[Review] The Game "1992"

Last year, The Game dropped enough songs on The Documentary 2 and 2.5 to take about 2 years off. With the release of 1992, he proves that he's doing anything but relaxing.

1992 was one of the most pivotal years in Black America, especially if you lived in California. This is the year of Snoop Doggy Dog's debut, the introduction of The Chronic album, Ice Cube's Predator dropped, and Too Short put out Shorty The Pimp. Then you have the historic yet tragic L.A Riots, spawning largely from the Rodney King verdict. Add all of that to the California earthquake and The Lindhurst High School shooting and you can already see, there's a lot to talk about.

The Game takes himself in and out of 1992 as a young and impressionable. This Game is not really sure what kind of man he should be. That is, until tragedy and survival mode kicks in. He also speaks as a man who's come to terms with his involvement in a lot of f****d up ish. "True Colors/It's On" "Young Ni**as" and "Bompton" are prime examples of this as well as "Savage Lifestyle".

Game is still on that West Coast gangsta s**t but it doesn't feel glorified. Instead, it feels more reflective. At times he sounds like he's just happy to be alive, with a little survivors remorse attached to that happiness. It's also time to realize that hit singles and coaching from the greats aside, The Game really raps and raps a lot. I still don't think he can go bar for bar with Jadakiss, but you can't rap for 11 years at the level he's rapping and not gain respect, as well as benefit of the doubt that you truly are doing the bulk of your pen work.

You can't talk 1992 and west coast rap in the early 90's without some reference to Ice-T ["True Colors"] and DOC ["Bompton"]. Homage is paid to both, as well as crate digging for samples from Soul 2 Soul, ["However Do You Want It"] Marvin Gaye ["Savage Lifestyle"] and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five ["F**k Orange Juice"].

This album really does feel like the 90's. "I Grew Up On Wu-Tang" is a great track that any Wu, hip-hop or Game fan should love. To show some of my age listening to this album made me remember a lot of the old West Coast rap videos and movies I saw growing up. I never made it to Cali in the 90's but you can get a real feel for the lifestyle there at that time through this album.

Of course, we can't forget "92 Bars" which kicked the buzz off for the release of this project. The somewhat odd parallel of "street ish" becoming "rap ish" inspired bonus bars at the end of this track for Meek Mill. The same Mill who, mainstream wise, can't seem to catch a break for what is closing in on 2 years now.

Does Beef sell records? No. I don't really think it ever has. Great music has, though. The Game may have dropped another album that belongs in the top 5 of his discography. Unfortunately, it dropped in a time where the current generation of artists and listeners only want to hear something specific. They want to see and feel product relatable to themselves. They don't feel the need to know much about what came before them. 1992 is a dope album from a cemented artist who really has nothing to prove. The Game may be the only "big homie" that is actually trying to make great music right now. Other big homie's need to follow suit.


Big Sur, California by AngieStar Photo

[Through My Lens] A Journey Through the Coast of Big Sur

Photos by AngieStar Photo

The USA Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is perhaps America's most dramatic scenic drive. And along this coast is a region called Big Sur that lies along the Central Coast of California, and renowned as one of the best of scenics drives in the whole world. As someone who has road tripped through a good portion of the country already, I made it my mission to take a journey through the coast of Big Sur to see for myself.

I started my drive from Los Angeles just before sunrise, so I would have perfect daylight by the time I reached Big Sur. Immediately, I was taken into the high coastal cliffs, following each twist and turn there is along the Pacific Ocean. With the perfect California breeze into my open windows of the car, while listening to a perfectly timed music playlist, I was awestruck. And just when I thought scenery couldn't get any more amazing, I found myself in Big Sur. To me, the area is more of an experience than a tangible place. There are no stop lights, or shopping centers, just 90 miles of driving along a narrow two-lane highway with breathtaking view points and campsites. The wildlife is a whole other aspect of Big Sur as one of your first stops is on the beach at Piedras Blancas in southern Big Sur near San Simeon to see hundreds on Elephant Seals in their natural habitat. Then with the abundance it birds and forest animals, every one of your senses are heightened with all the combined elements of life.

Here are some of the photos I captured, and what makes me want to back. If anything is taken from this, it should be to take a trip to Big Sur; it's worth it.

