On his 2001 debut, "Triggeration Station," San Diego's Mitchy Slick was just a "regular n----" who wore Padre hats and ate rolled tacos with "one foot in the game" and the other "shackled down on Logan Ave." While he's sure to have plenty of the same regular moments he was accustomed to back then, now he's an indie rap mainstay -- a west coast vet with staying power who's been able to keep a foot in the game.
For summer 2016, he's back, thinking of a master plan and chopping through a high speed cameo on Nipsey Hussle's Marathon Monday leak, "Full Time." The two are all effort and grind with Neighborhood Nip sprinting around a heavy bass line in his raspy Crenshaw drawl, "Nobody put us here, but still we made it in," as Slick is rapid fire, his mind on the money -- plotting on ways "to get mo'."
It's a high profile collaboration that comes on the heels of his work with Ryan Anthony, a Spring Valley native whose video "Never Been" was released earlier this month. It's a locals only vibe that finds the pair trading coded verses about San Diego's no man's land, the patch of real estate between streets Federal and Division.
Even last year's "Imperial" is still getting spins, its summertime groove tailor-made for sunshine and cookouts, the perfect soundtrack for house parties and backyard barbecues.
So he continues as an easy to follow storyteller and true heir to Southern California's gangster rap legacy, who's finally getting to "do the things that real rappers do."
J. Smith, aka 1019, is a San Diego native, rap fan and one half of the rap duo Parker & the Numberman. You can follow him on Instagram at 1019_the_numberman or on Twitter.
