Mount Westmore, “Snoop Cube 40 $hort.”
What happens when four of California’s most legendary MCs come together to form a hip-hop supergroup for the ages? You get Mount Westmore, featuring Angelonos Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg and the Bay Area’s own Too $hort and E-40. Snoop Cube 40 $hort is the group’s debut LP—not including a prior collection of songs previously set loose exclusively on a blockchain-based streaming platform.
Snoop Cube 40 $hort
Mount Westmore
Death Row, Dec. 9
8/10
Fans who got the chance to listen to that collection, called Bad MFs, will recognize a number of tracks on Snoop Cube 40 $hort. However, there’s an equal amount of fresh material, making it a worthwhile listen regardless. The album opens with “California,” a G-funk banger with synth fading in and out like the doppler effect. All four rappers express their love and pride in the West Coast hip-hop scene, with E-40 giving a standout verse with his iconic unmatchable delivery.
“Motto” follows suit with low keyboard synths, light clapping snares and bass drum pickup as each MC states his life motto of living hard while living large. “Big Subwoofer” comes on as a more playful party joint, with Snoop, E-40 and Too $hort delivering braggadocios bars—while Ice Cube takes a harder shift into a sort of action movie role. P-LO, of The HBK Gang and also a Bay Area local, takes the lead on the hook for “Too Big,” as Mount Westmore reflects on the members’ legendary status as hip-hop icons and their larger than life personas.
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An organ flourish opens “Activated,” as heavy bass pickup is followed with clapping snares. Each MC talks about needing to know when to step up to defend his status as the greatest. The song focuses on the nature of critics and challengers as “paper tigers,” seldom posing any sort of threat to these heavyweights. “Have A Nice Day (Fuck You)” features gorgeous vocal performances from Dem Jointz and Jenn Em. The low bass melody is graced with the occasional soft electric guitar strumming overlaying the slow, swinging percussion.
“Ghetto Gutter” has all four MCs appreciating how growing up in the hood built them into who they are today, with keyboard strikes and hand percussion paired with clapping snares. Grand piano chords kick off “I Got Pull,” where a playful bouncy tempo rides in and Mount Westmore raps about the overwhelming sphere of influence it holds locally—Too $hort is about to get a street named fifer him in Oakland!—and abroad. “Do My Best” is exactly the kind of motivational track that the title spells out for itself, with a dripping keyboard melody that melts in your ears.
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The quartet then imparts some wisdom on”Lace You Up,” where soft plinking tones turn into a low keyboard melody and heavy bass. Each rapper gives insight into the realities of the harsh world that young people tend to overlook due to feelings of invincibility, without ever coming off as patronizing. The whistling tones and strong snare and kick drum pairing make for a memorable hyphy joint on “Tribal,” followed by the rumbling synths and claps of “How Many.” Both tracks deal with street politics, with the former discussing loyalties and the latter exploring the risks of snitches.
As the album winds down, “On Camera” offers eerie string plucks and a taunting chorus. The group explores the wide plethora of ways mass surveillance has infiltrated our lives.
With its debut album, Mount Westmore more than lives up to the high expectations, crafting an exceptional embodiment of West Coast hip-hop.
Follow hip-hop critic Tim Hoffman at Twitter.com/hipsterp0tamus.
