The 4th of July is an annual reminder that there's nothing like a great neighborhood cookout. Everyone loves having a blast with their neighbors, including rap artists who sometimes choose to share their festivities over a beat. From communities uniting together for a cause to east coast artists bridging the gap by reinventing one of their hits, the West Coast Posse Cut is a staple of dope hip-hop. Here's a few we like to bump while celebrating our nation's birth.
The West Coast Rap All Stars – “We're All in the Same Gang” 1990
One year after The Stop The Violence Movement released the gigantic east coast-centric posse cut “Self Destruction,” the west coast had their moment of unity with “We're All in the Same Gang.” A strong statement against rising gang violence, it remains a favorite posse cut as well as a snapshot of a west coast long past.
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The Luniz f/ Bay Area All Stars – “I Got 5 On It (Clean Bay Ballas Remix)” 1995
As classic as the original is, there's something very special about how just about anyone can sound great over this beat. Some of the west's finest take turns putting five on it, ten of which come from Digital Underground's Shock G, who does double duty, giving us a visit from Humpty Hump as well.
Ol' Dirty Bastard f/ E40 & MC Eiht – “Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Studio Ton Remix)” 1995
While Ol' Dirty Bastard was always reliable for bringing a certain griminess to his guest appearances, here MC Eiht and E-40 bring their brand of west coast funk to the iconic “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” The middle ground reached brings something new out of each of them, making for an ideal cross-coastal creation.
Lyrics Born f/ E40 & Casual – “Callin Out (Remix)” 2004
In 2004, Lyrics Born's infectious “Callin' Out” was such an irresistible mega-hit that it transcended the Cali underground to be heard everywhere from rock stations to even a soda commercial. For the remix, Born assembled Bay godfather E-40 (making his 3rd appearance on our countdown) and Hieroglyphics favorite Casual for a blockbuster remix worthy of its pedigree.
D-Lo f/ E40, Beeda Weeda and The Jacka – “No Hoe (Remix)” 2009
One of the first truly exciting innovative sounds to emerge post-Hyphy, D-Lo's “No Hoe” was a promising glimpse into a future ready to explode. Joining him for one of the best selected posse cut rosters in recent memory are (of course) E-40, Beeda Weeda and The Jacka whose distinct flows weave through the beat with ease.
Nocando f/ Murs, Dumbfoundead, Intuition and Open Mike Eagle – “Hurry Up and Wait (Remix)” 2010
The start-and-stop rigidness of the “Hurry Up and Wait (Remix)” beat (produced by Nobody) allows a lot of options for how to approach it, lucky for us five of the most distinct voices in the west coast underground have the skills and charisma to put on a proverbial flow clinic.
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