Tash

Editor's Review:

I’ve always seen the Likwit crew as sort of a West Coast Wu Tang, the difference being that Likwit members, though not as visible and renown as those of the Wu, are still a promising crew of badass cats. From Defari to Tha Alkaholics (of which Tash is a member), you can’t really fade the Likwit crew.

Take the latest Tash (short for Catastrophe) release, Raplife, a collection of rap tracks that mixes the appealing things about mainstream hip-hop with the honest skills and cred of an underground superstar.

From the sultry soul intro to the thuggish body of the opening track, "Ricochet," you know the bouncy bass beats are going to be plentiful and the hard edge will never dull. Playa-isms — gangsta’ talk about cars, Gs, clockin’ bitches ("pimpin’ ain’t easy but somebody gotta do it") and smokin’ weed — are prevalent, so if you’re not down with rap that has teeth, this may not be for you. If however, you really feel hard rhymes over straight dope beats, you’ll be down with Tash. His lyrical style is easy-rolling but hard-hitting, words flowing from a slightly scratchy voice that, while smooth in an odd way, is unmistakably serious in its demand for attention. The beats Tash raps over simple but strong, and disco- and funk-influenced samples and bass lines get the new West Coast vibe really going.

As an added bonus, Tash’s Raplife contains several short (and the best part is that they are short) skits, the best featuring Ice-T in a classic Ice-style skit, which further shows Tash’s reverence to the old-school while his pure skill and fresh delivery sets him at the front of the new-school pack.

Bookmark:

Record Label Loud Records Released January 2000

Tracks Ricochet Cops Skit G's Iz G's Pimpin' Ain't Easy Rap Life The Game Game Show Skit Only When I'm Drunker Goggles Skit Drunker Nightfall Bill Clinton Skit Smokefest 1999 Fallin' On Tash Rules Ice-T Skit True Homies Blackula Bermuda Triangle