 

 


Photo of rapper Vince Staples

[Songs of the Day] 2/20/14 (Feat. Ashanti, Frank Ocean, Jagwar Ma & More)

Things were a little late on Thursday for releases over the Internet, but we got a resurgence from a familiar name, a re-hashing of a track, and some freshness from around the web. Taking us back to 2002 for a moment, Ashanti dropped a single from her upcoming album, BraveHeart, due out on March 14. The song is called "First Real Love" and features 'King of the Dance Hall" Beenie Man. Long Beach, Calif., product Vince Staples dropped "Nate" featuring James Fauntleroy while Blue Sky Black Death released a way late remix of Frank Ocean's track "Pyramids" off his last project, Channel Orange. Jagwar Ma also received a remix, this one by MssngNo for the track, "Uncertainty" and the consonant-heavy artist Nguzunguzu gave listeners a dance track to sleep to in "The Perfect Lullaby Vol. II". Check out all of the tracks, streaming below.

Track of the Day: Vince Staples: "Nate" (Feat. James Fauntleroy)

Ashanti: “First Real Love” (Feat. Beenie Man)

Vince Staples: “Nate” (Feat. James Fauntleroy)

Frank Ocean: “Pyramids” (Blue Sky Black Death Remix)

Jagwar Ma: “Uncertainty” (MssngNo Remix)

Nguzunguzu: “The Perfect Lullaby Vol. II”


[Album] Best Coast: "Fade Away"

California soul rockers Best Coast are back with their latest release, Fade Away, which hit Soundcloud today as a full album stream. The seemingly always happy duo of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno keep the upbeat pace on their latest release. Earlier this Fall they put out the lead single from the project,"I Don't Know How". Check out the full album, available below here:


[RH First Glance] Crystal Antlers: "Rattlesnake"

California rockers, Crystal Antlers, released their video for "Rattlesnake" via Noisey earlier today. The artistic look at contemporary urban waste and emptiness and clever editing recall the Dogtown days in L.A. and rightfully so, as the video was shot by surf/skate/graffiti legend CR Stecyk III and matches the aesthetic of the mellow, grooving sound of "Rattlesnake," the first single off the band's upcoming album, Nothing is Real, due out October 15 on Innovative Leisure. Along with the video, Crystal Antlers also announced a North American tour which kicks off the day after the album release at Soda Bar in San Diego. Check out the video and dates below.

http://youtu.be/XmYn3evl0OI

Upcoming Tour Dates /

10/16 - Soda Bar - San Diego, CA
10/17 - Last Exit Live - Phoenix, AZ
10/19 - Mohawk Inside Room - Austin, TX
10/20 - The Foundry - Dallas, TX
10/21 - Hi-Tone Cafe - Memphis, TN
10/22 - The End - Nashville, TN
10/23 - Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA
10/24 - The Moth Light - Asheville, NC
10/25 - The Pinhook - Durham, NC
10/26 - Comet Ping Pong - Washington, DC
10/27 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
10/28 - Glasslands Gallery - Brooklyn, NY
10/30 - Il Motore - Montreal, QC
10/31 - Zaphod Beeblebrox - Ottawa, ON
11/01 - Silver Dollar - Toronto, ON
11/02 - Call the Office - London, ON
11/03 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
11/05 - Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS
11/06 - Moe's - Denver, CO
11/07 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
11/08 - Neurolux - Boise, ID
11/09 - Bunk Bar - Portland, OR
11/10 - Electric Owl - Vancouver, BC
11/11 - Comet Tavern - Seattle, WA
11/13 - Hemlock Tavern - San Francisco, CA


Nocturnal Wonderland Announces Lineup

Nocturnal Wonderland has been doing the festival thing for awhile now. Entering its 18th season of music and mayhem in Southern California, the Insomniac event just recently announced it's lineup with just a little over a month to go until the annual summer-end celebration. The one-night fest in San Bernadino's San Manuel Ampitheatre and Grounds on Saturday September 21 includes a smattering of EDM acts from across the landscape, including: Krewella, Fatboy Slim, Porter Robinson, Benny Benassi, Carnage and more. Look below for a recap of last year's festival and a full festival lineup. Tickets available here.

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http://youtu.be/_9nbxqrPiZw