Soundcheck: Beach Cruisin' With Glasses Malone
posted in: Urban
It’s been a long road for Glasses Malone, the Watts, California native who began work on his debut album, Beach Cruiser in 2006. Now, the almost five-year-in-the-making, project has finally hit the streets.
Featuring verses from the likes of Akon, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne and Lupe Fiasco, the album is a gangster rap throwback that remi
nds us what made hip hop great. Malone is a story-teller, and on Beach Cruiser, he depicts the gangster life to a T with his signature ganster-soul style. His single, Sun Come Up features Rick Ross, Birdman and T-Pain and is already heating up the airwaves. An admitted former Crip, Malone is not as aggressive as hislyrics may suggest. On the contrary, his demeanor is pleasant and friendly.
It’s been such a journey and I am so blessed, he says. ˜Feel Good Music’ is my favorite song on the album. It sums up my mood. The track he’s referring to closes out thealbum on an oldies-inspired high-note; a testament to the almost five-year journey it took for him to get here.
Back in 2005, he hit the scene with his Crack Mixtape release and followed up with White Lightning¦Sticks in 2005. That year, he signed a $1.7 million deal with Sony, but was released when the label dismantled its urban division in 2007. After a label jump to Cash Money Records, and Mack 10’s HooBangin’ imprint, the album was pushed back to April 2008. He released two singles that year, Certified featuring Akon and Haterz featuring Birdman and Lil Wayne. Despite the strength of the first singles, they failed to gain traction on radio and the album continued to be pushed back¦and back. In the meantime, Malone joined Slaughterhouse and Tech N9ne for their K.O.D. Tour in 2009, and made numerous guest appearances on other albums in 2010.
While the support from his hometown never ceased, the road was a tough one for the determined emcee. He stayed on his grind with a little help from some famous friends. T.I. told me he was a fan of my music, he recalls. There was a fight inside me to keep going after something. I was determined to do it.
Glasses Malone
Now, after four years and three rounds of redo’s; the perseverance paid off, and Beach Cruiser was released August 30 by Cash Money/ HooBangin and Suburban Noize Records. In it, he paints a vivid picture of life in the streets of Los Angeles, and strikes nerves reminiscent of the glory days of the late 1980s. Malone is a throwback for sure, but that’s not to say he’s dated. Instead, he reminds us that many of the issues hip hop used to contend with are still there, even if mainstream music has evolved past its roots. His song, Car Wash is a reminder that friends’ funerals are still a regular occurrence, and his hard-hitting lyrics on heavy topics prove it’s not all good in the hood.
Now that the album is out, Malone is gearing up for his Rhymes & Resin Tour, which kicks off September 17 in Denver. I can’t wait to perform these songs, he says. Expect greatness. I’m gonna do my thang.
Ever the multi-tasker, he’s got a few more items on his agenda. I’m releasing a thirty-four-minute short film called The Division early next year. He also plans to open a restaurant with his sister that only serves his favorite foods. All you can get there is chicken, tacos and Kool-aid.
Despite an obvious weakness for fast food, one pitfall he won’t fall into is drugs and alcohol. Despite his gangster persona, Malone steers clear of drinking and smoking. I’ve been in the streets way too long. I know I need to keep a clear head at all times. All those things just impair my judgment, he says.
With a mindset like that and a track list like this, we expect big things from Glasses Malone. Beach Cruiser is in stores now.
Check out his latest video, Eastsidin’ featuring Snoop Dogg & Nipsy Hu$$le .