a lil sumthin. How come everytime I see him, this dude is larger than the last time? No, fereal F.A.B. is legit F.A.T. I'm like blood, you are only Baymous, you can't get all rotund on us like shit is sweet. He already looks like a bald T-Pain, and he definitely had on a beanie at the club. Something is not computing. I fux with FAB, I'm just sayin, before he cops another chain/platinum bib, he should mess with a personal trainer and a stylist.

Hov's Blueprint 3 produced by Kanye

via Pease Don't Stare
"Okay just got the news on the new LP. The Tracklisting on the internet is completely false, with the exception of possibly Most Kings but even that has been changed as Jay gave Chris Martin the original verse for a Coldplay song. Kanye West produced the entire album with a sound that combines the best of Kanye, Swizz, and Dilla. Think about how Swagga Like Us has the vocal sample with the Swiss Effect, the drums of Dilla by not being on some straight up boom boom bap sound, and the Electronic/European sounds of the keyboards used on the swagger joint. . ."

Full article here

I'm oh so juiced for a new Jay Album, and it will be out just before my birthday (hint hint). There has been much yammering about how this album will change the game again, but Jay has done it before.

Speaking of old people, I was at the Too $hort party last night at Katra and its interesting to compare how over an even longer career $hort has not adapted or taken any different approaches and yet stayed mildly relevant. I guess he has The Town and strip clubs to thank for that.

A Town Function in NYC: Too $hort VH1 Honors Party