“What’s That Cha Say about the West Coast?”
I’m now officially on-board the Pac Div bandwagon. I was late to the party, so I’m still making my way through their catalogue, but so far so great. A throwback to the heyday of non-gangster West Coast hip hop like Pharcyde, Hiero (before everyone other than Pep Love started repeating themselves) and maybe Anotha Level if they had more than one song.
Pac Div is short for Pacific Division. Their basketball fixation could fall flat in the hands of lesser MC’s, but Like, Mibbs and BeYoung make it work. It’s nice to be able to show some California love again. Without dressing up like Mad Max or having to hang out with Big Syke and Macadoshis.
Download Pac Div’s latest mixtape, Church League Champions, here. Go on. Click the scarlet letters already, Demi. It’s free, so all you gotta pay is attention.
“The Cool Kids are the truth.”
Homeboy Vice gave me this nugget of wisdom. He speaks no word of a lie. They take it back to the golden age of rap. Back when it was less about what you said and more about how fresh you said it. “Back when Jordans and a gold chain was livin’ it up.” When it was fun. Not every song needs to bring about revolution. Sometimes you just want a soundtrack to your tomfoolery, and Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish deliver just that.
I hesitate to call them old school. When I say they bring it back to basics I don’t mean in that nursery rhyme “to the guy in the red, say what I said” manner. They are by no means simple. Just minimalist. They strip their songs down to the bare essentials: boasts you wish you thought of over drums that’ll knock your fucking fillings loose. Sick kicks on the feet to match the sick kicks in the beat. Subject matter doesn’t stray far from these topics, and doesn’t need to. 90% of Cool Kids’ songs have me scrunch-faced and bobble-headed four bars in. The bobble is caused by the beats and the scrunch comes from lines like “…and then I get to thinkin’ I should hit the sink and get to flossin’…”
[Editor’s note for white kids: the use of the word floss here has a double meaning - to clean between one’s teeth while also implying showing off shall take place. Edutainment, motherbitches!]
If you find yourself fiending for the likes of Eric B. & Rakim, or Audio Two, ditch the nerds and try hangin’ with The Cool Kids. The self-proclaimed ‘Black Beastie Boys’ prove that they do make ‘em like they used to.
Keep it real and represent your nuts by downloading ‘Pennies’ for free here, their $0 four song Xmas EP here and, finally, head over to their blog and check out the downloads along the right hand side to complete your collection.
“Crewneck sweaters in the club, fuck a blazer…”
Don’t believe me?! How about Live Nation, Gman and Rizk, Spectrum and Livestock? We can’t all be liars. Fine! Don’t take our word for it. Ye of little faith can buy tickets here and bring your ass to Venue Nightclub on March 10th and be proven wrong in person. Despite Mibbs’ wardrobe suggestions, you may want to wear a hoodie over that crewneck sweater, this being rainy Vancouver and all. Pac Div and The Cool Kids under one roof pretty much ensures that it will be torn the fuck off.
At ease,
– Nuv
• The Cool Kids •
• Delivery Man • Pennies • Black Mags •
• Pac Div •
• Mayor • Shut Up (Featuring The Cool Kids) Teaser • Pac Div
