WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

One of Dilla's finest remixes of all time is this week's Westcoast Wednesday. The Pharcyde's "She Said" (Jay Dee Remix) appeared on their sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia. This is a perfect joint for this rainy Cali day.

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

Feel good music got me feeling good. Beautiful song for a beautiful day.

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

We take you up to Seattle for today's Westcoast Wednesday. Don't get it twisted, Cali isn't the only one reppin for the west these days. Ironically, this track by the Northwest duo Blue Scholars is about Hawaii - which is waaaaaaaaaaaaay west. So you get the best of both worlds.

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

Jurassic 5 - "Concrete Schoolyard"

Here's some classic, rap shit from Jurassic. Remember feel good music? Yeah me too. It's dope. Rappers should take note and tap into that emotion more.

"I get goose bumps when the bassline thumps..."

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

The Coup - "Fat Cats, Bigga Fish"

I can't even tell you how many times I've listened to this song in my lifetime. Boots Riley's storytelling is phenomenal - one of the most underrated MCs in the game. If you're not up on the Coup, you need to wake up and smell the revolution. Oakland in the house. What up, Rob?

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

They wanna be like Compton.

Quik is a musical genius. If you didn't know, you better ask somebody. Respect game.

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

What you know about this? No seriously...does anybody know a damn thing about G-Mo? In fact, have you ever HEARD of G-Mo? If you're like me, you bumped this underground tape during your sophomore year of high school, and you thought it was pretty dope. The only thing I knew about G-Mo was that he was from West Covina and he liked ballin'. But honestly, that's all you needed to know.

Back in 1995, I bumped the shit out of his album, Ballin 4 Life. I mean, yeah I was 16, and yeah he's not the greatest rapper ever. But fuck, the songs slap. The music is straight G-Funk, and I'm from Cali, so that funk runs in my bloodstream. I can't even help it. So, this shit brings back memories for me, and hopefully opens your ears to new classic (to me) Cali music.

G-Mo - "Ballin"

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

The Luniz were made famous for creating one of the most popular weed smoking songs of all time (that wasn't written by Cypress Hill). This is a Killa Cali classic right here. I remember when it first came out in 1995, it had people going bananas. Everyone who ever inhaled seems to know all the words to this joint too.

It's funny watching this video right now, it's maaaaaaaaad dated. Especially the Aaliyah-esque "Gangsta Bitch" outfits the girls are wearing.

The Luniz - "I Got 5 On It"

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

Long before Xzibit was Pimpin' Rides or hunting aliens, he was making dope music. Before he was rapping with Dre and Snoop he was making moves with the Likwit Crew alongside King Tee, Defari, and Tha Alkaholiks. His first album, At The Speed Of Life, dropped in 1996 and produced his first hit single "Paparazzi" and one of my favorite X-to-the-Z songs, "The Foundation" (below).

Not only is the beat off the chain (it was produced by DJ Muggs), but I love the message in the music. The concept of the song is Xzibit rapping to his 2 year old son - telling him what to expect in life, how to act, what to watch for, and how to be a man. You know, laying the "Foundation."

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

I'm sure you know the name, but might not know the deal. The D.O.C.'s contributions to gangsta rap extend far beyond his handful of rap songs, as he was one of the creative forces behind a little group called N.W.A. and some dude named Dr. Dre.

He was featured on N.W.A.'s second album, Straight Outta Compton, and Eazy-E's debut, Eazy Duz It. In 1989, he released his Dr. Dre-produced debut album, No One Can Do It Better, which was hailed by critics and rap fans alike as a West Coast classic. Unfortunately, shortly after the release of his album, he was in a car accident that damaged his vocals cords, leaving him unable to fully rap.

Despite his voice, he remained important to the hip hop landscape. He was Dr. Dre's right hand man, who used his talents as one of the writers for his debut solo album The Chronic, penning numerous songs on the classic album. Dre even credits the D.O.C. for being the one who talked him into doing the original Chronic album. He' also the third dude in car with Dre and Snoop in the "Nothin But A G-Thang" video.

"like my homie D.O.C., no one can do it better..."

