Tone-Loc - Loc-ed After Dark

Released in 1989

Tone-Loc arrived on the music scene in 1989 with Loc-ed After Dark, an album filled with lighthearted and unique rap tracks that easily crossed over to the mainstream music fans that were still embracing hair metal and pop at that time. In fact the debut album was such a success that it flew up the pop charts, which was quite an impressive feat considering his was only the second rap album to do so (The Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill was the first).

One of the reasons for his success was his distinctive voice; it possessed a raspy, almost gravelly tone, yet his easygoing flow prevented it from becoming grating to the ears. His subject matter was also a large factor for his success since his two most popular tracks, Wild Thing and Funky Cold Medina, were clear party classics with a firm tongue-in-cheek vibe. The album did contain a couple other minor hits, but this rap artist will forever be known for the two aforementioned ones.

Some of the album highlights are:

• Wild Thing – A fun rap track at home in any party. Part of what made this track so enticing was his effective sampling of Van Halen's Jamie's Cryin'.
• Funky Cold Medina – This was Tone-Loc's second humorous major hit and equally enjoyable to his first smash single.
• Cheeba Cheeba – This track caused a bit of controversy due to its subject matter: marijuana. During a time when radio was still innocent, playing a party track that spoke positively of marijuana seemed unthinkable.

Loc-ed After Dark does contain a couple filler tracks such as Loc'in on the Shaw, which was an instrumental (albeit a good one), and Homies, which was one of the worst rap tracks I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. However these missteps are entirely forgivable when the album is judged on the merits of the whole because the rest of the album ranges from extraordinary to solid and satisfying.

Tone-Loc's rap career may not have lasted long (he had one follow up album in 1991 - Cool Hand Loc - before his music career crashed to a halt), but his debut album was a genuine milestone that should please most fans of the 80's rap scene.

Rating: 8 stars

Track List On Fire Wild Thing Loc-ed After Dark I Got It Goin' On Cutting Rhythms Funky Cold Medina Next Episode Cheeba Cheeba Don't Get Close Loc'in on the Shaw The Homies

Music Sitemap

• Hair Metal
• Pop & New Wave
• Rap & Hip-Hop
• Rock & AOR