March 25, 2018

Slick Rick & Dana Dane "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" (2000)


Back in 2000, Priority Records and the WWF joined forces to release a compilation album called 'WWF Aggression.' The project had rappers adding original rhymes over various wrestlers' entrance themes. Artists such as Method Man, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Heltah Skeltah, RA The Rugged Man Ice-T, and more. There was originally a version of Ice-T's "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" that had Dana Dane and Slick Rick instead over the Godfather's Theme. I am not certain why the record didn't make the retail version of the album, but this gem was lost to many and is certainly worth your listening pleasure. At the time, the Priority release was considered a "flanker," because Koch Records had released a project called "WWF The Music Volume 4" that would expand the market base and make room for the WWF to grab some new market share. The article talks about their street teams handing out snippet cassettes for the album and I do have a sealed copy somewhere. I never gave it a second's look, but had I known Mark Copeland at Priority said, "we wanted street-level thugs with a genuine love of wrestling," I might have been sold. That's sarcasm, why would he say that!? lol


The original article in Billboard (March 25, 2000) is below...