For the first time ever, Cellblock Records is available digitally and on all streaming platforms! Cellblock Records was an Oakland, CA-based record label in the mid-90’s which boasted a collection of high-powered artists like Bad N-Fluenz (Rappin’ Ron & Ant Diddley Dog), Mr. ILL, FM Blue and others. The label had deep connections with Too Short’s imprint Dangerous … [Read more...] about Too Short Releases The Cell Block Records Compilation Greatest Hits Featuring Ant Banks, Bad N-Fluenz, 2Pac & Spice 1
Ant Banks
E-40’s “Captain Save-A-Hoe” Talks Being The Ghetto Superhero, Saving The Notorious B.I.G., & Creating T.W.D.Y. With Ant Banks
Kev Dickson, also known as the original "Captain Save-A-Hoe" and Captain Save'M, is a worldwide icon in large part due to the landmark 1993 song and video "Captain Save A Hoe" from E-40 and The Click off The Mail Man EP released on Sick Wid It Records. Captain Save'M is credited with launching and branding projects for E-40, Master P, The Click, B-Legit, and T.W.D.Y. to name a … [Read more...] about E-40’s “Captain Save-A-Hoe” Talks Being The Ghetto Superhero, Saving The Notorious B.I.G., & Creating T.W.D.Y. With Ant Banks
In The Trunk: Too Short, Shorty B & Ant Banks “Black Panther” (DubCNN Interview)
Pioneering west coast rapper Too Short’s “In the Trunk” song bumps majestically during the opening scene of Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther movie. When the Marvel Studios movie opens, it’s Oakland, California circa 1992, with kids playing basketball in the park, as the bay area anthem “In the Trunk” serves as the soundtrack to sonically epitomize an era and time period. It was … [Read more...] about In The Trunk: Too Short, Shorty B & Ant Banks “Black Panther” (DubCNN Interview)
All Rapped Up: An Explicative Analysis of Rappin’ Ron & Ant Diddley Dog
Rappin' Ron and Ant Diddley Dog were a talented and ferocious Oakland, CA hip-hop duo known as the Bad N-Fluenz click. The promising West Coast prodigies were an integral part of the mid-to-late 90’s Oakland gangsta rap scene, which at the time was a thriving underground hotbed with the likes of Too Short, Bad-N-Fluenz, the Luniz, and 3xKrazy highlighting … [Read more...] about All Rapped Up: An Explicative Analysis of Rappin’ Ron & Ant Diddley Dog
The Big Badass: A Comprehensive Illustration of Ant Banks
Ant Banks has a career spanning through four decades and a litany of Gold and Platinum success with artists including Too Short, Ice Cube, E-40, Mack 10, Snoop Dogg, Spice 1 and others. While often overlooked in conversations about west coast producers, Ant Banks productions and mixes are on par with, if not exceeding, those of his peers like Dr. Dre and DJ Quik. By the … [Read more...] about The Big Badass: A Comprehensive Illustration of Ant Banks
So Funky It Stanks: A Microscopic Look Into Too Short And The Dangerous Crew
The Dangerous Crew, both as a production crew and rap group, were introduced to the world in 1992 on the Shorty the Pimp album by Too Short. The production squad included Shorty B (bass, guitar, drums), Pee-Wee (keyboards, drums, guitar), Ant Banks (keyboards, drum programming, mixing), Sean G (live drums). Rappers in the outfit consisted of Too Short, Ant … [Read more...] about So Funky It Stanks: A Microscopic Look Into Too Short And The Dangerous Crew
Too Short Lists Top 5 Records; Talks Dangerous Crew Reunion (Part 2 Of The DubCNN Interview)
The Dangerous Crew Movement is still grinding along, and still growing. The response to our Dangerous Crew features has continued to surpass all expectations and the unprecedented interest has only fuelled the desire to keep it moving forward with more interviews. Features with other members of the Dangerous Crew over the last few years including Shorty B (Part 1 | Part … [Read more...] about Too Short Lists Top 5 Records; Talks Dangerous Crew Reunion (Part 2 Of The DubCNN Interview)
Too Short On Working With Ant Banks & Building The Dangerous Crew (Part 1 Of The DubCNN Interview)
Don’t think we forgot! The Dangerous Crew Movement is still grinding along, and still growing. The response to our Dangerous Crew features has continued to surpass all expectations and the unprecedented interest has only fuelled the desire to keep it moving forward with more interviews. Features with other members of the Dangerous Crew over the last few years … [Read more...] about Too Short On Working With Ant Banks & Building The Dangerous Crew (Part 1 Of The DubCNN Interview)
Q&A With Rappin 4-Tay: Legend Talks ‘Still Standing’ Album, Reminisces About Career (The BallerStatus Interview)
Rappin' 4-Tay made his debut on Too Short's 1988 album, Life Is...Too Short, and the Fillmore, San Francisco rapper would never look back. After a short prison stint, 4-Tay started off his solo career with Rappin' 4-Tay Is Back in 1991. Three years later, the follow-up album Don't Fight the Feelin came, which included the hits "Playaz Club" (which hit #36 on the Billboard … [Read more...] about Q&A With Rappin 4-Tay: Legend Talks ‘Still Standing’ Album, Reminisces About Career (The BallerStatus Interview)
Shorty B: The Legendary Producer Many Don’t Know (The BallerStatus Interview)
Many people know Shorty B as Too Short's bass player on numerous songs throughout the 90's such as "I'm A Player," "I Want To Be Free (That's The Truth)," "Buy You Some," and "Paystyle." But Shorty B has produced on more gold and platinum records than most producers could ever dream of. He has a vast track record that boasts gold albums from artists as different as Spice 1, … [Read more...] about Shorty B: The Legendary Producer Many Don’t Know (The BallerStatus Interview)