#30thAnniversary – Tha Alkaholiks “21 & Over”

by Kramos of The CooksAugust 30, 20232 min read

There is a lot to be said about Tha Alkaholiks debut album “21 & Over”. We can start by saying that west coast veteran King Tee put the crew on the Hip Hop map by giving them two apparitions on his “Tha Triflin’ Album“, at the beginning of 1993. He logically appears on two tracks on this project, including the opener and second single “Likwit”. We also need to talk about the fact that Madlib got some production credit under the Lootpack name, some of the first official beats from the revered producer. He additionally appears on the mic with his partner Wildchild on the “Turn Tha Party Out” track. But the main thing that we need to mention is how the trio composed of lyricists James “J-Ro” Robinson and Rico “Tash” Smith, along with emcee/producer/DJ Eric “E-Swift” Brooks is largely underrated. This short but concise first release from Tha Liks is as close as you can get from a perfect album. Far from the gangsta rap of most west coast projects of the early 90’s, the lyrics on this record are all about partying, but that doesn’t mean the emcees are not top notch lyrical acrobats. E-Swift on his side is on fire with the beats and creates the perfect backdrop to keep the party going. It’s hard to believe he didn’t get more praise for his capabilities behind the boards after that LP.

Enough said, the proof is in the pudding, so you can stream the album below, but also watch the videos + a dope live performance and an interview. Lastly, you can dig in the samples right here on www.whosampled.com.