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1990…a time
of Raider bombers and hats, G-nikes (or Cortez’s depending on
who’s talking), khakis and dickies, the All In The Same Gang
Compilation and the national debut of the legendary MC Eiht
and Compton’s Most Wanted.
From the outset MC Eiht made his signature affirmative
gesture, “Geeyaeah” one of Hip-Hop’s most notable trademarks.
And in 1990 as pillars of Compton’s Hip-Hop community Eiht,
Unknown, DJ Slip and Chill MC dropped one of the most slept on
West Coast Hip-Hop flavored jewels in history, next to Low
Profile’s 1989 debut.
A listen to It’s A Compton Thang more than a decade after its
release give you a clear reality of just how far Hip-Hop has
come. …Compton Thang is seasoned with jazz samples, mellow
mackish verves and funk riffs with up-tempo tracks that still
bang today combining LA style lyrics about G-isms and a young
hustlers life, most notably on the big up to Compton, “I Give
Up Nuthin’.” “This Is Compton” reiterates MC Eiht about the
significance of the small LA hamlet. The lyrics give a now
obvious inside look into the streets of Compton as MC Eiht
exclaims with his signature G’d up vocals, “This is Compton,
now what’s up punk?!” Over a track that today may be
categorized as East Coast style, MC Eiht and Chill dignify the
West Coast by spitting heat during arguably the most volatile
period of gang warfare in Los Angeles. This was a period when
“Crip Hop” and “Set Trippin’” on wax could get your life lost
immediately in the streets. Thangs done changed in 2G+3. Now
everyone’s flaggin’ and throwin’ up their sets…on songs and
videos. CMW represented in 1990 with a consistent and solid
sound that flowed throughout the album.
On the testament to dues being paid, CMW drops the story of
how “We Made It.” “Criminal hardtime player / fresh off the
streets turned cool rhymesayer,” raps the mello mackish, then
BG gangsta, MC Eiht. “Some don’t still accept how I came up on
it / Now I just claim Compton’s Most Wanted,” raps a young
Chill MC. Over the simple and mellow beat, MC Eiht lend wisdom
and the trials of their experience in ‘making it.’ A lesson
for today’s youth to relate and listen to. The comical yet
mellowsmooth “Duck Sick” is highlighted with female vocals
hitting a high note. CMW talks about their braggadocios
escapades and attitude toward the “skeezers” of 1990, while
the ladies are busy talking about how nasty these Gs are for
their West Coast adaptation of the Gas Face.
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Maybe the
standout of It’s A Compton Thang, “Late Night Hype” is a tale
of a night in the city full of sex, drama and violence -
typical L.A. weather in 1990. The kickin’ it continues as
Chill raps, “I got no time for ya late night hype” after his
girl comes to the house and blows his intoxication. These two
complimented each other very well on …A Compton Thang with
well thought out lyrics, descriptive tales of their lives and
not a glorification of what goes down, but a pretty accurate
picture. And just when you thought AZ was the first to use the
familiar sample for “Sugar Hill”, get it right. As Eiht, Chill
and DJ Slip close the album they let you know that NWA, Quik
and The OGPPC weren’t the only representers, because it was
then and it still is A Compton Thang.”
Jose S. Gutierrez Jr.
DJ Luvva J
Jose@seaspot.com
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