Tha Alkaholiks "21 & Over" (August 24, 1993)

Ohio natives turned West Coast underground kings, Tha Alkahokiks have long been one of hip-hop's best-kept secrets: hilarious lyrical acrobats who have never received the critical or commercial support they deserve. Assembled by gangsta rapper King Tee, they offer a witty, anarchic, and party-friendly alternative to the stone-faced, largely humorless gangsta rap that ruled the West Coast throughout much of the early '90s. With the punch lines and comic timing of comedians and undeniable skills and killer delivery of topnotch MCs, rappers J-Ro and Tash have more than enough talent and energy to back up their endlessly clever boasting. Producer, DJ, and occasional MC, E-Swift is the group's secret weapon, an unjustly underrated beatsmith whose rubbery grooves and infectious production help make Tha Alkaholiks perhaps the greatest party group in hip-hop history. With titles like "Last Call," "Mary Jane," and "Only When I'm Drunk," Tha Alkaholiks will never be mistaken for members of some sort of latter-day temperance movement, but their music, rhymes, and beats are so irreverent, infectious, and just plain fun that their booze-loving shtick never gets old. Brief (only ten songs) and filler-free, 21 & Over is perhaps the quintessential West Coast party album, as well as one of the most promising debut albums of the '90s, regardless of genre. - Old School Rap & Hip-Hop. On their press kit, they encouraged fans "not to drive when they drink" and "chose to title their album 21 and Over... In other words, alcohol is not the end all and be all to Tha Alkaholiks - they simply like to drink and have fun." Art above by Alphonze. Revisit the album below...

21 & Over is an undeniable classic via Loud Records in 1993.

Tha Alkaholiks "21 & Over" (August 24, 1993)

As the name suggests, The Alkaholiks have never quite got over the wonders of drinking. 'Mary Jane' is (surprise!) an ode to the wonders of weed, but the remainder of '21 & Over' is hip-hop with a cracking hangover, brimming with the delights of non-stop speakeasy boozing. 'Only When I'm Drunk' finds them in late night never again-mode ("One too many I reckon, feeling I could hurl any second"), 'Last Call' is full of funky chest beating bravado ("I don't drink and drive 'cos I might spill my drink!"). Wise words. Eight years of LA nightlife (as well as tours with the likes of Ice Cube, BDP and King Tee) will ensure that the Alkaholiks slick LL Cool J-esque raps get plenty of attention, but their peculiar obsession with legal drinking (21 is the required drinking age in most US states) seems faintly ridiculous in the light of 'Black Sunday''s dope-fuelled chaos. The only point at which the Alkaholiks seem to remember that the bar they're slumped in is in LA is on the final 'Who Dem N!@@as' where the mood swings into a more frantic sprawl of urban rap fury. Otherwise they could be anywhere, half-cut and short on things to say, but never tired of saying them. - Hip Hop Connection (October, 1993). 21 & Over was released on August 24, 1993. Listen to the LP below...

Below is their original promo Alkaholiks kit, ads, and the review in HHC ...

Tha Alkaholiks "Coast II Coast" (2/28/95)

Tha Alkaholiks released their second studio album, 'Coast II Coast' on this day in 1995. A lot of West Coast music didn't reach me on the East Coast - perhaps I intentionally blocked some of it out - but the connection to Loud Records put Tha Alkaholiks at the forefront of all music heads, and I instantly became a huge fan of their debut '21 and Over.' My expectations were high for their follow-up Coast II Coast and as soon I popped in the cassette, I was treated to their 6-minute display of lyrics on track one with 'WLIX.' Noah said it right in his "Classic Material" review above, "No one represents that drunken debauchery better than Los Angeles' best-kept secret Tha Alkaholiks." He goes on to say, "With Tash providing extra vicious flows, J-Ro lending his memorable sense of humor and Swift acting as the sonic glue ... the end result was a cohesive LP that solidified Tha Liks' lyrical worth." You can read the full review above with the original sticker and one of their promotional adverts below. 'All in this, freestyle's wild when I'm throwin' this...' - 'WLIX.' Another day we'll get into the infamous barf bag and hangover kit that was promo for '21 and Over.' 

Coast II Coast is ... Classic Material...

Tha Alkaholiks "21 and Over" (Press Kit, 1993)

"Make room for three of L.A.'s dopest rappers, Tha Alkaholiks! They will poison you with their deep liquid hip-hop beats and their hardcore drunk lyrical skills - a chaser is not needed for this trio. RCA/Loud Records brings you J-Ro (James Robinson), 23, who raps and writes; Tash (Rico Smith), 22, who also raps and writes; and E-Swift (Eric Brooks), 23, who raps, writes, flexes his skills on the tables ... Along with all this talent, E-Swift produced "21 and Over" as well as other projects including the St. Ides commercials. This crew met in Los Angels and with eight years of experience between them, began putting their beats and rhymes together. Just pull out your latest King Tee album ("The Triflin' Album") and see for yourself. Tha Alkaholiks are featured on the hit single, "Got It Bad Ya'll." This was their first commercial release and their first sip of success..." (Continue reading below...)

"They will keep you synchronized and amused with tales of their experiences with alcohol. With inspirations such as Slick Rick, LL Cool J, Eric B. and Rakim, and Run DMC, they knew they had all the right flavors... Their name and their songs highlight the times when they just kick it, drinking 40 oz.'s, and making dope drunk beats. The group encourages people not to drive when they drink and chose to title their album "21 and Over." In other words, alcohol is not the end all and be all to Tha Alkaholiks - they simply like to drink and have fun. 'It's tha LIKS baby, it's tha LIKS!'" - Press Kit