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Ben Westhoff is an award-winning journalist and hip-hop contributor who has worked for almost every major media outlet: the Guardian, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Vice, NPR, L.A. Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, and more. He wrote the 2011 book Dirty South: OutKast, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and the Southern Rappers Who Reinvented Hip-Hop.

But none of that is why we wanted to talk to him. Westhoff’s new book is Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap. As the title implies, it tells the whole story of rap in Los Angeles and beyond, from the birth of the scene in the 1980s through the tragic deaths of Tupac, Biggie, and Eazy-E over a decade later. The book is fascinating and exhaustive, with tons of never-before-reported information about the lives and careers of the scene’s key players.

Tracks featured in this episode:

  1. Rudy Ray Moore, “Signyfying Monkey”
  2. Blowfly, “Rap Dirty”
  3. Kraftwerk, “Trans Europe Express”
  4. Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force, “Planet Rock”
  5. World Class Wreckin’ Cru, “Planet”
  6. 1986 Roadium 12” - VD Sermon, My Rubber, Funky Feet
  7. 1986 Roadium 12” - VD Sermon, My Rubber, Funky Feet
  8. “Weird Al” Yankovic, “Eat It”
  9. King Monkey, “Badd Mann Dann Rapp”
  10. Toddy Tee, “The Batteram”
  11. Shawn Brown - Rappin Duke
  12. The Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy”
  13. Uncle Jamm’s Army, “Dial-A-Freak”
  14. DJ DR. DRE - 85 LIVE FULL HOUR LONG SWAP MEET MIXTAPE NWA COMPTON
  15. DJ DR. DRE - GOIN OFF (FULL HOUR MIXTAPE) COMPTON NWA ROADIUM
  16. DJ DR. DRE - 86 IN THE MIX - COMPTON ROADIUM SWAP MEET MIXTAPE FROM 1986
  17. World Class Wreckin Cru ft. Dr. Dre - Surgery (dJ dAb Overdub) 1984 Live Performance
  18. World Class Wreckin’ Cru feat Michel ‘Le, “Turn off the Lights
  19. UK Fresh ‘86 - World Class Wreckin’ Cru
  20. World Class Wreckin Cru - Live Footage
  21. Ice Cube, “No Vaseline”
  22. Tairrie B, “Ruthless Bitch”
  23. Stereo Crew, “To Reach the Top”
  24. Willie Dee, “Fuck the KKK”
  25. Darryl Strawberry, “Chocolate Strawberry”
  26. Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Tuffest Man Alive”
  27. Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Dunk the Funk”
  28. Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Drink it Up”
  29. Eazy-E, “Fat Girl”
  30. Above the Law, “Pimp Clinic”
  31. Dr. Dre, “Let Me Ride”
  32. Above the Law, “Never Missin’ A Beat”
  33. Snoop Dogg, “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?”
  34. Snoop Dogg f/Dat Nigga Daz, “Murder Was The Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity)”
  35. Snoop Dogg f/Lil’ Malik, “Pump Pump”
  36. Snoop Dogg & Martha Stewart Make Ice Balls
  37. Snoop Dogg (Rapper) Co-Host on ‘The Price Is Right’… Wins Money for Charity! 2of3
  38. Snoop Dogg Lee Iacocca Chrysler Commercial
  39. Happy Socks x Snoop Dogg presents “The Art of Inspiration”
  40. Michel’le, “No More Lies
  41. J.J. Fad, “Supersonic”
  42. The Cipher Episode 158: Nice and Smooth
  43. 2Pac, “Old School”
  44. Dr Dre Feat. The Game & Jay-z - Get Your Money Right

Show notes:

  1. L.A. Times, “Rapper Takes Officer’s Side” (April 6, 1993)
  2. L.A. Times, “Rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg Is Acquitted of Murder” (February 21, 1996)
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