Born To Audiomack: Best of Dru Down

~~ The Best of Dru Down ~~

1. Weak Move (1993)
2. Dru Rules (1993)
3. Bigger Than What You Think (1993)
4. Ice Cream Man ft. Luniz (1993)
5. Pimp of The Year (1993)
6. Rescue 911 ft. Luniz (1994)
7. Bad Boys (1994)
8. Rigged ft. Luniz (1994)
9. Playa Fo' Real (1996)
10. Can You Feel Me? (1996)
11. Head & Shoulders (1996)
12. Baby Bubba ft. Bootsy Collins (1996)
13. Hustlin' Ain't No Thang (1996)
14. Breezy ft. Luniz (1996)
15. Deal Went Bad (1996)
16. In Jail (199?/2008)
17. Assassinated (199?/2008)
18. Gangstafied (2002)
19. I Rock (2002)
20. Don't Shoot The Pimpin' ft. AMG & Suga Free (2002)
21. Summer In The City (2005)
22. Hellooo ft. The Jacka (2010)
23. My 501's (2018)
24. Streets Is Cold ft. Mistah F.A.B (2018)
25. Tube Socks ft. The Jacka (2018)
26. Ring Ding Dong (2019)
27. Fitness Funk (2019)



You got me mixed up twisted like an Arabian gymnast if you thought I was never gonna put together a best of Dru Down playlist. If you were to combine the DNA of Hanna-Barbera's Snagglepuss and Pomona, California's Suga Free then you'd end up with East Oakland's D Squared. Deep down and dirty, he grew up hella early, here's a playlist of my favourite song by Pimpy Doo.

Shorty K Back

Robb Bank$ ft. Sir Michael Rocks, Shorty K & Boldy James - Top Shottas 2K25
(From the internet; 2025)


Top notch posse cut belonging to Shaggy's son Robb Bank$. Everybody did their thing and sounded cognizant of each other’s presence over a beat which is effervescently effective. Personally, I'm pretending this is a sequel to Too $hort Back which was recorded for Boldy James' first album.

Dont worry, be Hyphy (part 2)

Seiji Oda ft. Iamsu - HUU!
(From HUU! single; 2025)


That's four hot singles in a row from Seiji Oda: A Gentle Gigg, Last Summer, Peaceful 2 and this new HUU! joint. The kid is back and cooking with Slap-Classico gas again. Someone call up Tariq Nasheed & his FBA cult and tell them Oakland Rap is now a 50% AZN genre.

Iamsu would have won the Worst Rapper's Trousers of February™ award if it weren't for Kendrick Lamar's superbowl flares. Finding the ugliest trousers in the world is now the first element of Hip-Hop kulcha.

Late pass!

Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party
(From 400 Degreez deluxe reissue album; 2024/YouTube; 2025)



I completely missed last year's deluxe reissue of 400 Degreez featuring a new Juvenile & Mannie Fresh song which sounds exactly how I want a new Juve & Mannietronix song to sound (like an old Juve & Mannietronix song, but not quite.) Luckily it's they've just dropped a video for that very song where Juve & Mannie dreamt of Californication.

Juve definitely missed a trick by not including 187 and Cash Money Gorilla on the 400 Degreez deluxe reissue.

PS: is Skip's verse on the Nolia Clap remix one of the most amusingly violent verses ever on an actual hit single?

"If I catch you on my porch, you gon' die by that
Right there by them leaves, go & lie by that
Right side of that dog doodoo, you gon' dry like that!"

Slicker than a bipper on a rainy day

"Shooter and the driver at the end of the day
Because I had to learn both like it's MMA"

Ezale - Can U Blame Me
(From Town Taxes mini album; 2025)


The cool thing about this new Ezale mini album is that every song is a single - literally since he's shot videos for all nine songs. Ezale videos always draw a vivid picture but the industry makes it hard for him to shoot for the stars. MC Ez' put his daughter in Ezekiel's Bakery as his video co-star like she's Willow Smith. To all you rapper's offspring out there who wanna be on a record label where you're all in the videos cookin'... sweepin'... then go to Foreal Foreal Entertainment! Like I said before, Can U Blame Me is the most DJ Fresh soundin' ass song which wasn't actually produced by DJ Fresh. Pure ToNHTe Show-core which uses some 80s Boogie to recreate the warm glow of MDMA.

