Personnel: Too Short, M.C. Breed, Erick Sermon, Rappin' 4-Tay, Kool-Ace, Baby D, Garry Shider, Goldy, Joe Riz, Stud, Murda One, Sir Captain, Sir Charles (vocals); Michael Hampton (guitar); Gregory Thomas (saxophone); Shorty B (keyboards, bass, background vocals); L-Rock (keyboards, bass); Spearhead X (keyboards, drum programming); Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, LA Dre (keyboards); George Clinton, Parliament Funkadlic, About Face, YZ, Real Tight, Joi Hunter, Suga Ray, Agony, Wendie Rice, Jalah (background vocals).
Producers include: Shorty B, Ant Banks, Spearhead X, M.C. Breed, Colin Wolfe.
Personnel: Too Short, Bonecrusher, Stud, Murda One, Joe Riz, Erick Sermon, M.C. Breed, Kool-Ace, Garry Shider, Shock G, Baby D, Rappin' 4-Tay (vocals); Michael Hampton, Pee Wee, Vadim "Funky Toes" Zilbershtein (guitar); Gregory Thomas (saxophone); Shorty B, L-Rock (keyboards, bass); Spearhead X, BOSKO (keyboards, drum programming); Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, LA Dre (keyboards); Turntable T (drum programming); George Clinton, Parliament Funkadelic, YZ, Agony, Wendie Rice, About Face (background vocals).
Producers: Shorty B, Ant Banks, Spearhead X, Colin Wolfe, Too Short, LA Dre, Shock G, The Dangerous Crew.
Engineers: Taj "Mahal" Tilghman, Catfish, Turntable T.
Principally recorded at Oakland City Studios, Atlanta, Georgia.
Samples include "I'd Rather Be With You" (William "Bootsy" Collins/George Clinton, Jr./C.J. Cooper), "Flashlight" (George Clinton, Jr./Bernie Worrell/William "Bootsy" Collins), "Good Times" (Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards) and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" (Marvin Gaye/James Myx, Jr.).
"It's been a long time since I first got down, but I still keep makin' these funky sounds." That about sums up Too Short's tenth (and final?) effort, a typically easy-to-listen-to, funky, smooth-grooved release. East Oakland's Too Short is still exploring the themes he's always been drawn to: the struggle to "make it" in a tough world ("Survivin' the Game"); money and its attractions as well as its evils ("Gettin' It"); and, of course, sexual attraction ("I've Been Watching You").
The artist also known as "Short Dog" is joined by some major talent here, including Parliament-Funkadelic and Erick Sermon. The trademark easygoing, unruffled style is still there, and the raps are, as always, straight-up and real. Fans of this tenacious rapper won't be disappointed, but be warned: The disc opens with the claim that this will be "the last album." Stay tuned.
Professional Reviews
The Source (5/96, p.72) - 3.5 Mics - Dope - "...His going away party, ALBUM NUMBER TEN, packs the power of pimpology, as always; but it's more a testament to his longevity in hip-hop and ability to do the same thing and make it enjoyable every time around....Too Short may be the only artist in hip-hop to call his own retirement."
The Source (5/96, p.72) - 3.5 Mics - Dope - "...His going away party, ALBUM NUMBER TEN, packs the power of pimpology, as always; but it's more a testament to his longevity in hip-hop and ability to do the same thing and make it enjoyable every time around....Too Short may be the only artist in hip-hop to call his own retirement."
