There’s a lot to be said about Tha Alkaholiks’ debut album 21 & Over. To start, West Coast veteran King Tee helped put the crew on the Hip Hop map by featuring them twice on his Tha Triflin’ Album in early 1993. He naturally appears on two tracks of 21 & Over as well, including the opener and second single, “Likwit.”
Another important point: Madlib received early production credit on this album under the Lootpack name—some of the first official beats from the now-revered producer. He also jumps on the mic with his Lootpack partner Wildchild on the track “Turn Tha Party Out.”
But perhaps most importantly, the trio—lyricists James “J-Ro” Robinson and Rico “Tash” Smith, along with emcee/producer/DJ Eric “E-Swift” Brooks—remains largely underrated. This short but tightly crafted debut from Tha Liks is as close to a perfect album as you can get. Unlike much of the gangsta rap dominating the West Coast in the early ’90s, this record focuses on partying—but that doesn’t mean the lyricism takes a back seat. All three members are top-tier verbal acrobats. Meanwhile, E-Swift shines behind the boards, delivering beats that keep the energy high and the party moving. It’s surprising he didn’t receive more recognition for his production skills after this LP.
Enough said—the proof is in the pudding. You can stream the album below, check out the music videos, a killer live performance, and an interview. Lastly, you can dig into the samples right here on www.whosampled.com.
Full album on YouTube:
Stream on Spotify & Apple Music.
Videos:
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Make Room
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Mary Jane
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Only When I’m Drunk
Interview & Live Performance:
