Pioneering East Palo Alto producer, artist, and sonic architect ProHoeZak officially releases his long-awaited solo album Artificial Ignorance via CME Records/Empire, a 16-track masterclass in California funk, hyphy, and hip-hop excellence.
Bringing together some of the most iconic names in the game—Too $hort, Mount Westmore, E-40, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, B-Legit, Dru Down, Ying Yang Twins, and more—Artificial Ignorance is a no-holds-barred celebration of West Coast culture and ProHoeZak’s undeniable stamp on it.
For over two decades, ProHoeZak has quietly shaped the sound of the West. His fingerprints can be found across classics from 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, Ice Cube, and the explosive Mount Westmore collective. A true studio general, he’s produced, written, and engineered for some of the most respected artists in hip-hop, while also collaborating with Akai Pro on the West Coast Funk expansion pack—cementing his role as a torchbearer for the funk-driven legacy of the Bay.
Now, with Artificial Ignorance, he steps from behind the boards to deliver his own full-length solo opus—a project as unfiltered and dynamic as the culture it represents.
The momentum started with the high-energy lead single “What About Me?” featuring Too $hort and Atlanta’s Ying Yang Twins—a coast-to-coast party anthem that lit up streaming platforms and club rotations earlier this year. With its trunk-rattling bass and pimpish charisma, the single reminded fans that ProHoeZak isn’t just a producer—he’s a force behind the mic too.
The album’s depth lies in its intentional collaborations. Too $hort reappears on the breezy motivational anthem “Money On My Mind,” while Kurupt delivers sharp street wisdom on both “Didn’t Mean To Call You A Bitch” and “Tonight”. E-40 brings his trademark linguistics and game to “Box Chevs & Blickys,” and the monumental “The Introduction” features the entire Mount Westmore crew—Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too $hort—making it one of the most anticipated posse cuts of the year.
Each song builds on a foundation of real musicianship, G-funk roots, and MPC-laced craftsmanship that only someone with ProHoeZak’s résumé could deliver.