This is Michael Mixerr. Today I will review G-Len - Woop Woop.
G-Len (Len Smallwood) released his first and debut album on The Family Records from New York City, New York, and Dangerous Records in 1995 on CD and cassette. G-Len produced most this album himself. Ronnie Ron was instrumental in producing this album and getting him a small regional/nationwide distribution deal for his debut album. Ronnie Ron for the most part was not as “hands on” for this Dangerous Records album as he focused more on Tweedy Bird Loc, Jon Jon, Lil Hawk, B Brazy, Damu Ridas at the time.
Despite regional/nationwide distribution, Woop Woop more than less stayed in circulation as a hood classic in the Los Angeles area and Inglewood area. His album never really left beyond that area despite being a high demand album in the international market of music in countries such as Japan, Finland, Sweden, Algeria, Taiwan, Belgium, or Germany. His debut album goes for more than hundreds of dollars (> than $100).
Woop Woop is gangsta rap at its finest. It you are looking for tight beats over gangsta lyrics with a funky rhythm, then G-Len -Woop Woop is perfect for you. The beats themselves are funky. Gangsta rap fans will enjoy this album. Woop Woop has that Dangerous Records production sound since G-Len and Ronnie Ron produced most of this album. The production and sound is what made this particular album a hood classic in other words. Kenny McCloud served as the engineer for this album. Rodney Taylor was responsible for all those funky saxophone riffs you hear on this album.
Woop Woop is the Blood gang posse cut that defined this album and made it an LA hood classic in the year of 1995. G-Len, Mr. Dulo, June Dawg, and B Brazy each have a verse. Woop Woop was a term popularized by the Denver Lane Bloods and Figueroa Blood Gang. Bloods started the term “Woop Woop” which eventually became “Suwoop” in the 2000s. The song Woop Woop played a big part in music whether people are willing to admit that or not. Woop Woop was the LA anthem of 1995. G-Len produced Woop Woop.
A funky bounce beat is used to accompany the song Woop Woop. Samples used are George Clinton - Atomic Dog and Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce. Although Woop Woop tends to sample Atomic Dog by George Clinton more rather than sampling More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp. The beat sampled is More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp which is sped up to an upbeat pace. Apart from the beats, the flow was just sick!
G-Len comes back in yo ass with some gangsta shit on Woopin. The beats and flow was just sick. The production is low budget and so is the sound which is why the volume along with treble have been reduced. The beat sampled is More Bounce To The Ounce by Zapp which is slowed down to much delayed pace. (Not to mention Woopin was made back in the mid 90s.)
Woopin is underground rap at its finest. Woopin is can be motorized as an example of gangsta rap from the 90s. Woop Woop and this song are one of the best songs on the album. G-Len never hesitates to come out with that real gangsta shit. Especially on Woopin!
G-Len is an example of gangsta rap. Peep the first verses below.:
back up in yo ass with that gangsta shit
Westside
Woop Wooop
is my gangsta clique
I’m not jaggin,
just flagin saggin in my 66 rah with my 44 mag foo'!
For The Money is a sex, drugs, and money type of rap song. The song itself is centered around greed. Greed and capitalism are the themes. Greed is what exactly leads to downfall at the end of this song. The song ends up with 5 people dead due to a quintuple murder. G-Len seemed to have been inspired by Bone Thugs N Harmony when he wrote For The Money. For The Money is a classic example of gangsta rap. The saxophone riffs will send chills in your bones. The saxophone accompanying the beat is simply fantastic!
For those who did not know or are not currently away behind the backstory for the song, For The Money is based on a true life event about a quintuple murder in Inglewood, California on the date of June 15, 1992.
A quintuple murder occurred during a drug transaction on 3600 block of West 109th Street in Inglewood, California. The drug transaction went bad. So in the end, 5 people got killed. The victims were 3 men and 2 women that were found lying dead in an apartment in the 3600 block of West 109th Street around 3 PM. All 5 were killed execution style in the head. A "substantial" amount of cocaine was found in the apartment. It was a robbery gone bad.
