The Original West Coast Rydaz is back as WestCoastStyles.com. Covering all aspects of West Coast Culture through the eyes of the original West Coast Rydaz curators.
Oakland legend Mistah FAB is on the grind in both of the music and clothing industries. As the owner of Dope Era, FAB has one of the hottest hip-hop fashion brands with sold out orders online. However, his music business also continues to flourish as Fabby has just released new slappin’ album in Field Mode through distribution giant Empire. You can now stream the 15 track album via Apple and all of the major streaming services by clicking THIS LINK.
During part 4 of the interview between Big Mike of the Geto Boys and Soren Baker of Unique Access Entertainment, the Houston, TX emcee discusses how he thinks Rap-A-Lot Records sabotaged his Hard To Hit LP.
The former Geto Boys member also tells Soren Baker about how Dr. Dre wanted some “Straight Gangstai-sm” for the producer’s 1992 solo The Chronic.
Chad Kiser is a well-respected figure behind the scenes in Hip-Hop. As a publicist and journalist, he has covered a plethora of artists in a variety of mediums. And a result of his rich history in the game, he has acquired what many are not privy to – unreleased music. Therefore, in the first of many to come, Kiser has compiled a collection of never-heard tracks. Check out The Mixtape: Vol.1 below!
2PAC’S QUADRUPLE-PLATINUM RELEASE ‘UNTIL THE END OF TIME’ MAKES ITS DEBUT ON 180GRAM VINYL TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS RELEASE
SANTA MONICA, CA – March 30, 2021 – Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release, 2Pac’s multi-platinum album Until The End Of Time will be available July 23 on high quality, 180 gram audiophile grade vinyl for the first time in twenty years. The Estate exclusive will be pressed on bone vinyl, with the 4LP set housed in a four-page, LP Folio Book with previously unseen photos and a track list handwritten by Tupac from The Estate vaults. The deluxe set will include two special edition lithograph cards only available through 2Pac’s official store. The standard black vinyl version can be pre-ordered, HERE, and the exclusive edition colored vinyl can be pre-ordered, HERE.
Originally released in 2001, Until The End Of Time debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It has since been certified quadruple-platinum by Recording Industry Association of America.
Until The End Of Time features material recorded during the last year of Tupac’s life and includes the songs “Until The End Of Time,” “Let Em Have It,” “Thug N U Thug N Me” and “Letter 2 My Unborn.”
Snoop Dogg took to Instagram to reveal his next single will be dropping this Friday, April 2, from his forthcoming album From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites.
The new song is called “Roaches In My Ashtray”, and is produced by and featuring ProHoeZak.
ProHoeZak and Snoop Dogg have been collaborating on several new songs together, and both will be heavily involved in the upcoming Mt. Westmore album with Ice Cube, Too Short, and E-40.
Hip-Hop pioneer and legendary emcee Melle Mel of the Furious Five recently sat down with Art of Dialogue to discuss a myriad of topics including meeting 2Pac for the first time at the House of Blues, his reaction to hearing 2Pac shout him out on the Me Against The World song “Old School”, and also gives his opinion on the 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. beef.
One of the more interesting discussions was Melle Mel’s revelation that 2Pac was helping him to get a record deal before his death. During the conversation, Mel says, “It was gonna be me, Scorpio, and the Outlawz. We were going to do an album.”
Although at the time, even though 2Pac was on Death Row Records, and was possibly looking to branch out and form his own Makaveli Records, Melle Mel says that the record deal was with with neither label.
“It was on a label out of Chicago, actually. It was called Straight Game Records,” Melle Mel stated.
Watch the video below for more:
A couple of years ago, an unreleased song entitled “Fright Night” featuring Melle Mel, 2Pac, the Outlawz, Scorpio, and Storm was leaked.
