Whoridin'

Though they hailed from West Oakland, the Whoridas found a home with the Los Angeles label Delicious Vinyl, and they became icons in Southern California after hitting with “Shot Callin’ and Big Ballin’,” an immortal anthem of trunk-thumping bass. Released shortly thereafter, Whoridin’ is an overlooked West Coast classic. At a time when the West was inundated with Dr. Dre-knockoffs and watered-down G-funk, the album presents a far more varied musical palette. With its sneering flow and menacing horn stabs, “Stackin Dollars” almost resembles something by East Coast icons Mobb Deep, while “Till the Wheels Fall Off” comes from the same moody, keyboard-driven family as Detroit’s Slum Village. Of course, the majority of cuts are built from the same formidable mold as “Shot Callin’.” “Bumpin’,” “Talkin’ Bout Bank” and “Westbound Campaign” are aimed at late-night cruisers and serious sub-woofer junkies. And while King Saan and Mr. Taylor might have once battled the Hieroglyphics crew for Oakland’s rap crown, “World Wide Whoride” is as spine-tingling as Dr. Dre’s creeping L.A. classic “Deep Cover.