It's About Time

This 2003 compilation conveniently pulls together Too $hort’s first three releases — 1985’s Don’t Stop Rappin’, 1986’s Raw, Uncut, and X-Rated, and 1987’s Players. Confusingly, the song sequence jumbles the albums' original track listings, but it doesn’t impinge on enjoyment since all three releases share a sonic imprint. The mini-albums were originally self-released on Too $hort’s 75 Girls label, and distributed on cassette throughout the streets of the Bay Area. They sold extremely well for small-time cassette releases, and it’s not hard to see why. Even as a teenager, Too $hort had a fully-formed style, and his slow, no-nonsense, bass-heavy beats were a whole new look for West Coast hip-hop, which spent most of the ‘80s consumed by speedy electro sounds. Of course, Too $hort’s signature was his vulgar raps. “B. S**ks D.,” “Coke Dealers” and “BJ Betty” were not just radical for their time — they were a gas to listen to, and still are. The songs often run close to ten minutes, leaving the impression that Too $hort could rap forever, provided, of course, the beat was fat and the money was right.