In 1995 Kevin "DJ Battlecat" Gilliam, historic producer from South Central Los Angeles linked to the g-funk sound, is expected to release his solo album on the Warner Bros. subsidiary Maverick label, Nonetheless, the album didn't come out until 1999. It's one of the slickest records of the period and one of my favorites of those released in the nineties under the g-funk genre.
Battlecat combines well-known names (Ras Kass, Kam, Dresta, Dana Dane) and lesser-known names (practically all the others) in a masterfully produced 68 minute album, there's a fantastic soundscape and the boys take advantage of the opportunity to carve some authentic gems, surprisingly it's the lesser-known guys who make the best tracks.
Of note is the presence of some of the most important girls in the West Coast scene such as Yo-Yo ("Set Trippin'"; she's among the few guests featured in Ice Cube's classic debut, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted"), Peeps Game ("Reality Check"; ghostwriter for Above the Law, also collaborated with MC Ren, Kokane and K-Ci & JoJo) Michel'le ("Out Here") and Jewell ("Master Plan"), the latter two both featured on 2Pac's double album "All Eyez on Me".
After starting very strong in the first twenty minutes, the album has a physiological inflection without decreasing in quality, thanks to the skill behind the keyboards of the LA Legend and the continuous change of voices and flows on the mic which guarantee a good variety and continuous freshness to the product. In 2012 a limited edition version was released for the Japanese market with several bonus tracks, including one with Battlecat's brother and one with Snoop Dogg. A must for g-funk fans. 8/10.
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