Earlier this year, veteran Oakland rapper Keak Da Sneak released Deified [click to read]. After a career that began with his group, 3 X Krazy on a major label, the solo released marked a return to the national consciousness, after 2006’s feature role on E-40′s hit “Tell Me To Go.” However, Keak is hardly sitting still, releasing at least two more albums in 2008’s remaining nine weeks.
“Right now, the Bay is still getting slept on. The Hyphy movement, they’re trying to kill it, trying to make it die, but we still on that same shit. So right now, it’s all about marketing, getting on different projects,” Keak Da Sneak told HipHopDX late last week. As one of the leaders of Hyphy, Keak has several releases due before year’s end, including Word Pimpin’ 2, a collaborative project with former Ruthless Records rapper Baby S and QZ. “It’s from the Bay to L.A.,” Keak added, noting that the project features three rappers from throughout the golden state.
The album features the single “Do It Right” with Snoop Dogg. “Every year I change up. I’m on some shit I never did before. I’m a Snoop fan. Working with him just opens doors,” Keak added.
When speaking with DX, Keak was driving with fellow Bay area legend San Quinn, as the two presently are on tour. Quinn told HipHopDX that the San Francisco and Oakland veterans were also readying Welcome 2 Scokland, due December 9. “It’s a hell of an opportunity for two bosses to build some comradery. San Francisco and Oakland coming together is a hell of a collaboration. We really rocked together, thought about [song concepts]; it’s gonna be phenomenal. The unity is needed, and [Oakland and San Francisco] have us to provide the demonstration.”
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Lastly, Keak spoke about his appearance on producer Jake One‘s White Van Music album [click to read], on the song “Soil Raps.” The appearance puts the historically regional street rapper alongside underground luminaries including MF DOOM and Slug. Keak explained, “[Underground Hip Hop] is what made me; I’m an underground Hip Hop fan. I’m still here.” Quinn interjected, “We’re still running around playing Too Short [click to read] on a [cassette] tape, you feel us?” Keak added, “That ol’ white [cassette]. Jake One [click to read] is a hot-ass producer. He sent me a CD full of beats. I [rapped] to ’em all, and [‘Soil Raps’] was one of his favorites. He took it. I just stay workin’, and just keep my ear to the street.”
Later this month, San Quinn will also be releasing A Boy To A Man, an album billed as his most personal to date [click to read].
