My favorite albums - Gran Turismo 2 - Intro to Hip-Hop (Part 9)
Get your headphones going to introduce you to Mr. Steak & Shrimp AKA 'LE$'
Today I’m going to introduce you to one of my favorite albums ‘Gran Turismo 2’ by LE$ (pronounced L-E-Dollar). This album is special to me because I love racing and I love rap, LE$ mixes the two fields together like no other on this album. As always, get your headphones, speakers, drink, smoke and whatever other vice and lets slide.
LE$ is a rapper out of Houston, TX not very well known mainstream wise but has some masterpieces. He’s a car guy and posed next to a AE86, what’s not to love?
If you didn’t know, the AE86 or Toyota Levin Sprinter Trueno (GT) is a car that was made popular by the Japanese street racing anime InitialD. It was loosely based on the life of the OG and legend Keiichi Tsuchiya also known as the Drift King.
Alright enough racing and anime lore let’s get into the Album. We’re going to start with the first song on the album just to set the tone. “Power on / Le mans”
See? Magic right? The second part of this song get’s me. “I see a lot of me around I guess we’re setting some trends. When you’re sticking to your path you’ll probably lose a few friends. Cop and benz, catch em on the flip make your amends. Don’t trip it’s gon happen again. Just want to see the top and win, I ain’t trying to blend. Lead the race and break the rules I aint trying to bend.” LE$’s beat selection and flow is always on point.
While we still got the hype going let’s get into the next song.
We’re going back to back on this one:
“In this race and still running my laps, I been consistent”
The racing references in this album is what makes it legendary for me because in my head I always compare my life to a Formula 1 race. Lets keep going.
Lmao how’s that for racing references?
The person speaking in middle of the song was Paul Walker talking on an MTV interview in 2001.
“My father was always into cars. I grew up with all of the various car publications. That's what I read. They were always around the house. My grandfather actually raced factory cars for Ford. I think the whole speed car thing is really in my blood”
Now for my favorite song on the album. I may or may not have launched my Tesla at a red light to this.
“And I ain’t lettin off the gas! SCREAMING DON’T DIE, LIVE FAST!”
“Never gotta say I’m a king, just look at my eyes”.
“Let me get $100M bet ya imma vanish, I’ll be somewhere tan probably speaking Spanish” LOL, LE$ had the plan before BowTiedBull
Thanks it folks, listen to the full album here:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/gran-turismo-2/1489213881
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nUiEkqGGV0Y7XnAGFTAUHb3F8IqFwf16E