The one thing this Town Taxes MLP does lack is a heartfelt jam in the vein of In A Day. Ideally, it woulda been a tribute to Ezale's dearly-departed DJ/best M8 HawkBeatz.

Toot it and shift it

Richie Rich - Wires And Vogues
(From Richard album; 2025)


I've been fiendin' for a new legit choon by Richie Rich after his verse on LARussell & P-Lo's shit, his "rhyme away the pain" incident in LaRussel's backyard and his Splash Bakery live performance. Plz believe Wires And Vogues here will do just nicely as that new legit choon. A grown man's car jam where Richie reflects on life in the rear view mirror. One thing Richie Rich has always had a knack for is rhyming about cars and making them sound like the coolest shit in the world; no mean feat because there's nowt more boring in real world conversation than a bloke telling you about his car. That's the magic of Rap music innit.

Mello Music Group (part 2)

Mello Buckzz ft. Monaleo - Move Pt. 2
(From Move Pt. 2 single; 2025)


Two of my favourite singles of the past five years are Move by Mello Buckzz and We Not Humping by Monaleo. Both songs are my ideal standard for modern Rap singles: high BPM big choonz full of big shit talk. And so it makes perfect sense that Monaleo should be the guest for the remix to Mello's Move. Most modern remixes bring out my John Self and have me thinking "what is the point of you?", but, much like the We Not Humping remix with Flo Milli, you can jam the original Move and the remix back-to-back like late buses. Props to Monaleo for selling that "if you scared, bitch, call ya mom because I'm The Bomb.com" with the sheer chutzpah of a Lyricist Lounge rapper in 1998.

Bonus beats: this Mello single from last year has really grown on me. Back when it first dropped I listened to it a few times and thought it was cool. But now I stay spinnin' this shit like a CD. This shit should be retitled Brrr.. BD because it's some Chicago street-Rap that's colder than no clothes in some place like Nova Scotia.

Mello Buckzz ft. G-Herbo - Hmm.. BD
(From Hmm.. BD single; 2024)


Even when Mello drops a single 4 the streetz she still keeps the video packed with more arses than the women's toilets in M&S. Pray 4 those old dears with weak bladders waiting in the snaking queues for the M&S bogs.

Feelin' James

O.Z. - It's A Black Thing
(From Fever For The Flavor album; 1990)


Discovered via EttelThun's early Chicago Rap mix, here's a nice slice of Lakim Shabazz-core. A notable entry in the canon of Chicago Rap songs with samples from James Brown & affiliated artists. Also historically notable since it might be the first 3rd Bass dis song. Word to the motherland, I wonder what O.Z. woulda thought about Chazmaniia?

Related golden-era white boi rapper thoughts: I heard David Bowie & Queen's Under Pressure in full for the first time ever the other day and was flabbergasted at how unlistenable it is other than the intro break. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been so surprised because Bowie and Queen are two of the worst offenders for middle-class British stageschool music. Hearing that bag of shite song in full only makes me appreciate Ice Ice Baby even more than I already do.

Generic list post: January 2025

Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when Lord Jamar became Brand Nubian's answer to Russell Brand. It's always hilarious to see a conspiracy-theorist grifting windbag get utterly humiliated. The elephant in the room is that Lord Jamar is now Donkey of The Day for the rest of his life.

Casual ft. Young Zee - Bay vs. Bricks (2005)
DCG Shun & DCG Bsauv - Steppers Freestyle (2024)
41 - Chill Guy (2024)
Ezale - Can U Blame Me (2025)
Ezale - Hang Wit Them (2025)
Stunnaman02 & The Yee Section - Out That Window (2025)
Seiji Oda & LaRussell ft. The Yee Section - Peaceful 2 (live) (2025)
Rio Da Yung OG - We Dem N*ggas (2025)
TG Kommas - Out Yo Mind (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
The Silent Partner (1978)
Fright Night 2 (1988) *
Nosferatu (1922) *
Nosferatu (2025)

