West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: FOC on February 26, 2008, 10:56:02 AM
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Glasses Malone
Beach Cruiser: The Story
Presented By: Universal / Cash Money Records
Rating: 4/5 Stars
(http://www.gigacrate.com/images/music/6946Large.jpg)
When rap is at its best, it is cinematic. That’s because rap hits hardest when it is like an audio movie that takes you to the block, the club, the bedroom -- or on a journey through the highs and lows life supplies. On his major label debut album, 29-year-old underground rap sensation Glasses Malone delivers a sonic opus that features the Watts, CA lyricist offering a conceptual gem.
If it sounds like Glasses Malone’s Beach Cruiser: The Story could be the album of the year you’re on to something -- and Baby, Mack 10, Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre and The Game have been among his many legendary co-signers. Beach crusiers, the stylistic, long-standing bikes popular in Southern California, serve as a metaphor for G’s music and his album. “No matter how many bicycles come out, beach cruisers will always be there and that’s kind of what I wanted my music to represent,” Glasses says. “I want it to have the same staying power as a beach cruiser does. And, the beach cruiser represents the West Coast. It’s gangster. It’s smooth. It’s steady. It’s classic.”
Growing up, Glasses Malone (born Charles Penniman) was in line to get involved in academics, not the streets or a gang -- and certainly not the rap world. His mother owned a house in Compton and his father owned a house in Watts. He was a strong student, going through high school with a 3.5 GPA and scoring a robust 1320 on his SAT.
But the other side of his parents’ lives rubbed off on Glasses once he hit eleventh grade. They were both hustlers, and when his mother was incarcerated, G went to live with his father. “I witnessed losing everything, then getting everything again, then losing everything again kinda early,” he says. Feeling like he needed something to do, he started selling drugs and gangbanging. He earned the handle Glasses because of his poor eyesight and was given the Malone surname by a big homie who simply felt it fit.
Glasses had always listened to music with more passion than most given his mother’s infatuation with tunes. He started battle rapping when his friends started doing the same, using his admiration for Westside Connection, N.W.A, Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel as lyrical inspiration. G noticed rapping kept him from getting in as much trouble -- and that people thought that he was talented.
By 2004, his underground material had impressed Dr. Dre and The Game enough to earn him a spot with The Game, a position only strengthened with Glasses’ subsequent White Lightening mix-tape. “That’s what really built me up on the West Coast,” Glasses says. “People started latching on to it. The Game, that’s a part of my history and he influenced my music a lot at the time. Dude’s success played a big part in my success.”
Glasses and Game eventually parted amicably. Then, during a 2006 visit to Los Angeles-based radio station KDAY, Glasses met Mack 10. Real recognized real, and Mack 10 promised to look out for Glasses. Mack 10, who released his 2001 album, Bang Or Ball, on Cash Money Records, put in a call to his good friend and Cash Money boss Baby.
“Mack called Baby and was like, ‘There’s this cat you’ve got to check out,’” says Ronald “Slim” Williams, Baby’s brother and partner in Cash Money Records. “Once we heard Glasses’ music, we could tell he had great skills -- and he’s a humble person. Plus, he’s got that eye of the tiger.”
Baby and Mack 10 decided to team up to push Glasses, paving the way for Malone’s current deal with Hoo-Bangin’/Cash Money/Universal Motown for Beach Cruiser, a conceptual album that instantly places Glasses Malone among rap’s best and features guest appearances from Baby, Lil Wayne, Mack 10, Tyrese, Lupe Fiasco and others, as well as production from DJ Toomp, Mannie Fresh, Cool & Dre, Tha Bizness and Goldeneye, among others.
The high powered collection kicks off with “Time Is Up,” a DJ Toomp-produced track set up by an intro in which Malone leaves a club with a woman and is shot by her offended man. It’s an urgent moment accented by medical machinery. “I have an EKG beat going through it, and as music goes on, the EKG beat gets slower and slower,” Glasses says. “I’m trying to put you in the song.”
Realizing he was just having a nightmare, Glasses wakes up and gets his day in motion with the horn-highlighted “My Turn,” which features Kam, Wyclef Jean and Lupe Fiasco. “If I could make a gangster song for church,” G explains, “this is what it would sound like.”
From there, Glasses Malone puts his dreams into song with “Good Life,” a tune that details his struggle as a rapper aspiring to achieve superstardom while balancing meeting his other real world obligations. “I wanted to make that song for every rapper striving to do it,” G reveals. “I know what you’re going through, whether you’re trying to quit the game and do this or works and do this. I wanted to make a song where people know it’s real and I know every rapper is going to dig it.”
