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Nineteen ninety-seven. Byzantine chains & Cartier frames. Devoid of laptop musicians, leather kilts or anything else that wouldn't appease an adenoid-laden backpacker. Effects of the crack cocaine epidemic are prominent and wide spread. Southern rap was still the redheaded stepchild of the hip-hop community. By the time TRU had released their debut album, groups like UGK, Outkast and EightBall & MJG had already established a stereotypical third coast sound. From Richmond to NOLA, a triad of rappers known as the Miller brothers set up shop — and they intended to monopolize.
The emergence of No Limit Records marked a new era in rap music. Long gone were the P.S.A. days of Chuck D. This was something new — braggadocio over slow-tempo cruising music. Synth heavy and encrusted with samples from your parent's record collection. It was something unique. The producers, Beats By The Pound, proudly flaunted unaltered loops unlike Pete Rock or Premier. Showcasing samples from Seals & Croft, EWF & The Isley Brothers, No Limit embraced direct chords and contorted them to their liking. They re-sung choruses to suit their "country-fried, swamp cocaine" style of rapping (P said it, not me).
The emergence of No Limit Records marked a new era in rap music. Long gone were the P.S.A. days of Chuck D. This was something new — braggadocio over slow-tempo cruising music. Synth heavy and encrusted with samples from your parent's record collection. It was something unique. The producers, Beats By The Pound, proudly flaunted unaltered loops unlike Pete Rock or Premier. Showcasing samples from Seals & Croft, EWF & The Isley Brothers, No Limit embraced direct chords and contorted them to their liking. They re-sung choruses to suit their "country-fried, swamp cocaine" style of rapping (P said it, not me).
TRU's Tru 2 Da Game is looking kind of dusty these days. How it got to this point, I do not know. And I know you'd rather listen to Dom Kennedy rap about tacos (I am sorry) but hear me out.
Every modern rapper has been influenced by No Limit, knowingly or unknowingly. Records executives now know not to ever let another artist get away with a Master P deal, the Rap Game might as well be called the CEO game and do you know how many rappers bit the Pen & Pixel style of album artwork? They pioneered a sound that is strictly theirs. Let's dive right into this cajun, G-Funk classic.
1. Master P - Smoking Green
The Millennials reading this probably attribute this sound to the Raider Klan & Shaggy's ugly manchild son. I had this 2-disc treasure in my Coby CD player constantly. Scratched up, skipping whenever I walked. This was the gateway drug school assemblies warned you about. I didn't know why everyone talked about weed, but I sure do now (Just kidding I still don't). Thank you Percy Miller.
2. TRU - Tru 2 Da Game
If you're in tune with your inner funk, you probably picked up on the Cameo interpolation (replaying samples to avoid lawsuits). Beats By The Pound put on their DJ Quik wigs with this one.
3. Master P - Swamp Nigga
Have you ever felt empty inside? Disappointed with Wu-Tang? Melancholy because Dipset wasn't good yet? Is Three 6 Mafia too diabolical? Hieroglyphics too lame? Do you love smoking blunts in humid climates? Do you have two or more pagers? Do you enjoy gumbo and King's Cake? If you answered no to any of these questions, then please — don't move to New Orleans.
That's what I would've said in 1997. Things have changed. Those were simpler times. If you got paid, you rapped about how it happened. Feelings kept to a minimum. I'm not trying to listen to a Lifetime Network podcast. I want to hear about how you barked at a crackhead.
TRU did it best (and with a tinge of militancy).
Free C-Murder & R.I.P. Soulja Slim
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