Their name is Pac Div, short for Pacific Division. The group consists of Mibbs and Like (the two are brothers) and BeYoung, their longtime friend who they allowed to join their group. The three hail from Palmdale, California, which is in the center of Northern LA County, but they spent most of their time in Inglewood, the notorious suburb of LA that produced artists such as Tupac Shakur. The group started rhyming in high school and there was actually eleven members. However, we all know that a group of eleven guys trying to rap on one track definitely wouldn't work, so eventually they shrunk it down to the guys who exists in it today. The group released their first mixtape "Sealed For Freshness" in 06 which basically talked about their life as average youth in Southern California. The tape got acclaim from guys already established in the game like Ludacris, Pharrell, Roots drummer ?uestlove, and famed Chicago born producer 9th Wonder. Going off the success of their first project, they went on to make to other mixtapes Church League Champions and the tape I'll be reviewing, Don't Mention It.
Don't Mention It was released in 2010 and is my favorite mixtape that they have created although an earlier one named Mania is not far behind. Don't Mention It sounds just like something that was created in California, by California guys, who made it for Californians. The mixtape cover design, which features the three with the words "Don't" "Mention" "It" across their mouths like censor bars, looks like a Hollister advertisement, which is operated out of California. Upon first playthrough, there is an instant feel that you are listening to A Tribe Called Quest infused with Camp Lo album. As a matter of fact, the group samples a few lines from Tribe in their song "Don't Forget the Swishers" which features Cleveland rapper Chip tha Ripper, fellow Southern California rapper Dom Kennedy, and San Fran native cARTer. The group idolizes old school hip hop and in almost all of their music you get a sense of being in the 90s wearing an Orlando Magic Starter jacket with an Oakland Raiders snapback. The production, which is all done by themselves, is a rarity in music nowadays. You most likely can count the number of people who produce their own music on 2 hands. Well Pac Div would probably be counted on your left hand's middle finger because their surely is a little feisty attitude present in the group. Although each of them are in their early 30s, they seem to rekindle their inner teen within their music and lifestyle. They often refer to hanging out on the beach, going to parties and other shindigs, enjoying the seaweed, and just being chill. This album really reminds me of Judd Apatow films, just regular guys, nothing too far-fetched or extravagant. The group sees themselves as underdogs in the music industry (a title of intro songs on both this tape and Church League Champions). They signed a deal with Universal Motown Records in 2011, however, their music still has an independent feel to it. They don't get much recognition as guys such as fellow California rappers Kendrick Lamar or Dom Kennedy, but their music was equally as important in jump starting the music revival of the West coast.
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