The Whoridas

In 1995, the West Oakland duo of King Saan and Mr. Taylor -- The WhoRidas -- banged out of the box with their debut single "Shot Callin' Big Ballin". When regional sales of the irrepressible "Shot Callin'" topped 50,000, the group signed with Delicious Vinyl for their 1997 debut album Whoridin'. Originally part of the Hobo Junction Crew captained by Saafir (King Saan's older brother), and working in the tradition of Too Short and Digital Underground, the WhoRidas quickly forged their own identity. Spitting gritty rhymes over trunk-rattling basslines, the pair celebrated the Bay Area past-times of fly rides, smokey highs, and how to get money (not forgetting "Down On My Luck" their can-collecting ode to being broke). WhoRidas second album, High Times, appeared in 1999, honing further their intriguing combination of sobering insights and wild partying, menace and humor. On "Godfather" (a gem featuring Xzibit) King Saan put his enemies "in hot water like lobsters/ smoking choppers after pasta". After that album's release King Saan adopted the name Chop Black and relocated to L.A. to go solo, although lately there's been serious talk that a WhoRidas reunion is in the cards...