Inglewood police detective Russ Enyeart believed that brothers Victor Herd (b. Nov 11, 1960 – ) and Purvis Herd (b. Apr 3, 1966 – ) were the shooters but as yet, they have yet to be charged. Both brothers have never been charged with the murder crime. There have been no leads as to who else was associated with this criminal act or crime committed.
From a June 16, 1992 edition of the LA Times newspaper is a news article with headlines “Crime: Neighbors report hearing bursts of gunfire. Police find the bodies of three men and two women.” claims this drug related killing to be “the worst homicide in the city's history”.
G-Len made a tribute to Big Laniak in the song For The Money. G-Len made tribute to those who were killed in the song For The Money as well. The people G-Len is making references to are the following: Nicole Elizabeth Thrower (Koko), Jimmy Lee Lewis (Kricket), Shane Wheeler (Laniak 1), Molynthia Smith (Mo), and Pedro Angel Lopez.
*Nicole Elizabeth Thrower (Koko) was 17 when she was killed during the deadly drug transaction occurring at the time. She was the youngest among the people who were murdered. Nicole “Koko” Elizabeth Thrower lived from January 29, 1975 – June 15, 1992.
*Jimmy Lee Lewis (Kricket) was 24 when he was murdered in the drug transaction. He was killed in the same block of West 109th Street along with others. Jimmy “Kricket” Lee Lewis lived from March 25, 1968 – June 15, 1992.
*Shane Wheeler (Laniak 1) was 23 when he was killed in the drug transaction. Shane “Laniak 1” Wheeler aka “Big Laniak” lived from July 26, 1968 – June 15, 1992. He was set up and killed. He is the older brother of Laniak II (Lil Laniak 2) who died on October 23, 1995 after being killed by Campanella Park Pirus.
*Molynthia Smith (Mo) was among 2 females that were murdered during a quintuple murder in Inglewood, California during the same drug transaction. Her age was 19. She lived from April 25, 1973 – June 15, 1992.
*Pedro Angel Lopez was an Inglewood drug dealer. He was 22 when he got killed. Laniak invited him into Nicole’s house to purchase cocaine.
G-Len pays tribute and homage to famous black heroes on Fallin’ Hero. For instance Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, OJ Simpson, Magic Johnson, Mark Morrison, Rick James, Oprah, and Montell Williams just to name a few. G-Len pays tribute to famous black heroes that dubbed as fallen heroes. The track itself has a negative vibe to it. Fallin’ Hero has a dope sample by Earth Wind & Fire.
The media can make you or break you by taking you up to the top and then snatch your ass right back down to the ground. If you are black, the media will snatch your ass even furthermore. G-Len expresses distrust against the justice system as he does not trust the system.
Pass Da Blunt seemed to have been inspired by Rick James, weed, and hip hop music. Many samples are incorporated into Pass Da Blunt making the song Pass Da Blunt an Inglewood style Jackin’ 4 Beats. The sample used in the background throughout Pass Da Blunt is Rick James - Bustin Out. The whole song seems to have been inspired by Rick James - Bustin Out henceforth the used sample. The hardest nigga with a Jerri kurl called B Brazy is on Pass Da Blunt. Pass Da Blunt showcases the best of G-Len and B Brazy.
G-Funk has a such a sick beat over pure dopeness. Overall G-Funk is a brehsive track. The beat is a sick beat.
The only problem with this album is the number of interludes included inside of this album. 3 interludes are plenty. 5 interludes are way too much as the interludes distract the listener away from the musical content on this album. That is why 5 interludes is way too redundant. That is the only flaw within this album by G-Len. 3 interludes would have been plenty. The production was low budget, but that does not prevent the Woop Woop album from being a hood classic.
Woop Woop is one of the many best albums from inside the golden era of G-Funk. Apart from the beats, the flows were just sick! There were no gimmicks within this album. G-Len and his homies expressed themselves by showing the world the crazy lifestyle they had/have been living. Shit was real. No acting or none of that fakeness you see or hear about today. Big corporate radio fans, TV fans, and mainstream fans will not like, value, or understand this album.
I rate this album, Woop Woop, 4/5****!
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