The D.O.C. - "It's Funky Enough"

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

2Pac - "How Do You Want It"

Most of you are probably familiar with this concert version of the video, but below is the original version that was not approved by the MPAA to run on television. Maybe it was the girl riding the mechanical bull.

Looking back, this video is actually pretty hilarious. It didn't age very well at all, and almost comes off corny. And seriously, why is Pac wearing a girdle in half the shots? Is that what was hot in the streets back in 1996?

R.I.P. Pac.

WESTCOAST WEDNESDAY.

Hieroglyphics - "Soweto"

For those of you who are scratching your heads, Soweto is a town in Johannesburg, South Africa. It's one of the poorest regions in Johannesburg, and was made famous for an uprising on June 16th, 1976 between black youths and the South African authorities. The riots grew out of protests against the policies of the National Party government and its apartheid regime. Police opened fire on 10,000 students marching from Naledi High School to Orlando Stadium, and in the events that unfolded, over 500 people died. June 16th is now a recognized as the holiday, Youth Day.

Soweto is also credited as one of the founding places for kwaito, which is a style of hip-hop specific to South Africa. It combines various elements of American hip-hop, house music, and traditional African music, and became a widespread form of expression amongst black South Africans. The spread of Soweto in popular culture influenced Hiero, and this song reflects the terrible conditions and changing social order in Soweto, saying that cowardice has ruled this area, but how now the "gems" of the youth need to express themselves.

They say you learn something new everyday, and hopefully you just did.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Snoop Doggy Dogg - "Doggy Dogg World"

My favorite song off Doggystyle. Yep, I just said that. Taadow. This was one of the best songs in the summer of 1994. And it still stands the test of time. It was a heater 15 years ago, and it's gonna be a heater in 15 more.

"You think you got the bomb 'cause I rolled you a joint?"

Westcoast Wednesday.

Too $hort - "I'm A Player"

...and I'm playin just to play. Back in 1993, it just wasn't a rap video if you didn't have a pool party and a Cadillac. Short Dogg knew that, and knew it well.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Mc Eiht - "Straight Up Menace"

G'yeaaaaah.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Tha Alkaholiks - "DAAAAM"

..."Kick ya dopest rhyme, I'll break ya up like 3rd Bass/
I'm from the crew that sets it off by spraying beer in your face."

Here's some dope L.A. music for this beautiful Wednesday morning. Tha Liks to this day are one of my favorite L.A. based rap groups of all time. In the mid to late 90's these cats were KILLIN it. Hearing these dudes always takes me back to my high school and early college years. Their music just puts me in a good mood. They must put Prozac in it or something.

Although they never had any real commercial success, they representing for any true L.A. hip hop fan. I remember meeting these cats at an in store appearance on Melrose back in 1997. The store was packed to the ceiling. The got a lotta love for their fans and city, so I'm returning the favor.

Shout out to Xzibit for his cameo in the video.

Westcoast Wednesday.

This week we expand past Cali, and take you up to the Great Northwest to Seattle, Washington for Sir Mix-A-Lot's classic trunk rattler, "Posse On Broadway." Say what you want about Mix-A-Lot and his other songs, but you can't front, this song slaps. When I had my two 12' sub woofers in my trunk (before they got stolen), I was blowin up blocks with this song. Mix was right, the 808 kick drum made the girlies get dumb.

"At 23rd and Union, the driver broke left/
Kevin shouted 'Broadway, it's time to get def.'"

Westcoast Wednesday.

Kurupt - "We Can Freak It"

"...bounce, rock, roller skatin...dippin' through your hood on custom Daytons"

Westcoast Wednesday.

Fatlip - "What's Up Fatlip?"

... The black sheep member of the Pharcyde pokes fun of himself in one of the funniest music videos ever made. Directed by Spike Jonze, it looks like the video had a budget of roughly $47...mostly for the clown outfit.

Not only is the video wildy entertaining, the song is dope. Lip proves that despite the hardships, alleged drug addiction, and homelessness that he's faced, he's still got it. He's also still able to laugh at himself as the song is all about how bad he sucks at life. It's basically the opposite of every Jay-Z song ever made.

Westcoast Wednesday.

Dru Down - "Pimp Of The Year"