Episode 177: Ben Westhoff Show/Hide Search
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:
- Rudy Ray Moore, “Signyfying Monkey”
- Blowfly, “Rap Dirty”
- Kraftwerk, “Trans Europe Express”
- Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force, “Planet Rock”
- World Class Wreckin’ Cru, “Planet”
- 1986 Roadium 12” - VD Sermon, My Rubber, Funky Feet
- 1986 Roadium 12” - VD Sermon, My Rubber, Funky Feet
- “Weird Al” Yankovic, “Eat It”
- King Monkey, “Badd Mann Dann Rapp”
- Toddy Tee, “The Batteram”
- Shawn Brown - Rappin Duke
- The Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy”
- Uncle Jamm’s Army, “Dial-A-Freak”
- DJ DR. DRE - 85 LIVE FULL HOUR LONG SWAP MEET MIXTAPE NWA COMPTON
- DJ DR. DRE - GOIN OFF (FULL HOUR MIXTAPE) COMPTON NWA ROADIUM
- DJ DR. DRE - 86 IN THE MIX - COMPTON ROADIUM SWAP MEET MIXTAPE FROM 1986
- World Class Wreckin Cru ft. Dr. Dre - Surgery (dJ dAb Overdub) 1984 Live Performance
- World Class Wreckin’ Cru feat Michel ‘Le, “Turn off the Lights
- UK Fresh ‘86 - World Class Wreckin’ Cru
- World Class Wreckin Cru - Live Footage
- Ice Cube, “No Vaseline”
- Tairrie B, “Ruthless Bitch”
- Stereo Crew, “To Reach the Top”
- Willie Dee, “Fuck the KKK”
- Darryl Strawberry, “Chocolate Strawberry”
- Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Tuffest Man Alive”
- Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Dunk the Funk”
- Fila Fresh Crew feat. the D.O.C., “Drink it Up”
- Eazy-E, “Fat Girl”
- Above the Law, “Pimp Clinic”
- Dr. Dre, “Let Me Ride”
- Above the Law, “Never Missin’ A Beat”
- Snoop Dogg, “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?”
- Snoop Dogg f/Dat Nigga Daz, “Murder Was The Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity)”
- Snoop Dogg f/Lil’ Malik, “Pump Pump”
- Snoop Dogg & Martha Stewart Make Ice Balls
- Snoop Dogg (Rapper) Co-Host on ‘The Price Is Right’… Wins Money for Charity! 2of3
- Snoop Dogg Lee Iacocca Chrysler Commercial
- Happy Socks x Snoop Dogg presents “The Art of Inspiration”
- Michel’le, “No More Lies
- J.J. Fad, “Supersonic”
- The Cipher Episode 158: Nice and Smooth
- 2Pac, “Old School”
- Dr Dre Feat. The Game & Jay-z - Get Your Money Right
Show notes: