The Luniz — High Timez Album Review

Opening page

Opening page: a full-page cartoon illustration of The Luniz — Yukmouth and Numskull — seated on stools with microphones, above the High Timez album cover (The Mekanix & DJ Fresh present Luniz — High Timez).

HIGH TIMEZ — ALBUM REVIEW  Written by Ian Jackson

The Luniz represent a golden age not just for Bay Area Hip Hop, but their uprising [falls in] what is considered by many the “Golden Era” of Hip Hop. Artists like E40, Too Short, Spice 1, Richie Rich, and Tupac Shakur were making history in the mid 90’s; out of the bunch of artists, the song that sticks in everyone’s playlists is The Luniz’ “I Got 5 On It” single. The single rose Yukmouth and Nummy Num to fame, and they went way over three times platinum on the single release, and album.

Going into their career they have seen the ups and downs of the music industry. But before any[one] can talk about downs — the up’s: most artists would never be able to be in the golden era of hip hop, to even walk there [in their] shoes at a time when Biggie and Tupac were alive, let alone be among [them].

What halted the Luniz momentum in recent years was the incarceration of Luniz member Numskull aka Nummy Num. He was convicted of possession of a firearm, among other charges, and was sentenced to 7 years. Nummy Num was released late November, two days before Thanksgiving.

Upon his release, magic happened for the group. After years of disagreements about putting out a fourth studio album, they finally forged a bond among artists, and since then nothing but great things have happened.

Quickly after Nummy Num was released they teamed up with production house “The Mekanix”, and they [dropped a] Mekanix-produced single “Still”, featuring 4rAx. A video followed, and was directed by Bro Jackson. It was a great first video, which clearly let the fans know that they are indeed back as a group. The camaraderie in this video is a much needed reconciliation that fans would hope [for].

After this, they produced their fourth studio album “High Timez”, with the entire production by the Mekanix. The release featured a slew of artists like B Real, Dru Down, Ras Kass, B Legit, J Stalin, Beeda Weeda, Lil Blood, and many more.

The production brought together a nice fourth album; some of the songs brought back old memories from previous albums, displaying not just the mob influenced sound that a lot of fans remember, but some of the more commercial party songs. Songs like “Can You Handle Your Drugs” featuring J Stalin is a pure banger and gives a timeless feel to it, as if you banged the track back in ’95 — and you still slap it to this day.

Another classic song on the album is the “Ultimate [High]” […]. [Not only does the] album bring you […] real content — not only do we [get an] awesome 16 from Cypress Hill frontman B Real, but both The Luniz and B [Real, two] mega platinum selling [artists, come] together to be the ultimate stoners’ [anthem], cause by sales in weed singles, few are topping them. The song is no hit or miss; I really wish they would get together and do a [full] single, cause this [song] has the dopest appearance [since] Snoop Dogg’s “Vato”.

[Another] great single on the [album] is “Hit [Somethin’]”; [the] visual [was directed by Bay] Area famed [direct]or Bro [Jackson and features Bay-]born artist Beeda Weeda, which you can see him in the music video. The video is a rock star movie, and all turned up!

The best part of watching this Luniz reunion close up is watching the fans get to see one of their favorite Bay Area Hip Hop groups [of all] time perform. Since Numskull’s release they have secured many big billings with Live Nation and other big name promotional companies, and since they started touring in early 2015 the[y have shared billings with] Schoolboy Q, Casey Veggies, Bone Thugs, […], Ice Cube, G Eazy, Lil Debbie, and many other legendary performers.

Word is they’re focusing on a project where they intend to work with other producers in the ind[ustry] and their […] with [one] another, and are [promoting their] current[ly] newest release “[High] Timez”. [They] have told other outlets that they wanted to get right to work after Numskull’s release to “feed the fans”, after not releasing any new music in so many years. They both felt since their hit single “I Got 5 On It” dropped [and pe]aked in 1995, they figured 2015 [was the] 20 year reunion, so Ny[um having] got home just in time to bring [us] back to our golden era of Hip Hop, [it’s] something to hold onto for [us fans]. [Great] to see them back at it — they’re one of the best Hip Hop duos to pick [it back] up.