Torrence Hatch may be best known as Boosie Badazz nowadays, but we remember him as Lil Boosie. It was under that moniker that he released his early work to the world. That work will be the subject of this week's Throwback Thursday segment.
Boosie's career has been the subject of many ups and downs. In the mid-90s, he began rapping as a part of the group Concentration Camp, whom he joined at age 14. Around the turn of the millennium, he started releasing music on Trill Entertainment, led by UGK's Pimp C. He rose to the top ranks of southern rap, and then was incarcerated in 2010. He was released from prison in 2014. Most recently, Boosie was diagnosed with cancer, which he had removed successfully.
Through the good and the bad, Boosie has remained an important figure in rap music. Today we look back at some of his early word.
"My Nigga Then"
One of the South's best was up-and-coming when he released 2002's For My Thugz. If you're a fan of the millennia dirty south, this is must-hear.
"Smoking On Purple"
If you're a big fan of Boosie's music, then you already know he's smokin' good. Feel free to bump this one as you get medicated.
"I Smoke Blunts" featuring Pimp C
And if you're not quite sure how to get medicated, take a hint from our subject and the late Pimp C...
"Set It Off"
In the mid-2000s, Lil Boosie was unstoppable. "Set It Off" was another banger released during this time of musical fertility.
"Do Da Ratchet"
Before ratchet was even a thing, Boosie was making hits using the word. Maybe he's from the future?
"Trouble Man"
Rest assured that Boosie went hard on this one...
"Got my AK, 2 clips taped together
Talkin' like you ball whatever, but we'll finna see
And you can't run, I could touch ya and a penitentiary
You gonna be a memory
You better run when you hear"
"Soft To Hard"
No stranger to the drug game, Boosie has made a bunch of tracks that dive into the world of illegal substances. On "Soft To Hard," he takes his knowledge of drug-dealing to a new level.
"Zoom" featuring Yung Joc
With his fellow southern rapper Yung Joc, Boosie released "Zoom" in 2006. It's been deemed an instant classic by those who dig the dirty southern sound.
"Top To The Bottom"
This one isn't so much a part of his 'early work,' per se, but it's still a throwback of sorts. Released in 2010, "Top To The Bottom" is one of those tracks released amidst legal troubles.
"How Deep Is Your Love"
And alas, Boosie can get emotional on the track. He gets deeper than he usually does, as he poses important questions about life, parenthood, and more.
"Would u baby sit some kids that ain't even yurs
Be at court every morning with them bad nervs
Break yo nigga off swiftly on the first an third
Stick by ya nigga ride or die fuck what ya heard"