And we're back with the Eminem thing. Trust me, I know I'm talking about him a lot but there's a time and a place for these pulls, and this is one of them.
So it's 2003, right? I'm just beginning to cool off my Eminem phase when I watch the music video for Guilty Conscience for the first time. I distinctly remember laughing my ass off at Em's antics in said video, which was probably the point. Anyway, even though I wasn't necessarily paying attention to lyrics back then, for some reason Em's reference to one of our three hosts today stuck for the longest...
Yes, people: Apparently Jason Vasquez aka the Tribal Funkster bka Son Doobie moonlighted as an actual pornstar just before the noughties hit. And thus I concluded the segment where I address the elephant in the room.
Because, believe it or not, I actually think there's more to the legacy of Son Doobie and his two cohorts Ralph Medrano bka DJ Ralph M & Tyrone Pacheco bka Tomahawk Funk than just porn. I'm actually pretty adamant that the trio, collectively known as Funkdoobiest, are fully capable of producing classic hip hop moments that bang with the best of them, due to Ralph M being yet another protege of the legendary DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill. However, let this not be taken as our trio somehow being youngins back when they formed. Far from it, as Tomahawk Funk was an original member of Cypress Hill’s previous iteration by the name of DVX way back when, and Ralph M DJed for Kid Frost way before he met Muggs. These dudes had pedigree.
Nevertheless, the pieces were set in the early 90s, as Muggs was slowly but surely forming a new empire of sound that proved itself with hits like How I Could Just Kill A Man and the unfathomable Jump Around. All setting the bar for what to expect from a Soul Assassins record.
Another important note: It was around this time that Muggs became acquainted with a white dude from South Carolina named Todd Ray aka T-Ray who was heavily entrenched in the NY hip hop production scene. So much so that he became renowned as a 'beat king' of sorts. Afterwards, T-Ray got down with the Soul Assassins crew and was yet another asset to their sound. I tell you: The more I search into this guy's background, the more he becomes a mystery. But remember the name T-Ray, fellow lonely soul. He has quite the part to play later.
Back to our trio for a bit: Immediately after forming, they decided to throw their hat in Muggs' ring of hits. The result was a demo housing many of the joints that would end up on the album, including a street single called The Funkiest that had LA rocking, if Muggs is to be believed. When the sales pitch to Epic was made, the label once again opted not to go with the proposed single, instead choosing another song called Bow Wow Wow. That colossal mistake on Epic’s part is the first and major reason why Funkdoobiest never could reach the highs of their Soul Assassins brethren. Amid countless others, naturally. Nevertheless, there was still a ready-made album that our trio completed with Muggs, T-Ray, DJ Lethal from House of Pain and DJ Ralph M himself, making for the most complete sonic representation of the Soul Assassins collective to date, production-wise. And Epic took the bait.
This is Which Doobie U B?, boy/girl (pick one):
THE FUNKIEST
DJ Muggs helms the second single and it's painfully obvious why this had a towering street buzz: He KNOWS how to extract the most out of the mesh of samples to create a bombastic sound reminiscent of both the Hit Squad & the Bomb Squad. This, as is the case for the majority of the album, is a Son Doobie showcase, and you'll quickly find that he fits the B-Real archetype quite nicely: Even if he ain't necessarily as lyrical as B here, he has an abundance of personality that will sell you on the song. I love this shit.
BOW WOW WOW
The first single. I've already delved enough into the backstory behind this song so I'll just mention that this DJ Muggs production is a bit more fast-paced, even though it retains the same elements that made the previous beat so enjoyable: An emphasis on dusty drums and funky talkbox bits. Son Doobie here shows that he can liven up a party pretty well. 2 for 2.
FREAK MODE
DJ Ralph M debuts on his act's album with a clear example that he learned from Muggs pretty damn well: An earwormy mix of piano keys and brief guitar stabs will have your head nodding like crazy in no time. This also marks the first time Tomahawk Funk shows up on the record and I must say, his tag team with SD is the right amount of infectious. This might be one of the better party jams I've heard from the Soul Assassins collective, and that's definitely saying something.
I'M SHITTIN' ON 'EM
Ah yes, the advent of Todd Ray. T over here proves that he adapts to his environments well as he crafts a beat that slides comfortably into the album's overall turn-up mood. SD presents us with yet another enjoyable showing from him that houses a clear example of how to keep consistent with your subject matter without sounding boring. The 4th home run in a row!