Check out this preview collaboration between the two hip-hop icons:
Pacman Da Gunman continues to impress with his work ethic and musical substance. With his latest release “Zero Tolerance” which features Nipsey Hussle, and Sacramento MC Mozzy. It’s a lyric video, but we’ll worth the view and listen. With a potent verse from Nispsey Hussle, the track reminds viewers and listeners why Nipsey is so well respected, loved, and missed. Sense Nipsey’s untimely passing, Pacman has not slowed down, in fact he has been working harder and it shows with this latest release.
This past Thursday, Eric R. Holder Jr., the alleged murderer of rap legend Nipsey Hussle, had his public defender set forth a motion to get his bail reduced. According to The New York Daily News, Holder thinks his bail (currently set at $6.5 million) is “extremely high.”
Lowynn Young, Holder’s public defender, stated in the previously mentioned motion that “based on the isolated nature of this case, Mr. Holder does not pose a risk of harm to the public.”
The judge, Curtis B. Rappé, made the prosecution aware that they must respond no later than March 30th. Currently, Holder is set to stand trial in April.
Truth Hurts was once primed to be Dr. Dre and Aftermath Entertainment’s breakout R&B sensation with the release of her 2002 debut album Truthfully Speaking.
Filled with production from Scott Storch, Focus…, Dr. Dre, Mel-Man, Timbaland, Hi-Tek, and DJ Quik, Truthfully Speaking reached #5 on the Billboard 200 charts and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.
Her Rakim-assisted single “Addictive”, produced by DJ Quik, was a Top 10 hit, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
The single, written by Louisville, KY native Steve “Static” Garrett, sampled “ThodaReshamLagta Hai”, a 1981 song by Indian singer LataMangeshkar. Unfortunately, Aftermath neglected to clear the rights to the sample and, along with Universal Music Group, was slapped with a $500 million lawsuit and an injunction preventing further performances or broadcasts of the “Addictive” song.
However, as of today, “Addictive” is finally available on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
Listen below and get re-acquainted with the former Queen of Aftermath!
Four icons of the West Coast (Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 & Too Short) are gearing up for the April release of their supergroup album Mt. Westmore. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming project.
Tha Doggfather, Don Mega, 40 Fonzarelli, and Shorty the Pimp are set to release the upcoming Mt. Westmore project after coming together during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. After years of teaming up on each other’s projects for songs like the Ice Cube & Too Short collaboration “Ain’t Got No Haters” from Everythang’s Corrupt, Snoop Dogg & E-40’s “Candy (Drippin’ Like Water), Too Short & Snoop on “You Thought” (one of Shortdog’s most underrated verses), Ice Cube & Snoop’s “Go To Church”, or the E-40 & Too Short “Rapper’s Ball” song, the collective have finally come together for an epic group project.
As mentioned above, they have previously worked together on each other’s solo projects over the years, dating back to Too Short & Ice Cube doing “Ain’t Nothin’ But A Word” on Short’s 1990 classic Shortdog’s In The House. The Mt. Westmore endeavor seems to have been, in a strange way, in the cards for over thirty years.
The quartet’s combined platinum success, continual relevancy, and staying power prove that Short, Cube, 40, and Snoop are just the team to bring such a monumental project together. With these four collaborating on one complete album, it’s bound to be a dope listening experience. Let’s take a look at everything that’s known so far about Mt. Westmore.
Too Short, E-40, Ice Cube & Snoop Dogg Make Up Mt. Westmore
During their respective careers, Snoop, Cube, Short, and 40 have been consistent in their catalog representing West Coast hip-hop tot he fullest. Cube & Snoop holding down L.A., with 40 & Short keeping the Bay Area on par with their southern Cali counterparts. Whereas Cube & Snoop are known for their stellar gangsta rap approach, Short & 40 are the quintessential hustling game-spitters. All four have icon status under their belts, while continuing to prove they have no intentions of slowing down any time soon.
Mt. Westmore Release Date
At the time of this writing, we know that the Mt. Westmore album will be released in April 2021. We also know the Triller Network announced the lineup for their upcoming 2021 Fight Club event on April 17 will include the live debut of the West Coast supergroup.
