N
ot since the 1990’s
has the West Coast been able
to--rightfully--claim the rap
throne. That might all be set
to change this year with one
man, one revived beat and a
ravenous new label.
When rapper Problem
dropped “Like Whaaat”, featuring his brother from another mother and Diamond
Lane labelmate Bad Lucc, not
only did the beat that Dirty
South rapper Youngbleed
made famous get a West
Coast makeover, but it received a brand new life. The
single has drummed up mad
interest in this young general
of the “new west” takeover
and resonated with listeners.
Even Diddy had to show
love with his “Jet Dance” on
YouTube (a must-see). For
Problem and his cohorts, it’s
just the beginning.
Problem, who got his name
from being nice on the basketball court, has now translated that title to his skills on
the mic. When most artists
are gearing up for war with
other labels, Problem and
Bad Lucc are more worried
about each other, which spells
out nothing but a welcome
“friendly” rivalry worthy for
hip-hop fans to take notice.
Bad Lucc explains, “[Problem] is my brother. [I’d] die
for him and all. But in the
booth?!? Prob trying to be
better than me and I’m trying
to be better than Prob.” These
are the healthy relationships
we crave as avid hip-hop
listeners. Men ready to battle-friend, family or foe.
We at Xpoz are known for
getting down to the nitty
gritty from the jump. So, we
had to address the elephant
in the room with Lucc: How
does he feel about a fellow
West Coast rapper, Kendrick
Lamar, claiming the crown
in the east? “He did and he
didn’t,” says Lucc. Some years
back, Bad Lucc, who’s been
in the game since ‘95, did a
track called “Get Busy” with
Kendrick and Kurupt. He
brings up a bar Kurupt spit
on that joint, “I’m a Muslim
on pork/I’m the king of New
York.” According to Bad
Lucc, Kendrick repeated what
Kurupt said, calling himself
the son of Kurupt, and elaborated. “It all falls into place
because [Kendrick], right
after that, says, ‘I’m the king
of the coast/ juggling both in
one hand’. I think it’s dope.
I don’t feel no way about it,
other than I celebrate it. Not
because it’s about New York,
but because someone took a
stance...[artists] are cool in
real life, but this is rap shit.
In rap shit, we not cool.” Well
said, Lucc. Wanna-be rappers, please take notice. That’s
hip-hop y’all.