By the ’80s, LA rappers had shown fans that they could contribute to a genre that was dominated by New York artists. However, rappers such as MC Hammer and Too Short, among others, made sure that The Bay wasn’t left out of the conversation. I would like to speak on Short Dog and his first two nationwide albums.
Born To Mack, Too Short’s first album under Jive, was released in 1987. East Oakland, his home turf, was where ’70s motion picture, The Mack was filmed. Just like the movie, the album identified with the town. The only difference: instead of Max Julien, it was Too Short using his youthful rap tone and 808’s to tell the story. It was big contrast to fellow East Oakland brethren, Hammer, in terms of music.
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“Party Time,” “Freaky Tales,” and “Dope Fiend Beat,” were my standout bangers from the album.
The production was futuristic and it is heavily sampled in today’s Hip Hop.
Too Short didn’t change his creative approach with his 1988 follow up, Life Is…Too $hort — even though he was criticized for over use of profanity. His response was, “Cusswords,” which consisted of the famous Ronald and Nancy Reagan lines.
“Ronald Reagan came up to me and said, “‘Do you have the answer/To the United States economy and a cure for cancer?’,” Short Dog spits.
“I said, ‘what are you doin in the White House if you’re not sellin cocaine?’/Ask your wife, Nancy Reagan, I know she’ll spit that game.”
“Don’t Fight the Feeling” was another memorable track. That’s one of the best battle of the sexes songs in Hip Hop history.
The success of Born To Mack and Life is…Too Short solidified Short, but it was no overnight ride. He makes reference to the journey in the title track.
“People wanna say it’s just my time/Brothers like me had to work for mine/Eight years on the mic and I’m not jokin’/Sir Too Short comin’ straight from Oakland.”
If you’re forty plus and a Too Short fan, chances are you’ve been a fan since the late ’80s. Chances are these two albums is where it started. But if you had to choose between the two…
In your opinion, which was the better album; ‘Born to Mack’ or ‘Life Is…Too $hort’?
Born to Mack – 67%
Life Is…Too $hort – 33%
