Benz and a Backpack

West Coast music isn’t all about Lil’ B and Kreayshawn. Ever since the death of Pac, the west has been outshone on the national scene by East Coast hip hop and Southern ass clappin’ music. Even the Midwest has been getting more shine since the likes of Kanye and Big Sean. But from Compton to Oakland and beyond West Coast rappers have been grinding hard to get the West the respect it deserves. Once a week on Wednesdays, I will bring you the latest in West Coast music. This week I bring you: Compton Menace.

Currently on tour with The Game in Europe, The Menace (signed to Black Wall Street) somehow managed to find time to record his lead single with Cash Money co-founder Birdman off of his upcoming street album. The Compton rapper, most notoriously known for his feud with 40 Glocc that ended with a club brawl, has released songs with Mistah FAB, Yung Berg, Mysonne, Paypa, and Nu Jerzey Devil. If his constant stream of songs hasn’t been enough, he has also shot videos with Lil Wayne, Tyga, and performed with Nipsey Hussle. He even has his own strain of kush – Menace OG.

Hit the skip for links to more Menace tracks.

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Look at me gaze into my eyes, see the poverty?
Now understand why me and this music just gotta be?
It’s something that’s inside of me and I can’t shake it
So I embrace it, and let y’all taste it, aww man – Joell Ortiz “Hip Hop”

Hip hop didn’t just spring forth life out of an empty vacuous abyss.

Call/Response chants with easy to remember lyrics can be traced back to the days of slavery. Songs of freedom and chants of revolution could be heard at all hours of the day and night to keep up morale, and to remind the slaves of their humanity. Traditional African history is steeped in folk tales, storytelling and music. The culture is one of an oral tradition, so story telling became an art form that was essential for the perpetuation of their religious, social, and cultural beliefs. Hip hop emerged at a time when America was broken down and fragmented. Young people needed a way of expressing their angst at the poverty stricken community around them and their contempt for a society that had left them behind. It was a way to be heard and to be respected.

It used to mean something.

Broken glass everywhere
People pissing on the stairs, you know they just don’t care
I can’t take the smell, I can’t take the noise no more
Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice – Grandmaster Flash “The Message”

Now enter a lyricist to get excited about. Yancy Deron, The Pasadena, CA native released Live Now on November 11^th, 8 tracks that showcase his talent and versatility from his club friendly track “Drugs & Alcohol” to “Fastlane” a song about his drive for success. His single “AntiHaterism” blatantly calls for an end to Haterism and seeks to spring forth Motivation for the community.

Hit the skip to download the 8 track EP, and get with the movement.

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Sung over a heavily syncopated rhythm section, ATL songstress Nikkiya released the remix to her mixtape’s lead single “When I Was High” featuring Tech N9ne and Rittz yesterday.  The song has a transfixing beat from WillPower (of Supahotbeats) who has worked with Slaughterhouse, Eminem, and Yelawolf. Tech N9ne spits about taking a pill then waking up inside the home of Juliette Lewis while Rittz raps about the effects of his LSD and Special K binge. The song is the perfect backdrop for a night on your couch smokin’ bud and sippin’ drank.

NIKKIYA When I Was High Remix Ft TECH N9NE and RITTZ by Supahotbeats

Hit the skip for the D/L and Streaming link to her mixtape Speakher. It includes features from MC Lyte and Yelawolf.

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A little before 5:00PM PST today, a man was fatally shot near the edge of the plaza where Occupy Oakland protestors were gathered. The L.A. Times has reported that the shooting does not appear related to the protest (even though it’s hard to believe the news when opinions are still split on the fairness of the Troy Davis execution and the verdict in the murder of Oscar Grant).

This shooting death is only the most recent development in the heated tensions surrounding the protestors. On October 25th, police officers sprayed demonstrators in Oakland with tear gas leading to more than 100 arrests and an Iraq War veteran with a serious brain injury.
Mistah F.A.B. has continuously showed his support to the protestors by dropping by periodically. His freestyle above drops some serious knowledge (especially around the 1:30 mark) that sums up the entire Occupy Movement.

Hit the skip to watch another powerful speech given by Mistah F.A.B. early last week to the protestors.

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