Album: Keak Da Sneak – Withdrawl

The Raspy-Voiced Oakland Legend Returns With a Poignant and Hard-Hitting Project Entirely Produced by The Mekanix

11.3.2017

Critical Praise

“Keak Da Sneak has become, for many, the hip-hop voice of the Bay Area. It’s a gravel-toned, jagged-edged, smoked-too-much-growing-up-in-Oaktown growl that cuts through a track like a diamond slicing glass.” – The Mercury News

The Album:

A well-respected OG and a mainstay in the Bay Area rap scene, Keak Da Sneak is one of the foremost innovators of the hyphy movement. Opening up a new chapter in his life and career, Keak Da Sneak opens up with Withdrawl, his latest studio album. Recorded while Keak was in recovery from a shooting earlier this year, Withdrawl marks a commitment to improving his life and to re-focusing on his music. Produced entirely by renowned Oakland duo The Mekanix, Withdrawl is a varied and cinematic soundscape, packed with bass-heavy hyphy beats and soulful instrumentals alike. Distributed by Allnfallndoe / Zoo Entertainment / EMPIRE, the album boasts highlights such as the creeping, snaky, FADER-premiered “Him Not Them,” featuring Mozzy, the animated “Ima Keep It Goin,” with an appearance from E-40, and “For You,” a Rayven Justice-featuring song of devotion. Featuring additional appearances from J. Stalin, Kool John, and premiered by Passion of the Weiss, Withdrawl is a focused and complete effort, painting an accurate and compelling picture of Keak as he enters a new phase of his life.

“I haven’t dropped an album since 2013,” explains Keak Da Sneak. “The streets gotta be sick without Keak da Sneak. My music is my dope. People were saying, ‘Give us some of that dope. Lemme get some of that Keak, please!’ During this time, I was being reckless – I was in the streets, catching cases, going to jail. My father passed away and I couldn’t attend his funeral because I was in prison. I was being unfaithful to my wife, my grandmother passed. It caused me to go into a depression. I started being wild. I was acting like I wasn’t who I am. My brothers the Mekanix helped bring this me out of this. People in jail helped bring me out of this. While I was in jail, they were like ‘Keak, you’re tripping.’ They started reciting my songs. ‘Put some music out, dude. What are you doing in here with us.’ I got a lot of reality checks. So I said, ‘Let me get back to doing what I do. Let me stop doing this stuff, I’m tripping.’ Withdrawl is the result of that decision–to return to what made me happen and to work on repairing my relationship with my wife and my family.”

A veteran with nearly two decades of experience in the rap game, Keak Da Sneak is one of the most well-known and influential rappers in Northern California, studying under the wing of the late legend Mac Dre. In 2005, Keak Da Sneak helped kickstart a nationwide hyphy craze with “Super Hyphy,” which reached the Billboard Top 40 Rhythmic airplay chart and Complex ranked as the seventh best Bay Area rap song of all-time. Outside of the Bay, Keak is probably best known for his scene-stealing guest appearance on E-40’s national smash hit “Tell Me When To Go.” This past August, Keak Da Sneak was the victim of a shooting, suffering 8 gunshot wounds to the torso. Though he spent some time in critical condition in the hospital and endured three life-saving surgeries, Keak is in the process of making a full recovery. The recent shooting, his second in 2017, strengthened Keak’s resolve to put his personal demons behind him and resume making music.

Listen to Withdrawl: http://Empire.lnk.to/withdrawl // https://soundcloud.com/themekanix/sets/withdrawl

Check out the Passion of the Weiss premiere: http://www.passionweiss.com/2017/11/03/keak-da-sneak-withdrawl/

Please contact Michelle or Isabel for more info.

The Background:

Keak da Sneak launched his career as one-third of 3X Krazy, a semi-successful mid- to late-’90s hardcore rap trio from Oakland, and soon after embarked on a solo career in 1999. He signed to Moe Doe Records, which released his first two albums, High Tech (1999) and Hi-Tek (2001), as well as a collaborative effort with former 3X Krazy colleague Agerman, Dual Committee (2000). Following this stint with Moe Doe, Keak moved on and continued to develop his career, beginning with the Retaliation album for the Sacramento-based hardcore rap label Black Market Records.