Guest Features On Mt. Westmore
Mt. Westmore is a project already loaded big names being that group consists of the four icons from the west coast, and Too Short mentioned in a Conversations With Chad that whoever might be on the project would have to be pretty special to land a coveted feature spot on the project. However, the Oakland pioneer later divulged that Dr. Dre would be the only feature on the April release.
Battlecat produced the first, officially released song from the supergroup, “Step Child”, for the American Skin film soundtrack. It’s unknown if that song will also be featured on the Mt. Westmore release.
In an interview with Smoke-A-Lot Radio, Too Short confirmed that Dr. Dre produced one song on the project, ProHoeZak has since confirmed he produced four tracks (“Won’t You Come Back”, “Canday”, “I Got Pull”, and “Aqua Boogie“), and DJ Pooh confirmed through Instagram that he and Fredwreck jointly produced a track called “Ball of Confusion”.
Above Yhe Law has made some of the hardest jams in West Coast history going all of the way back to their 1990 debut album “Livin’ Like Hustlers” on Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records. With production and raps spearheaded by Big Hutch aka Cold187um, a partner with a contrasting style in KMG (RIP) and guidance from Dr. Dre, Above The Law quickly became the choice of the streets. Even after their debut album the group continued to bring the classics on albums like “Black Mafia Life”, “Uncle Sam’s Curse” and so on. In this new exclusive interview with Styles and Shad Reed of WestCoastStyles.com, Big Hutch breaks down the group’s classic hits and more.
Savage Life The Collections Vol 1-4 is a series of songs released and unreleased recorded from the years 1998-2008 from the Bay Area Hip-Hop Group Savage Life artists Daddy Rich & Hooli Auto from Hayward California Vol 1 dropping soon.
West Coast producer ProHoeZak has been confirmed to have four tracks on the upcoming Mt. Westmore album, featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short.
In exclusive information obtained by Chad Kiser, the East Palo Alto, CA legend will have four tracks featured on the supergroup album.
ProHoeZak has been very busy as of late. In addition to producing for the Mt. Westmore album, he is also putting together “Roaches In My Ashtray” and “Say It With Ya Booty” for the upcoming Snoop Dogg Free High album (which will be released on 4/20), working on the collaborative album SugaKane with Kokane and Suga Free, and has recently connected with Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound on an unnamed project.
With the impending April release of the Mt. Westmore supergroup album with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too Short and E-40, information about the project is trickling out bit by bit.
Today, Fredwreck shared to his Instagram story a track he had just received back from mastering titled “Fuck You”.
Check out the image below:
DJ Pooh also recently put on his a Instagram that he and Fredwreck produced a song called “Ball Of Confusion”, ProHoeZak confirmed he was working on a song titled “Come Back”, and Snoop Dogg had premiered an untitled song with Julio G.
Dr. Dre has been confined as the only guest feature on the album, while Fredwreck, Ant Banks, Battlecat, ProHoeZak, Big Zeke, DJ Pooh, Rick Rock and more will be supplying the production.
A street ceremony today saw the unveiling of Big Pun Plaza. It’s located on the corner of East Fordham Road and Grand Concourse.
“In his short life, Big Pun was a tremendous contributor to the vibrant cultural life of the Bronx,” City Councilman Fernando Cabrera said. “I am proud to memorialize and honor Big Pun by co-naming this intersection Big Pun Plaza.”
Christopher “Big Pun” Rios was born in 1971 in the Bronx and was interested in rapping as far back as the ’80s. However, it wasn’t until he met Fat Joe in 1995 that he first got a shot on the national stage. Pun became Joe’s protege and appeared on his sophomore set, Jealous Ones Envy, on the song “Watch Out.” Just three years later, Big Pun released his classic solo debut, Capital Punishment. Not only was it a critical success, but it also made Pun the first solo Latino emcee to go platinum.
Sadly, Big Pun passed away in 2000 from a heart attack shortly before his second album dropped. However, his legacy lives on, and this street is another way the Hip-Hop legend has been immortalized. And while he clearly had a love for his home borough – the Bronx, his appreciation for the West was apparent as well. And there is no greater example of this than his cover of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s classic, “Deep Cover.”