TV shows I watched and liked:
Elvis Presley: '68 Comeback Special (1968)
Prisoner: Cell Block H (episodes 169 to 173) (1981)
Neighbours (new episodes) (2025)
Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild (new episodes) (2025)
Only Connect (new episodes) (2025)
Benefica vs. Barcelona (Champion's League game) (2025)
Match Of The Day 1 and 2 (new episodes) (2025)
Toy Shop on Tour (series 3 episode 7) (2025)

PS: that Tweaker is pretty cool as a legit hit because it sounds like Maine Musik made a Nelly song. BUT I'm already sick of hearing it in 7 out of 10 Instagram stories.

PPS: please listen to my best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams playlist and my best of Ezale playlist.

Ain't no tellin' what the bitch will do, I was all on her face like barbecue (part 2)

Ezale - Hang Wit' Them
(From Town Taxes mini album; 2025)


Yeah, my best of Ezale playlist is cool, but how about Ezale droppin' a 9 song mini album which contains all his comeback singles plus some new songs? I've been waitin' on Hang Wit Them since last summer and this shit delivered the hella hyphy dirtbag Charlie Hustle vybz I was hoping for.

What are the chances this Ezale mini LP will get a physical release? When I say physical release, I mean a CD which costs less than £20, not some coloured raer vinylz LP which costs £60 and you only have a 12 minute window of opportunity to buy.

So Whatcha Steppin'

"I ain't going to school, mama I'm tired
I just got suspended, mama I lied"

DCG Shun & DCG Bsauv - Steppers Freestyle
(From YouTube; 2024)


Discovered via Noz's 2024 wrap up. DCG x2 goin' back-and-forth like EPMD over Keezo Kane's Ga Ga Ga. Big two-steppin', shit will turn ya feet into lethal weapons. If the DCG bruvs fancy some future tag-teaming over some Chicago dance shit which samples James Brown then may I recommend Cajmere's So Happy.

Let's talk favourite Chicago Rap songs with James Brown & affiliated artist samples. I got these 5 on it.

Mic Terror - Juke Them Hoes (2007)
Common & The 45 King - Car Horn (1999)
TREE ft. Tone Skeet - Pride (2011)
Twista - No Peace Sign (1992)
Crucial Conflict ft. Toi - Ride The Rodeo (1996)

Born To Audiomack: the best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams

~~ The best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams ~~

1. MC EZ & Troup - Just Rhymin' (1988)
2. MC EZ & Troup - Get Retarded (1988)
3. Craig Mack - Style (1997)
4. Craig Mack - Please Listen To My Demo (1999)
5. Craig Mack - The Wooden Horse (1999)
6. Craig Mack - Mack Come Thru (2000)
7. Craig Mack - Straight In Ya Mouf (2003)



Poor old Craig Mack. He's viewed as a Couple Of Hits Wonder even though he was a consistently good singles artist who had a blackbelt in Rap Hands. Ever since he first came out as MC EZ in 1988 he had an unfortunate habit of jinxing himself on record with lyrics promising future career endeavours which never materialised. But that's what gives Mack's music a bittersweet edge which never fails to pull my heart strings like guitars down in Spain. Mack's career deserved better but he was Mr. Reverse Words I Manifest who couldn't stop hexing himself on wax. Me, I prefer Mack's remake of Please Listen To My Demo to the EPMD original; Erick & Parrish kept it philosophical like the Greek man Plato, but Mack made it spiritual/educational like the German word Bildungsroman. So, here's a seven song playlist of Mack's best non-Bad Boy legit jams which would have included Jockin' My Style if Audiomack hadn't cockblocked it. Damn, I miss dem dayz when you could upload anything and everything to Audiomack.

I remember some video where Stezo played an unreleased 2000s song featuring Mack which actually sounded like some fat Funk flav for the ages. Can Dooley-O plz release that shit ASAP? R.I.P to Mack and Stezo, natch.

