"We came here to get you high, represent underdogs world-wide On the hustle leading crooked lives We don't die, we multiply; but we divide So how are we gonna survive? You got your role, I got mine; don't cross paths Cause an intersection's just another form of clash, we crash..."
Psycho Realm is a Mexican American supergroup started in 1989 by brothers Sick Jacken (Joaquin Gonzalez) and Big Duke (Gustavo Gonzalez) from the Downtown, Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. The first recorded Psycho Realm song, "Scandalous", was released on the soundtrack of the film Mi Vida Loca in 1994. That same year B-Real of the rap group Cypress Hill saw Psycho Realm performing at Olvera Street for an End Barrio Warfare concert. Their performance inspired B-Real to the point that he wanted to join the group. With this time period being the height of Cypress Hill’s career anything Cypress Hill related would get major publicity. In 1997 Sony released the first Psycho Realm album, labeled as an addition to the Cypress Hill Family by the sticker placed on the CD case. Due to conflicts with the record label the Gonzalez brothers were dropped from Sony as Jacken explains, "the machine was just trying to censor me / Didn't do it for Sony so they ended up releasing me / Independent, no longer locked down for an infinity / So my vicinity stays true to my identity." The brothers then went on to form Sick Symphonies, their own record label, which lacked the big budget for promotion and distribution in chain stores along with group member B-Real, who was stuck on his contract with Sony for Cypress Hill.
"Ah, Jake roll that beat out like a red carpet I put that blood red target to your head, spark it Directly out the ghetto marchin like I'm Rev. Sharpton Bet I'm starvin like it's free breathe, his heads startin, look like I'm share croppin..."
Jacob Dutton, better known as Jake One, is an American hip hop record producer from Seattle, Washington. Dutton grew up in Capitol Hill and moved to the North End of Seattle when he was 15. He started making music on a Casio keyboard in 1992. He attended the University of Washington and gave a tape of his music to a friend who worked in a local record store. One of the store's other employees, the DJ Mr. Supreme heard the tape, and when he set up his Conception Records label, he used Dutton to create backing tracks. The first record he produced was Eclipse's "World Premier". His early influences included Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Marley Marl.
"This is a stick up I told you you could reach for the sky Fuck a chip off the brick or the piece of the pie The worst thing they did to the kid was leave him alive Now I'm ruthless moving with a reason to die..."
La Coka Nostra (short LCN) is an American hip hop group composed of Everlast, DJ Lethal, Danny Boy, Ill Bill and Slaine. Founded in late 2005 with no intention to record an album, La Coka Nostra was more a loose collective of artists connected through Danny Boy than a group. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy took to working in video production and fashion as well as mentoring other artists. He met Slaine in Boston and, impressed with his writing, brought him to L.A. to record some tracks. Eventually it turned into more of a group effort including the former members of House of Pain and Ill Bill, as well as associates from Psycho Realm, Special Teamz and others. It was not until early 2006 that the current line up solidified, plans to release an album were first voiced later the same year. In late 2008 the group signed to Suburban Noize Records and released the long delayed debut album A Brand You Can Trust on July 14, 2009. The album took so long to complete due to Danny Boy's refusal to have the members collaborate via e-mail; instead, he would gather everyone at the studio. This took time due to the recording of Ill Bill and Everlast's solo albums as well as various tours and other commitments. A Brand You Can Trust features 15 tracks and guest spots from Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Sick Jacken, B-Real, Sen Dog, Immortal Technique, Big Left and Q-Unique. Though similar stylistically to the group's prior online releases, it features songs grounded more in reality. Some subjects touched upon include politics, death, drug addiction, raising a child and terrorism.
"Sleepin' on persians We used to wear turbins Daughters the virgins gold slippers Now they gon be strippers Can't hold they liquor They fight and bicker God sent blew out the projects No life left jobless..."
Sunz of Man is a Wu-Tang Clan affiliated group that currently consists of Prodigal Sunn, Hell Razah, 60 Second Assassin, Shabazz the Disciple and Killah Priest. The group's first incarnation also included 7th Ambassador and Supreme. Along with Gravediggaz and Killarmy, Sunz of Man is one of the most popular acts affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. The Last Shall Be First is the debut album by Sunz of Man, one of the most heralded early releases by Wu-Tang affiliates. Unlike the follow-up, Saviorz Day, The Last Shall Be First features all four members of the group, although Killah Priest only appears on five of the album's songs because he was recording his solo debut Heavy Mental at the same time. Production on the album was handled by the Wu-Elements (The RZA, True Master and 4th Disciple) with additional contributions coming from Supreme Kourt and Wyclef Jean. The album itself is becoming very rare because Red Ant ceased operations, and it sold 350,000 units. Some pressings of the album are black and some pressings are orange with the text visible on the disc.
"I see guys and girls dancin', open up my flows at random There's no retreat, hold your beats for ransom No means no and that's the answer I see in the dark with my lantern Triple optic, Iriscience, Evidence ready to rock it Of course Babu always in pocket That's right, example of a show that's tight Showin' you corny mothafuckers What hip-hop's supposed to sound like..."
Dilated Peoples is a hip hop group from California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community [citation needed], although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West. It reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart with two tracks, "This Way" and "Worst Comes to Worst." Their members include DJ Babu (producer/DJ), Evidence (emcee-producer) and Rakaa Iriscience (emcee)