“Dead in the middle of Little Italy / Little did we know that we riddled some middlemen who didn’t do diddly.”
Cold 187um stops by Unique Access Entertainment to discuss how Laylaw was the first person to believe in Above The Law. The Pomona, California rapper-producer also tells host Soren Baker why Above The Law needed the “Freedom Of Speech” song on its Livin’ Like Hustlers LP.
On today’s episode of Conversations With Chadwe sit down with Erotic D, a producer who is now in his 4th decade of music with his fingerprints on some definitive classic projects such as Dr. Dre‘s The Chronic and producing The D.O.C.’s cult-classic Helter Skelter.
He has worked with several of the most iconic figures in music including Dr. Dre, The D.O.C., N.W.A, MC Breed, Eazy-E, Suge Knight, Snoop Dogg, Adina Howard and others.
During this exclusive CWC podcast interview with the legendary Dallas, Texas producer we discuss him and MC Breed putting together the Flint, Michigan emcee’s 1997 Flatline album, working on the D.O.C.’s Helter Skelter album, his newest solo release King Shit, and he gives us the exclusive on the upcoming documentary for the D.O.C., which is being put together by the same team who produced the Michael JordanLast Dance and Warren GG-Funk documentaries.
West Coast producer DJ Pooh informed his Instagram followers that he and Fredwreckproduced a record together for the upcoming Snoop Dogg, Too Short, E-40, and Ice Cube supergroup Mt. Westmore album.
In the comments on his post, DJ Pooh replied to a follower of his account that, “I got a joint on there with [Fredwreck] “Ball of Confusion”.
Check out the post below:
Too Short recently announced that volume one of the much-anticipated Mount Westmore album will be released next month, while also mentioning that the group has recorded nearly 50 songs together. “We have recorded somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 songs. Volume one will be released in April, and the rest of the volumes will follow.”
The West Coast supergroup will also be making their live debut in April, too, as the Triller Network has announced the lineup for their upcoming 2021 Fight Club event on April 17.
Dr. Dre, Ant Banks, Fredwreck, Battlecat, ProHoeZak, and others will also feature on the project.
Hip-Hop icon Ice Cube took to social media today to unveil artwork for the Mt. Westmore release. A rap supergroup composed of West Coast legends including himself, Too Short, Snoop Dogg, and E-40. In a recent interview, group member Too Short said their debut release is scheduled to drop in April.
E-40 recently spoke to Shannon Sharpe on episode 25 of the Club Shay Shay podacst and detailed his Mt. Rushmore list of West Coast rappers and his All-Time list of rappers.
While giving serious thought to his list, E-40 gave a tie to Notorious B.I.G. and Mt. Westmore brethren Snoop Dogg saying, “I’m leaning towards Snoop, but don’t get it fucked up. If Biggie were still living..if Biggie had more albums because he was dope as fuck! Snoop got longevity, Snoop is a walking icon.”
In addition to 2Pac, Jay-Z, and Notorious B.I.G. tying with Snoop Dogg, one of his other All-Time picks was another fellow Mt. Westmore supergroup member Ice Cube,
“I gotta say Ice Cube because no matter how much he rap nowadays, he did enough in a few years that he got down that you gotta remember, he used to write for N.W.A.”
For his all-time Cali rappers, E-40 had no hesitations listing Too Short, E-40, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. “That’s Mt. Westmore of the west coast. Period!”
Snoop Dogg’s iconic status has never stopped him from being a dope MC. The track, which is produced by west coast, and bay area legend, Rick Rock creates a slappin’ sound bed that Snoop glides across with ease and laces game throughout the verses.
Truth Hurts, the former AftermathEntertainment singer who released Truthfully Speaking in 2002 featuring music with Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Focus…, R. Kelly, Mel-Man, Rakim, DJ Quik and others just released “Prove It”, an unreleased track from her vault.