The next section of Beach Cruiser features Glasses detailing the hustling mentality and includes the fiery lead single “Certified” with Akon and the piano-accented, Goldeneye-produced “G Malone,” a testament to his street status. This batch of muscular songs ends with a collect call from Glasses Malone’s incarcerated mother, which leads into the emotionally draining “I’ma Pray” with Tyrese. “Just hearing that record, I really almost cry,” Glasses reveals. “My mom was there for me growing up. She was a hustler, but she was there for me and did everything that she could. I struggle sometimes just talking to her. I’m going through so much, but then how can I compare my struggles with hers?”
But a faulty phone system leads into “Nobody,” where G defends his status to his lady, setting up the final section of Beach Cruiser. The thumping “Go Big” featuring Mack 10 showcases Glasses taking a rare moment to brag, while “Hataz” with Lil Wayne and Baby features the trio brushing their shoulders off of detractors. Glasses also takes it to the club on the Mannie Fresh-produced “You Should F*%k With Me Shawty,” a percolating cut that will be an instant favorite from coast to coast.
You’ll be able to say the same for Beach Cruiser, one of the decade’s great rap albums.
http://loud.com/12inch
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Yeeeaaah! This albums is gon be nuts! This was a real good read. I just found out a lot. I already heard Certified, Malone and Fuck Wit Me Shawty and I thought they were all crazy!
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Is He Not Releasing "The Sermon" Anymore?
Is Game On The Album?
When Will the Offical Tracklisting B Out?
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So this albums only gonna have like 9 or 10 songs?
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i'm starting to really anticipate this album :o
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
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FUCK I DOPE COVER 2
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damn, Kam, Wyclef Jean and Lupe Fiasco together on a song? thats bananas
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damn, Kam, Wyclef Jean and Lupe Fiasco together on a song? thats bananas
i agree that sounds good as fuck
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Damn, this album sounds REAL dope. I can't wait to hear it when it drops. 8)
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I didn't even realize until a month ago that "Certified" was by Glasses Malone and not by Young Jeezy (who it sounds like). I wonder if the album will have examples of traditional west coast music, or the Dirty South-meets-West Coast vibe of Certified....
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i like how they set the album up,seems like it's gonna be good,i'm checc'n for it,good lucc to glasses and his camp yell
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FUCK I DOPE COVER 2
that's not the album cover, that's the cover for the "Certified" single, I seen it on iTunes...
anywayz, can't wait for the album... definatly buying it when it drops
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CAN'T WAIT!!!
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Why did they give the album 4/5 LOL!!!
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sounds good, cant wait for o drop!
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
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I wasn't really anticipating this at first, but after seeing Certified pick up momentum in the last couple months and watching the dope video they made for it I've been checking on it more and more. And this review only makes me anticipate it more. Can't wait to hear the song with Kam Lupe and Wyclef. Crazy combination of cats on one track.
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Oh ya good lookin out on the review Focus.
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
there is a whole audience that has yet to hear those tracks.... you can't throw away two hot tracks like that, especially a Manny Fresh one.
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
there is a whole audience that has yet to hear those tracks.... you can't throw away two hot tracks like that, especially a Manny Fresh one.
True dat!!!
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Iz There An Official Release Date...?
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
there is a whole audience that has yet to hear those tracks.... you can't throw away two hot tracks like that, especially a Manny Fresh one.
True dat!!!
was literally about to say the same 2 words... lmao
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yup.. just like me
i havent heared those 2 tracks so ill be listening with fresh ears :)
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Iz There An Official Release Date...?
April 1st... and no that's not an April Fools joke.. 8)
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
there is a whole audience that has yet to hear those tracks.... you can't throw away two hot tracks like that, especially a Manny Fresh one.
True dat!!!
was literally about to say the same 2 words... lmao
LOL!!!
Iz There An Official Release Date...?
April 1st... and no that's not an April Fools joke.. 8)
Hopefully it comes then, im excited as fuck for it, do u know how many tracks will be on it roughly?
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^who's the girl in the avatar?
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^who's the girl in the avatar?
Vida Guerra!!!
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“Mack called Baby and was like, ‘There’s this cat you’ve got to check out,’” says Ronald “Slim” Williams, Baby’s brother and partner in Cash Money Records. “Once we heard Glasses’ music, we could tell he had great skills -- and he’s a humble person. Plus, he’s got that eye of the tiger.”
