"The reason I formed 213 with Warren G and Nate Dogg is because Richie Rich had a group called 415. I
was lovin' his style and voice which I incorporated into my style when I first started rapping."- Snoop
Doggy Dogg
This statement says quite a lot about Oakland rapper Richie Rich. Snoop, arguably the most recognized
personality in all of hip-hop stating his first influence and rhyme style was derived from an underground
rapper that the world has yet to be introduced to. Well, the entire hip-hop audience is on the verge of
becoming fully intimate with the Bay Area's best kept secret when the man known as RR (Dubble R) drops
his solo national debut album Seasoned Veteran on Def Jam Records. This album is rather historic moment
for both the New York based label and RR, being that they chose a longtime Bay area legend as the first
Bay Area act ever signed to Def Jam.
The story of Richie Rich is both sad and Cinderella-ish at the same time. After Too Short became more than just a local hero on the mic, a small number of other
area rappers came out but couldn't quite escape the shadow of the reigning rap king. But in winter of 1989, the streets of Oakland were surprised by a different
sound of a hard-core gangsta group called 415 (named after the then Oakland area code). Group members D-Loc, DJ Darryl and JED were all celebrated, but it
was the distinct raspy voice and dope game related lyrics of a young Richie Rich that really enthralled listeners. The group's album 41Fivin was a Bay Area classic
selling 147,000 units. Like all groups, fans have their favorite members, and with RR clearly being the most lauded member he capitalized on their newfound
popularity releasing a solo album, Don't Do It, to help increase his bank account and the group's sales.
Like all great rappers, RR possessed deep lyrics that intimated the listener with the subject matter at hand, and he also had the voice; that distinguishing factor that
has made Run-DMC, Rakim, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Chuck D so recognizable. But it was around the summer of 1990 that RR failed to foresee his gift as a
future investment regardless of constant praise. After Too Short, RR was next in line to be what Spice 1, E-40 and the Luniz became, but was arrested and sent
to prison on drug soliciting conviction after which 415 signed with Priority Records. "When I went to jail they (the group) figured I wasn't coming, and they never
told me they were going to do an album out without me," says Rich. "A friend of mine recently had gotten a job at Priority and when she called, the other cats
never told her I was in jail and proceeded to sign the contract without me."
Rich never appeared on that album and was replaced by a lesser skilled rhyme sayer which may have led to the dismal sales and group's demise. After his release
from prison Rich was approached by several new labels popping up throughout California, but the rapper chose to lay low and contemplate his future. ÒWhen I
first got out, Bryan Turner (CEO of Priority) offered me $100,000 to get back with the group, but they were shady and I couldn't do no more music with them,"
claims Rich. Disgruntled by these developments in addition to his manager having him locked in a contract, Rich gave up rapping and went back to hustling.
After securing the money from his "street funds" to buy his way out his contract, RR subsequently crept back into the rap scene making feature appearances on a
number of records, most notably The Luniz "5 On It" remix and on longtime friend Tupac Shakur's multi-platinum albums Me Against The World (Heavy In The
Game) and All Eyez On Me ("Rather Be Yo Nigga" and "Ain't Hard 2 Find"). Because of the positive response to his cameos, Richie put together his own
underground album entitled 1/2 Thang and released it on his own record label Oakland Hills 41510 (named after the former and current area codes).
With a renewed spirit and vigor to finally put his mack hand down where it belongs, Seasoned Veteran is the culmination of seven years worth of true game
related material that many MCs have fronted or faked on the mic. With 16 tracks of bass driven mob music, funk and Crystal laced rhythms of producers Mike
Mosely, Ric Roc, Doug Rasheed, Lev Berlak and former 415 partner DJ Darryl Anderson, Richie Rich's silky flows and verbal dexterity rides the beats like
Mario Andretti handles a formula one race car.
The album's first single "Let's Ride" is a simple freestyle introduction to RR's view on how West Coast heads like himself get down, while songs like "Fresh Out"
and "Real Pimp" cut to the core of the pros-n-cons of street hustling and takes aim at those who bit his style so much that it seemed he "was donating game to
these niggas like I was Red Cross." "Guess Who's Back" and "Do G's" show Rich in classic form as he rewinds time to let consumers know who was the original
rhymer about old school cars, rims and the days of way back.
Seasoned Veteran also enlists some heavyweight reinforcements to help solidify it's grounding as a sure shot success. RR trades verses with Tupac on "Niggas
Done Changed", E-40 on "It's On", and The Luniz on "Questions". "Even before my folks put me down, people kept asking me when I was coming out. And
after making my cameos, the demand just grew and I couldn't let my folks down. So I put out 1/2 Thang to give 'em a little somthing to tie them over until
Seasoned Veteran was ready to come out," says Rich.
Seasoned Veteran will no doubt be one of the tighter hip-hop albums of the year, but what really carries it to another plateau beyond the lateset album with just
beats and rhymes, is the artist. Richie Rich is the first rapper with gangsta content who has an extensive vocabulary (slang and standard English), coupled with the
ability to not become a victim of his subject matter- i.e. become larger than his own hype. As a seasoned veteran of both the rap and street life that he has
immersed himself in, Richie Rich remains rooted in one of his famous credos "the game is as hard as wood, but macks don't splinter!"
WHORIDAS COMIN OUT SOON SO CHECK FOR IT THERE PHAT!
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They're At It Again
M.F.M.
No Turning Back
Mexican Power
Aqui Para Frank V.
Remember That Shit
One Summer Night
Kickin' Back
Firme Hina
Loked Out Latinos
Uno Ochenta Y Siete
Life Of A Gangster
First Day Of School
Hard Time
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Tracks:
Proper Dos: Sumthin Ta Bump
Jew Lay: Ring My Bell
Kid Frost: La Raza (La Raza Mix)
Mellow Man Ace: Mentirosa
Proper Dos: Mexican Power
Hi-C [featuring] Tony A: I'm Not Your Puppet
A Lighter Shade Of Brown ([featuring] Shiro [with an introduction by] Huggy Boy: On A Sunday Afternoon (radio mix)
War [featuring] Hispanic M.C.'s: Don't Let No One Get You Down (extended version)
A Lighter Shade Of Brown: Homies
Proper Dos: One Summer Night
Hi-C [featuring] Tony A: Froggy Style
War & A Lighter Shade Of Brown, Hispanic M.C.'s, Proper Dos, Kid Frost: Rap Declares War (Club "Extended Version")
Proper Dos: Sumthin Ta Bump (radio version)
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