Not many details are known about the slow, sultry record other than it was recorded in Atlanta and was produced by The Finisherz.
Check out the song below on Truth Hurts’ Instagram post:
Los Angeles vet El Prez who also runs the live performance outlet PayDay LA, makes his return to the recording scene with an album released today (March 19) entitled “Angels With Dirty Faces”. The 12 track album fully produced by Professor H features Blu of Blu & Exile, Thurz formerly of U-N-I, Oklhoma artist Jabee, and DJ Rhettmatic of the World Famous Beat Junkies.
In addition to re-releasing some of their most iconic music on cassette, Death Row Records, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is also launching an online store to commemorate the occasion. The site is set to launch on March 30.
E-40 recently spoke to Shannon Sharpe on episode 25 of the Club Shay Shay podacst about hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur.
“2Pac had all the visions and was ahead of his time. He did so much in so little time. He was only 25-years-old…But he had that Bay in him and was gangsta about it. That was real bossy.”
E-40 later goes on to talk about what made 2Pac unique. “He talked about the street, his vision and story telling. Being from the Black Panther background, he was like a rebel. He would uplift male & female spirits, it would touch home with people.”
Too Short recently announced that volume one of the much-anticipated Mount Westmore album will be released next month, while also mentioning that the group has recorded nearly 50 songs together.
“We have recorded somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 songs. Volume one will be released in April, and the rest of the volumes will follow,” Too Short told VladTV during part 20 of the interview.
Now, the Triller Network has announced the lineup for their upcoming 2021 Fight Club event on April 17, which will include the live debut of the West Coast supergroup Mt. Westmore of Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too $hort and E-40.
The four-hour Pay-Per-View event will also include performances from Doja Cat, Saweetie, Justin Bieber, The Black Keys, Diplo and Major Lazer.
Dr. Dre, Ant Banks, Fredwreck, Battlecat, ProHoeZak, and others will be featured on the upcoming Mt. Westmore project coming in April.
The Next Episode, the latest album from NHale, son of legendary singer, Nate Dogg was released yesterday. Coming one day after the 10th anniversary of his father’s passing. The 11-song release also features appearances from Kurupt, Glasses Malone, and Larry June.
West Coast producers Big Zeke and Ant Banks have formed the production team 80Seven Productions, and they have already been making some major moves. The duo are confirmed to be working on the upcoming Too Short album Sir Too Short, as well as providing production on the Mt. Westmore album along with Dr. Dre, Fredwreck, Battlecat and others.
Today, 80Seven Productions took to Instagram to preview a new track for the Kokane & Suga Free album SugaKane.
Check out the track preview in the Instagram post below:
Hip-Hop legend Nas finally won a long-overdue Grammy on Sunday night for his critically acclaimed King’s Disease (Best Rap Album). And one other person who shares in that victory is California producer, Hit-Boy. The 33-year-old, born Chauncey Hollis, executive produced Mr. Jones’ twelfth solo studio offering.
Before King’s Disease, Hit-Boy won a Grammy in 2013 for producing the Jay-Z and Kanye West highlight, “Niggas in Paris” (Best Rap Song). And he also won in 2020 for his participation on the Nipsey Hussle record, “Racks in the Middle” (Best Rap Performance).
Members of the legendary West Coast DJ crew Uncle Jamms Army are recording a new project and it’s been confirmed with WestCoastStyles.com that they have just finished recording with Ice Cube! The legendary crew pre-dated the gangster rap era in Los Angeles and used to fill up the Los Angeles Sports Arena with parties that ranged from 10,000 to 15,000 people. Many of the members like The Egyptian Lover, DJ Bobcat, Muffla and others went on to become recording artists and producers. Uncle Jamms Army was founded by Roger Clayton who passed away in 2010, however surviving members such as Muffla, General Jeff, Battlecat and Big Dad are actively working on this new project. Other members are expected to join in as well as other notable hip-hop names.
Earlier today, legendary Hip-Hop group Cypress Hill released a new single called “Champion Sound.” The song is produced by Black Milk and is featured in the game R.B.I. Baseball 21.
