The State of the Game: Pac Div ( @LikePacDiv )

Preface: Before I get into this, I want to clear up one thing - I don't mean to come off as a jaded old man going on and on about the glory of yester-years. Because that isn't who I am, even if I come off that way sometimes. I'm just a 23-yr old who grew up in Vancouver, listening to a mix of classic NYC golden-era hip hop and an (incredibly) diverse range of West Coast artists who came before me.. I hate most music out today, not because I'm tryna hate for the sake of it, but because I actually think most sh*t sucks. The reality is, most "new artists" that get pushed out into the spotlight (read: thrust into the limelight due to hardcore marketing & promotions efforts) really are incredibly, exasperatingly MEDIOCRE.

That said, the goal here is to ease off the negativity (read: brutal honesty) a bit - I want to highlight some artists who I've come across in the past year or so, whose music has actually inspired me, to some degree or other. Yes yes y'all - this is a tribute & celebration to good f*cking music. That's it. No longer am I only the East Coast purist who grew up rapping along Das Efx & Big Daddy Kane's tracks, nor am I the typical new-age teeny popper who "omg loves hiphop" because I "love the latest Lil Wayne track omg!"

These days, I dig my LMFAO as much as I dig Jigga as much as I still dig the Roots. I listen to music for the same reason I write songs - good music motivates me, and I'm inspired to try and make others feel the way I did, the first time I heard Nas' "Halftime" on a crappy speakerbox I got in grade 6 or 7. Being exposed to the club industry over the past few years has given me new-found appreciation of club or "radio" content, but despite the entertainment value of that ish, it'll always be about good, original music for me. Without furrrrther adieu..

KAYCEONLINE.com presents: THE STATE OF THE GAME - Pac Div

A refreshing mix of throwback De La Soul / Pharcyde / Dilated Peoples vibes on the tracks, mixed in with artistry that can be described as an edgier, more unapologetic version of Slum Village, Pac Div (short for Pacific Division) is exactly what the rap game needs today. I came across these cats one afternoon while doing my customary breakfast (more like lunchtime) reading at SlamOnline.com before taking the plunge to check them out. Representing the West Coast, these humble, honest artists refuse to be put in a box. According to Like of Pac Div, “We don’t necessarily like the term ‘New West.’ It puts a box on hip-hop by separating music as a whole. I think when people regionalize music, separating genres, it creates room for dissension. We are music.” ‘Nuff said. And why do these cats represent so hard? “(We) want people to remember us by our honesty, and our enthusiasm to rap music. We love this art form and never want to see it diminish.”

Pac Div - "Pac Div" (MP3 format)
play | download

Pac Div - "Never" (MP3 format)
play | download

If you were wondering, these cats hold it down with their knowledge of the hardwood as well – to read Omar Mazariego’s (terrific) full interview with Pac Div for Slam Magazine, please visit SlamOnline. To download their whole mixtape, “Church League Champions” – visit http://churchleaguechampions.com/

"i'm a shark in the water - you jus food to the fishes // go against the squad? you ain't usin your senses - i'll murder you, one-take, and let the news be the witness" - Pac Div