City of Dope

Year after year, I have always been able to somehow think that this was the year. Obviously insane in retrospect, but I’m pretty good at tricking myself into stuff like this. My loyalty and faith were blind, like how some might salute the flag or believe in God.

Rony Siekaly. Doneyll Marshall. Tim Legler. Bimbo Coles. Andrew DeClercq. Muggsy Bogues. Todd Fuller. Felton Spencer. Erick Dampier. Rodney White. Tony Delk. Jason Caffey. BJ Armstrong. Chris Taft. John Starks. Clifford Rozier. Brian Cardinal. Vonteego Cummings. Billy Owens. Tony 10 Day Contract Farmer. Mookie Blaylock. Dale Davis. Bill Curley. Vinnie Del Negro. Danny Fortson. Bobby Sura. Chris Porter. Adam Keefe. Marc Jackson. Chris Mills. Troy Murphy. David Wood. Dean Oliver. Mike Dunleavy. Jiri Welsch. Nick Van Exel. Victor Alexander. Speedy Claxton. Corie Blount. Eduardo Najera. Carlos Rogers. Calbert Cheaney. Tom Gugliotta. Ike Diogu.

At some point in time, I bet I thought every name above might be able to make something happen and turn things around. Rooting for the equivalent of an NBA farm team is no easy task. The Golden State Warriors were basically the D-League before there was a D-League.

Then things changed.

The trade for Baron, Nellie returns, the most lopsided trade in NBA history, the playoff push, and then the upset. The year ended pretty anti-climactic but it was the best season I’ve witnessed and I’m hoping for more.

Tip-off in one hour…I’m out to the liquor store!

For the real scoop, check out GSoM, Fear the Beard, and Fast Break.

:: Download ::

San Quinn - Northern California
Various Blends - Chill feat. Del
Zion I - All Tha Way feat. Rasco & Knowmatic
Motion Man - I Crack Tall Ones feat. Mistah FAB
Spice 1 - Welcome to the Ghetto

I remember picking this up in the store when it came out and laughing out loud at how stupid it was. If he was smiling and this was like one of those cartoonish Thizz covers, it would be one thing, but check out his mug. 4-Tay’s gumbo recipe calls for a yacht, cell phone, lobster, a rolex, and one bad bitch. Sounds delicious.

Z-Man - Crumb of the Bay

This guy’s music is pretty low budget but it’s dope and I really hope he can get to the next level. The Bay probably has more weirdo’s per capita than anywhere in the world, so he should be alright. I’ll spare you my poor writing and let you check out O-Dub’s little bio:

In most other cities, Z-Man would be an anomaly of the most bugged proportions, but soon you realize that he’s just a product of his Bay Area environment. E-40, Digital Underground, Illa-dapted, Del–they’re all part of Z-Man’s eclectic lineage. As he says on “Free Spirited,” he’s “fresh out the ghetto/I’m a living cartoon,” and indeed, Z-Man bounces crazy, comedic lines off the wall like a Looney Tune. Armed with Moss’s quirky funk-filled tracks, Z invents a lot of new slanguage and pops off with his alter ego Gingerbread Man. “White Girls Wit Ass” speaks for itself. His rhymes lurch and jump with a drunken rhythm, but his stinging punch lines let you know he’s always in control. Z-Man’s own Hieroglyphics family have long been the masters of unpredictable creativity in the hip-hop kingdom, and Z’s setting out to be the new crown/clown prince. –Oliver Wang

Z-Man - Party On

Z-Man - Glued feat. Tajai

I’m sure every sports fan with a computer has heard the story about the fag fashion designer, Marc Ecko, and his plan to brand an asterisk on Bonds’ #756 ball. Now he’s turned down an offer from former Warrior and all-around cool guy, Gilbert Arenas, who wants to buy the ball and do the right thing. But fear not, people of San Francisco, Arenas has a nice consolation plan for you. From Arenas’ blog:

“Right now, since Marc Ecko hasn’t replied about the Barry Bonds ball to me I’m going to do something different about it. It looks like Coca-Cola has dropped out as one of the color ways for the GilIIZeros, so I’m going to do a 756 shoe, the Barry Bonds shoe. It’s going to be the San Francisco colors and it’s only coming out in the San Francisco Bay area. It’s going to be a giveaway, it’s not going to be sold. I’m going to buy probably like 8,000 pairs of shoes and when I come to town, I’m giving them away for free. This is still in the making. Please, for all the San Francisco people that want the 756 shoe to happen, write to adidas and let them know how excited you are for it so they can start making it. Free giveaway, baby. Free giveaway. Since Marc Ecko doesn’t want to give the ball back to San Francisco, I’ll give you 756 in a shoe.”

I’m glad Arenas has one of the league’s top selling jerseys while Echo gear collects dust on the racks of Ross and Marshalls.

Lil B from The Pack, Eddie Rap Life, Philosopher and Compton Ass Terry - Swear They Do

This song is nothing spectacular, but the beat knocks, courtesy of Travis Barker. Caught this one at ProHipHop, where Clyde Smith covers product placement like no other.

Mikey Mo the MC

“Mikey Mo’s Theme“

Mikey Mo @ MySpace

Back in the day, when I was young, I’m not a kid anymore…..

After many unsuccessful attempts over time to find some dusty video archives, I have struck gold. Somebody finally uploaded some clips of the original Bay Area hip hop show, ‘Home Turf‘. The content of the videos is weak, but I’ll take what I can get at this point. The year was 1985 and I really don’t remember anything other than Dominique di Prima’s name, but I still think about this show 23 years later. Looking back, this show is hella corny, but it was one of a kind back then.

Little exists on Home Turf on the internets, but I did find one article on SFGate.com that has the other few videos from YouTube posted up. Head over and see some white kids bombing down hills and their Nash skateboards, a b-boy battle in San Jose, and some funky rhymes from Lady D and Slick Rick (not the Slick Rick).

Click Here To Enlarge

Nothing groundbreaking to the residents here, but it’s always nice get a little national shine. Amp Live of Zion I takes Scratch on a mini tour of Oakland in the final issue.

Who the hell is Prince Ali? I’ve never heard of this guy in my life. It looks like he’s down with Heiro and this song is dope, so I guess I should get familiar. If your like me and know nothing about dude, check out his Myspace page.