Hat tip to Johnny The Boxxx

TG Kommas - Out Yo Mind
(From YouTube; 2025)


Some random Baton Rouge pressure found by JohnBoxxx. Song is some Baton Rouge brawl music which is a mix of constipated and retarded, but when I say retarded plz believe I'm talkin' in the Just Ice sense, booiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Bonus beats: never forget that Trel Itz A Hit's Cuffin' Flippas instrumental was the Bout It, Bout It of Beserker-Bounce™.

From the BBQ to The Bakery (part 4)

Stunnaman02 & The Yee Section - Out That Window (live)
(From the Splash Bakery YouTube channel; 2025)


If you're a true NorCalosier then you already know that Out That Window was the song which inspired the "last year I told n*ggas put they guns down" line on Big Steppin'. Plot twist: Stunnaman02 just performed it live with The Yee Section at The Splash Bakery and it hits even harder than the studio version even tho it has no percussion. I've always hated Live Rap With Real Instruments™ and yet here I am jammin' some of these Splash Bakery performances on repeat like they're Jeff & Will at Union Square. My Script has well and truly been flipped.

Plot twist bonus beats: last week Stunnaman02 dropped Out That Window Part 02 with guest vox and production from Seiji Oda.

Born To Audiomack: Best of Ezale

~~ The Best of Ezale ~~

1. 5 Minutes of Funktown (2013)
2. Foreal Foreal (2014)
3. I'm On (2014)
4. Separate Ways ft. Kave (2014)
5. Too High (2014)
6. I Ain't Trippin' Off Nothing (2015)
7. We Out Here (2016)
8. Stop Come On (2016)
9. Day Ones (2016)
10. We Want Some Pussy (2016)
11. All It Takes (2016)
12. In A Day (2016)
13. Raised Like This (2021)
14. Ironic (2022)
15. Hotel Motel (2022)
16. Do It All Night (2024)
17. Fun (2024)



It's 2025 and I'm still here to rock you low and take you deeper than Jacques Cousteau. The music don't end if ya eyes don't close. So, here's a playlist so obvious I can't believe I haven't made it before: the Best of Ezale. You know the dilly: I call Ezale Jac Dre because he's the missing link between Jackie Chain and Mac Dre. He's the Pol Pot of the Pillionaire's Boys Club. He's what would happen if Drexl from True Romance took a holiday in Cambodia. He's #BringingThisTownShitBack by making new school shit for old school whips. He takes dummy long to drop music but it's always worth the wait. I'm postin', bloggin', don't plan on stoppin', tryna see if you patnas is down with Ezale's mobbin'.

Plz believe Teddy Jams woulda been included if Audiomack would let me upload it. That Guy sample ain't copyright friendly.

My Mind Spray 18

Here is something I can't understand: why a new remix of OMB Peezy's 2016 classic Lay Down featuring GloRilla suddenly appeared outta nowhere last week? At least it would make sense if there was a remix featuring Flo Milli since her & Peezy are two Alabama rappers who dropped nothin' but fire for 2 years or so and then lost their respective sparks thereafter.

Moniker for a MAGA rapper who thinks Hip-Hop kulcha was invented by pure-blooded 'Muricans who had no Jamaican or Latino heritage: FBA YoungBoy.

It makes sense that Tariq Nasheed's revisionist FBA Hip-Hop nonsense would gain traction since The Kulcha™ is now just a repository for grifters, conspiracy theorists, conspiracy-theory casualties, MAGA guys, flat Earthers, myopic Stans and people who are allergic to history which took place before they were born. If the FBAs think Fat Joe is a culture vulture then just wait until they discover Ezale. Or Necro & Ill Bill.

In actual order of preference, my fave Casual songs which aren't on his Fear Itself album: Turkey & Dressing, Who Do That, I Gotta (Get Down), Studio D, The Best At It, Years Ago, Classic Material, Feel Like Busting and Turf Dirt.

From the BBQ to The Bakery (part 3)

Seiji Oda & LARussell ft. The Yee Section - Peaceful 2 (live at The Bakery)
(From Splash Bakery channel; 2025)


FFS I guess I officially like live Rap performances with real instruments now. Here's another Splash Bakery performance, this time it's Seiji Oda & LARussell doing Peaceful 2. Tin-eared plebs won't dig these videos, but if yee know, yee know. I wish Uncle Furl was here to do one.