Allow me to (re)introduce myself: My name is ... um, Quan. I'm the newest voice at SoundDiego, here to keep you updated on all things rap and hip-hop happening in and around the SD. Now that we've all gotten the requisite Osama Bin Laden chatter out of our systems, let's check out some rap music.
To date, Jayo Felony is the most widely recognized rapper from San Diego, thanks to his 1998 hit single, "Whatcha Gonna Do," with Method Man and DMX. So it's only right that our first post features him. Jayo's been really quiet in the past decade or so, but it looks like he's making a comeback soon. He's joining a slew of '90s-era West Coast veterans -- including Dogg Pound Gang's Kurupt, Compton's Most Wanted, King T and Gangsta -- to form a super group called 1st Generation. They recently released a video for their first single, "Killing Me Softly" (above), from their supposed new album entitled Sharks n tha Water.
Misnomer aside (I'm pretty sure these artists are all second- or third-generation West Coast rappers, if we're gonna be nitpicky), this should be an interesting project to check out. For sure, all the artists involved are past their prime, and this an obvious attempt to cash in on fans nostalgic for tough-guy rappers. But rap supergroups always have equal parts superhero crossover and fantasy sports appeal. Plus, Jayo threatens to fashion a prison shank out of a toothpick in his verse. That's good enough to warrant a listen -- you know, if this album does indeed drop.
Quan Vu Quan Vu is the founder and editor of local music blog SD Raps.com. He has also written about local and national hip-hop acts for San Diego CityBeat and the San Diego Reader. You can nerd out on rap trivia by following him on Twitter or e-mailing him directly.