Thanks to this info now i know how crap will be this album
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Iz There An Official Release Date...?
April 1st... and no that's not an April Fools joke.. 8)
^Dope to hear that it has an official release date now. Now we just need to hear when Bishop & Jay Rock are officially going to drop. 8)
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What a fuckin year its going to be, if all these west coast albums come out as scheduled!!!
These are the ones i can think of from the top of my head:
Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
The Game
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
GOD DAMN, and i know im missing a bunch too, cant wait for all this shit, but we all know all of that aint coming, most likely half of it will!!!
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Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
I can already tell that the ones I made bold will suck.
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I'm glad he's finally dropping his album. It's been one of my most anticipated for the longest. What happened to the tracks with Battlecat, Quik, Warren G & Hi-Tek though?
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This G malone brings something new to the table ?
I don't think so ::)
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Great to see that review FOC, shits gonna be quality. What im more anticipatin is his second album.
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Can't wait to see how it turns out...
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Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
I can already tell that the ones I made bold will suck.
Ure playin right?
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Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
I can already tell that the ones I made bold will suck.
WTF ??? If anything the only albums there which will suck will be DPG and Snoops
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Glasses Malone's Beachcruiser project is gonna be pretty ill
Ive heard a couple cuts from the album from months ago shits definitely gonna make West Coast history
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Ure playin right?
Not at all.
Glasses -> Dude can spit and with White Lightning Sticks he proved he can hold down an album.
Snoop Dogg -> Might not be his greatest album, but it will be decent to good. I can't wait to hear this! ;D
Lil Eazy -> I can't listen to three Lil Eazy tracks in a row.
The Game -> Dr's Advocate and Documentary were dope and I expect another dope album.
Dr.Dre -> Probably hit or miss.
Bishop Lamont -> Aftermath albums usually suck.
Crooked I -> I expect him to drop heat if he ever drops an album.
Ya Boy -> He can't hold down an album on his own.
DPG -> Their last album sucked, but I have faith in them.
Kurupt and Quik -> Hopefully this will see the day of light, but this should be an amazing album.
Spider Loc -> Bores me too quickly.
Eastwood -> Bores me too quickly.
Hot Dollar -> Bores me too quickly.
Omar Cruz -> I don't see what people think is so great about him.
Mitchy Slick -> Everyday rapper. Bores me too quickly.
Roccett -> Bores me too quickly.
Y.A. -> A bunch of average rappers. How could I be anticipating this?
Tri-Star -> Everyday rapper. Bores me too quickly.
40 Glocc -> I don't always like the beats he picks, but right now he has one of the tightest flows.
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What a fuckin year its going to be, if all these west coast albums come out as scheduled!!!
These are the ones i can think of from the top of my head:
Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
The Game
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
GOD DAMN, and i know im missing a bunch too, cant wait for all this shit, but we all know all of that aint coming, most likely half of it will!!!
I think 211 is droppin an album too
The Warzone
Western Union
And a couple others have projects in the works
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Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
The Game
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
those are the only dudes who I have a feeling will definatly drop albums, there are some that MAYBE will drop, IMO... like Ya Boy, Spider Loc, Crooked I, etc... but I'm not too sure about them, cuz there's been too many times where shit about them was said but it never happened
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08 is the west's year man! Hell i'll probably end up coppin all those albums you guys mentioned.
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What a fuckin year its going to be, if all these west coast albums come out as scheduled!!!
These are the ones i can think of from the top of my head:
Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
The Game
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
GOD DAMN, and i know im missing a bunch too, cant wait for all this shit, but we all know all of that aint coming, most likely half of it will!!!
I doubt Lil E, Crooked I, Eastwood and Ya Boy will release but ...we shall see...
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Nice review. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest Malone fan but I've been supporting him since the White Lightnin' Sticks mixtape.
I'll definitely buy his album when it drops.
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Jay Rock
Glasses
Snoop Dogg
Lil Eazy
The Game
Dr.Dre
Bishop Lamont
Crooked I
Ya Boy
DPG
Kurupt and Quik
Spider Loc
Eastwood
Hot Dollar
Omar Cruz
Mitchy Slick
Roccett
Y.A.
Tri-Star
40 Glocc
I can already tell that the ones I made bold will suck.
Nah man all of those albums are gonna be sick!!!
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Ure playin right?
Not at all.
Glasses -> Dude can spit and with White Lightning Sticks he proved he can hold down an album.