In part 20 of the Too Short interview on VladTV, the West Coast icon announced that volume one of the much-anticipated Mount Westmore album will be released next month. Shortdog also mentioned that the group has recorded nearly 50 songs together.
“We have recorded somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 songs. Volume one will be released in April, and the rest of the volumes will follow.”
Listen to what Too Short had to say about the project below:
Dr. Dre, Ant Banks, Fredwreck, Battlecat, ProHoeZak, and others will be featured on the upcoming Mt. Westmore project from Too Short, Ice Cube, E-40, and Snoop Dogg.
The Mt. Westmore group was formed during the 2020 Covid-19 quarantine during a simple conversation that the bay area icon had with E-40 and Ice Cube.
Snoop Dogg and 19 Crimes are launching their newest wine: Snoop Cali Rosé. A blend of Grenache and Zinfandel, Snoop Cali Rosé breaks the rules of typical rosé culture with a touch of Cali-behavior and Snoop’s iconic West Coast Style. The easy drinking wine encourages imbibers to raise a glass and celebrate life’s greatest wins the way the Doggfather does, with no rules attached – “This is How We Rosé.” The first California rosé for the brand and second collaboration with the hip-hop icon, Snoop Cali Rosé continues to cast a contemporary lens on 19 Crimes, a line of wines inspired by the convicts turned colonists that built Australia.
Snoop explains his excitement, “We did it big with 19 Crimes Cali Red, so you know we had to do it again – and this time, I was thinking pink. I can’t wait for everyone to sip on my Snoop Cali Rosé and bring those fresh feels from spring into summer and beyond. I hope when you open a bottle of this wine you take a little mind trip to my Cali home. This is how we Rosé the Snoop Dogg way!”
19 Crimes Snoop Cali Rosé arrives on the heels of Snoop Dogg and 19 Crimes’ first collaboration, Snoop Cali Red, the number one selling wine innovation of 2020. In addition to debuting the multi-year partnership with the entertainment icon, Snoop Cali Red showcased a new, boundary-pushing AR experience, “Ask the Doggfather,” that gives imbibers the opportunity to talk to Snoop Dogg directly. Snoop Cali Rosé launches with the same “Ask the Doggfather” experience, giving fans even more opportunities to ask Snoop life’s most pressing questions. Fans simply go to askthedoggfather.com on a mobile device and scan the bottle’s label. From there, ask a question and Snoop will appear in miniature holographic form ready to offer words of wisdom with a touch of signature swagger.
John Wardley, TWE Marketing Vice President Americas, shared more about the success of the 19 Crimes partnership, “Snoop has been a dream collaborator that has taken 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red to the top of the charts as the #1 Wine Innovation of 2020. We can’t wait for this second release to hit our loyal 19 Crimes fan base and see how they Rosé with Snoop Cali Rosé. This is 19 Crimes’ first California rosé and we are already seeing high demand from our retail partners to get it in store as soon as we possibly can.”
19 Crimes Snoop Cali Rosé is available in stores nationwide and online at thewineshop.com. To learn more, visit 19crimes.com.
Tha Chill, as an artist and producer, has worked with many of rap’s biggest stars like MC Ren, MC Eiht (with whom he co-founded the legendary group Compton’s Most Wanted), Snoop Dogg, Redman, Battlecat, Nate Dogg, King T, Kurupt, Warren G, and others.
Following up on previous releases like “Lost” with MC Ren, “Motivated” with MC Eiht & Weazel Loc, and “Hard In The Paint” ft. Kurupt among others, the west coast legend will be releasing his latest single, “This My Family” on Friday, March 19.
The Lynwood legend and WrongKind affiliate returns with a visual to “That’s how I Am” after releasing audio to “If Piruled the World” which was posted here on #WCS.
Known for his witty word play. The Lynwood wordsmith stands tall in front of a Helens a frequented spot by anyone in the area. The guest feature from Fly Hitta Steez doesn’t disappoint. Check it out!
