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Album

Too $hort

Born to Mack

Born to Mack is the fourth album by Too $hort, released on his Dangerous Music label on July 20, 1987, and reissued by Jive in 1988.

The story

Too $hort sold around 50,000 copies out of the trunk of his car across the Bay before Jive signed him. It became his major-label debut and went gold. The nine-and-a-half-minute “Freaky Tales” became his signature song.

Sound and production

Too $hort produced with T. Bohanon, using slow, spare drum machines and deep bass that gave Oakland its own sound.

Legacy

It proved a regional rapper could build a real audience independently, a model the whole Bay followed.

Tracklist & credits

Produced by T. Bohanon, T. Shaw

  1. AAA1
    Partytime
    5:00
  2. AAA2
    Little Girls
    6:10
  3. AAA3
    The Mix
    3:42
  4. AAA4
    You Know What I Mean
    6:00
  5. XXX1
    Freaky Tales
    9:30
  6. XXX2
    Dope Fiend Beat
    6:50
  7. XXX3
    Playboy Short II
    7:10

Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.

Made with

The gear behind this record, sourced and for sale.

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Released July 20, 1987. More from hip hop in 1987.

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