West Coast Underground

Nowadays, it seems like the West is dead. Mainstream hip-hop is dominated by the South, Kanye, and 50 Cent. The only bit of Leftern influence comes occasionally from The Game...so it feels as if the last time anybody has heard some Cali shit was when Pac was riding with Death Row. Because of this saddening absence of West Coast music on the airwaves, I decided to shout the incredible underground scene that is blossoming out here. Ever since way way back, Cali has been the home to many incredible underground rappers...King Tee, The Liks, E-40, Mac Dre, Spice 1, Too $hort, Hieroglyphics...the list goes on. Nowadays, nothing has changed. Los Angeles is pumpin out great MC's and groups left and right...Blu & Exile, People Under The Stairs, Murs, Ras Kass (yes he's old, but hes still out there making music for us). It's time people awaken to the fact that, although it has been dormant, the West Coast is still the home to some GREAT, GREAT music.....so here's a short list of albums that I been bumpin lately that I think some of ya'll should check out (sorry, no links, but you can find most of these pretty easily out there if you tried) ---

Blu & Exile - Below The Heaves (please cop this ASAP, album of the year STILL!!)
King Tee - The Triflin Album
Defari - Focused Daily
People Under The Stairs - Stepfather
DJ Muggs - Presents the Soul Assassins
Crooked I - Hip Hop Weekly Mixtape (more commercial, but the man is a MONSTER)
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - Future Development
Ras Kass - Soul on Ice (West Coast Illmatic, give it a listen!)
WC - Curb Servin
Murs - Murray's Revenge

These are all great albums that show the incredible versatility and talent coming out of the west....you just gotta make a bit of an effort!