K.F. Klik

Despite the popular decline of {gangsta rap} over the latter portion of the 1990s, the style remained vital in pockets of the {West Coast} into the 21st century. Of course, the environment that influenced {gangsta}'s original emergence never went away. But the consistent marketability of the genre was also a significant factor in the second and third wave of {gangsta} MCs who were active on the {West Coast} long after {G-funk} pioneers such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Warren G had moved on. Los Angeles MCs Gee the Street Gamer and Mr. Wunderful (aka Mr. 1) first appeared as The Funkytown Professionals in late-'90s Los Angeles. Their lone release, Reaching A Level Of Assassination, was hailed by indie Finest Entertainment as having been one of 2pac's favorite albums when the slain icon was still active. In 1997, Gee and Wun altered their moniker to the unassuming Kali's Finest and released Stay Ahead Of The Game. Another slice of {gangsta} chest bumping, the album also included in its lyrics a series of dos and don'ts for surviving in the { ap} game. The self-explanatory {G-funk} of Spread Ya Hustle followed in 1999; it featured such prominent guests as K-ci & Jojo, Mc Eiht, and Yo-yo. Re-emerging in 2002 as The K.f. Klik, Gee and Mr. Wunderful released Gangsta Khemistry through the Finest Entertainment imprint. While the album was another recycling of the familiar {gangsta}/{G-funk} ethos, it nevertheless was an entertaining one, proving that the {gangsta} genre still had legs moving forward into another decade. Gangsta Khemistry also boasted guest shots from K-ci & Jojo, as well as Bizzy Bone and the Eastsidaz MC Tray Deee, a protégé of Snoop Dogg. ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi