Shadow Of Death

BYAngus Walker44.9K Views
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Today's #TBT takes you back to the early Black Hippy days with "Shadow of Death," from Jay Rock's 2010 mixtape "Black Friday."

We're just hours away from the release of Jay Rock's 90059, and to prepare you for Rock's second studio album, we're taking it back to 2010, when TDE was just starting to make waves in Southern Cal. Today, we received one of 90059's most anticipated tracks, "Vice City," featuring the whole Black Hippy gang, and our throwback tune, "Shadow of Death," is just a reminder of how far L.A.'s finest foursome has come. 

The year's 2010, and though TDE had been around for about six years, the label hadn't made too much noise outside of the L.A. underground. In fact, its biggest artist was arguably Jay Rock, who had been signed since 2005. Black Friday was his 10th mixtape, and it remains an essential part of his extensive catalog. "Shadow of Death" was a Black Friday bonus cut and the tape's only track that featured all 4 members of Black Hippy, the crew that would become the face of TDE, and, by extension, the West Coast renaissance. 

How does "Vice City" compare to this classic throwback? Share your all-time favorite Black Hippy posse cut in the comments. 

Quotable Lyrics

This ain't the way my life 'bout to end
So I'm quick to grab my pen and
Give 'em something my people sure to feel
Give 'em something that I know is all the way real

- Kendrick Lamar


About The Author
<b>Feature &amp; News Contributor</b> Brooklyn via Toronto writer and music enthusiast. Angus writes reviews, features, and lists for HNHH. While hip-hop is his muse, Angus also puts in work at an experimental dance label. In the evenings, he winds down to dub techno and Donna Summer.