Snoop Dogg -> Might not be his greatest album, but it will be decent to good. I can't wait to hear this! ;D
Lil Eazy -> I can't listen to three Lil Eazy tracks in a row.
The Game -> Dr's Advocate and Documentary were dope and I expect another dope album.
Dr.Dre -> Probably hit or miss.
Bishop Lamont -> Aftermath albums usually suck.
Crooked I -> I expect him to drop heat if he ever drops an album.
Ya Boy -> He can't hold down an album on his own.
DPG -> Their last album sucked, but I have faith in them.
Kurupt and Quik -> Hopefully this will see the day of light, but this should be an amazing album.
Spider Loc -> Bores me too quickly.
Eastwood -> Bores me too quickly.
Hot Dollar -> Bores me too quickly.
Omar Cruz -> I don't see what people think is so great about him.
Mitchy Slick -> Everyday rapper. Bores me too quickly.
Roccett -> Bores me too quickly.
Y.A. -> A bunch of average rappers. How could I be anticipating this?
Tri-Star -> Everyday rapper. Bores me too quickly.
40 Glocc -> I don't always like the beats he picks, but right now he has one of the tightest flows.
40's got a ear for beats mayne, all the beats are crazy, weird that u dont like em. The 2 new songs "Whats The Word" and "Fuck Yall" were :o :o 8) 8)
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
EVERYBODY HASN'T HEARD THOSE SONGS!!!!!!!! it's business,just look at us as the testers for those songs. when you drop albums on a big scale you don't think local yell
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dam man didn't relise this was comming so soon. Disapointed to hear Malone and Fuck Wit Me are on it, there old as fuck
Lmao, i know, Malone came out like 2 years ago and Fucc Wit Me came out like 10 years ago!!!
EVERYBODY HASN'T HEARD THOSE SONGS!!!!!!!! it's business,just look at us as the testers for those songs. when you drop albums on a big scale you don't think local yell
Haha ye, we on top of thangs!!!
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we forgot another dude who is supposed to drop this year : Clyde Carson
I hope he comes out this year as well, I'll cop his shit
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don't forget Knocturnal is droppin this year..got dre on the album, quik, and possibly nate dogg..plus his two new producers deztined & j-beam are off the hook..
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we forgot another dude who is supposed to drop this year : Clyde Carson
I hope he comes out this year as well, I'll cop his shit
Word. Wasn't "Theater Music" supposed to drop in January but got pushed back to a summer release ? If that's true I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back again because of Game's album
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When is it droppin, Glasses is dope.
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^^April 1st!!!
we forgot another dude who is supposed to drop this year : Clyde Carson
I hope he comes out this year as well, I'll cop his shit
Word. Wasn't "Theater Music" supposed to drop in January but got pushed back to a summer release ? If that's true I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back again because of Game's album
I think hes gonna change the name he said!!!
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08 is the west's year man!
yeah like 07,06,05,04,03,02..... ::)
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Cant wait to hear Beach Cruiser, If Electric Chair's anything to go by
it's gonna be dope
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Man, fuck industry politics. Glasses will get pushed back, BIshop won't drop until 2010 and Crooked I,well with him you guys know it's the same old story.
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^^April 1st!!!
we forgot another dude who is supposed to drop this year : Clyde Carson
I hope he comes out this year as well, I'll cop his shit
Word. Wasn't "Theater Music" supposed to drop in January but got pushed back to a summer release ? If that's true I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back again because of Game's album
I think hes gonna change the name he said!!!
Ohh..well whenever that shit drops should be dope..."2 Step" & "Doin That" are straight fire!
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^^April 1st!!!
we forgot another dude who is supposed to drop this year : Clyde Carson
I hope he comes out this year as well, I'll cop his shit
Word. Wasn't "Theater Music" supposed to drop in January but got pushed back to a summer release ? If that's true I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed back again because of Game's album
I think hes gonna change the name he said!!!
Ohh..well whenever that shit drops should be dope..."2 Step" & "Doin That" are straight fire!
Black Friday LOL? Isnt that a dude from Brazil St?
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should be a good one
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Should be dope, this album will come out this year.
The only albums im expectin to drop this year are:
The Game
Snoop
Glasses
and maybe Clyde
Even though i know its politics im tired of niggas sayin "im comin this year, or next year"..
Like we still waitin on a Glasses album, a Jay Rock album, Ya Boy, Juice, Clyde Carson, Lil Eazy, Omar Cruz, Bishop and all them other niggas sayin the same thing to drop.