On this day in 1989, Bay Area rap legend Too $hort released his second album, Life Is… Too $hort, under the iconic (though now defunct) Jive/RCA label.
Shortly after retiring from selling thousands of copies out of the trunk of his car, Too $hort’s fifth studio album became his top-selling release to date. Even after dropping over twenty albums, Life Is… Too $hort remains his most successful LP — a ten-track classic filled with his signature mix of creative curse word arrangements and a deep dive into the pimp game.
Tracks like “Pimp the Ho” and “Don’t Fight The Feelin'” served as an introduction to those outside of Oakland unfamiliar with $hort’s world, while songs like “Cusswords” and the title track resonated with the “American hood” appeal, reflecting the struggles of many during the crack era.
This album solidified Too $hort’s place as a key figure in Northern California hip-hop, when few rappers outside of New York had national recognition. Salute to the Bay Area vet for this monumental piece of hip-hop history!