WHO'S THE DOOBIEST
I must say: SD and T-Ray are creating quite the winning tandem here. And they brought TF along for the ride this time as both MCs wreck yet another infectious, claustrophobic and minimalist T-Ray dedication to the ways of rocking out. You'll love this album, so far!
DOOBIE TO THE HEAD
DJ Ralph M brings us his second beat for the evening along with an impressive low-key scratching display and it's a much-needed slow down from lit mode, with that jeep-rattling funk that perfect for cannabis sessions. Our duo rise to the occasion with yet another set of battle rhymes that may seem inconsequential at first, until you realize that the real achievement is the pair's flow: It matches the beats presented to them perfectly, thereby enhancing the overall product immensely. I also must note that Son Doobie has his partner clearly beat in this regard.
WHERE'S IT AT
The thing that immediately jumps out at you when you first hear this T-Ray concoction is the dominant voice of Pete Rock's sampled ad-lib, towering above the abyss of samples meshed together in a return to the album-length ode to having fun. And it's here that Mr. Tyrone chooses to unload an exhibition of flow that completely stumps Son Doobie and stops him from even attempting to compete with his elder fellow. Still some good shit from the Tribal Funkster.
WOPBABALUBOP (FEATURING B-REAL)
T-Ray now gets to produce a beat rendered raucous due to the prevalent sampled vocals for the lead MCs of Funkdoobiest and Cypress Hill to demolish. And oh dear God, do they ever: B-Real came cocked and loaded with a flurry of cartoonishly-delivered BNB that'll knock your head clean off, while the Doobies bat clean up. Oddly, T-Funk's closing sex raps fumble the ball for his end while Son Doobie stays the braggadocio course in the closing verse. Overall, another successful Soul Assassins posse cut.
THE PORNO KING
Here's the skit that officially solidified Son Doobie's reputation for being a porn-crazed pothead. Fuck this shit.
UH C'MON YEAH!
Contrary to what you may presume after the previous skit, this is yet another infectious display of party braggadocio for dolo by Son Doobie, effectively curated by DJ Ralph M with an organ-heavy thumper. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how the cohesiveness of these tracks ultimately lifts the quality of the overall package. Once again, this is a song you have to listen to in order to appreciate.
HERE I AM
Tyrone has apparently had enough of Son Doobie hogging all the spotlight, so he gives him and his significant other a powerful batch of weed and shoves both of them into the nearest closet, fulfilling his master plan of finally getting them to lose their virginity to each other, while he relishes in the opportunity to have a solo track all to himself. DJ Ralph M provides a funk-heavy instrumental, successfully relaying the sound one thinks of when hearing the name Tomahawk Funk for the first time. And I must say, TF doesn't squander the alley-oop at all. Good shit.
FUNK'S ON ME
And for the final track of the album, DJ Ralph M really earns his Funky Mexican moniker as he chefs up a grimy goofy beat that prompts SD (fresh from a breakup that breaks the heart of every sex-crazed teen I'm messing with using this corny ass analogy) to unleash his parting party BNBs for the evening. Here's where I tell you that this post has been absolute hell to write and boy am I glad to be done with it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Funkdoobiest should've been the third home run for the Soul Assassins crew, since they effctively employ everything that made fellow SA alumni Cypress Hill & House of Pain so damn addictive. Alas, it wasn't meant to be, as the fuckwads at Epic made quite the crucial series of mistakes that stumped the Doobies' momentum dead in its tracks. Nevertheless, this debut of theirs sold strongly enough to warrant a sequel two years later. Which is a good thing, because Ralph, Jason & Tyrone can be quite the force when clicking, which they satisfyingly do for the most part: Son Doobie handles lead MC duties with the required confidence and consistency, while Tomahawk Funk is as competent in the backing MC role as Sen Dog, in my humble opinion. I am perfectly aware of the magnitude of that last statement. However, the most important and crucial member to the equation remains DJ Ralph M, who held the product altogether extremely well. You know, such is the forgotten role of the DJ/producer.
WORTH IT? Oh, don't you dare hesitate for a second. Especially if you are in the market for some chunky party boom bap. If you're here looking for me to talk about Soulja Boy's rants on the Breakfast Club, then who the fuck brought you here?
For more Soul Assassins goodness, git. Funkdoobiest cult-members are to come hither.
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