Guerillas In The Mist Review

Da Lench Mob was hip hop group that formed in 1990, Los Angeles, California, that consisted of rappers T-Bone, J-Dee, and Maulkie. They would associate and collaborate with Ice Cube on their two albums, Guerillas in the mist and Planet of da apes.

This album was released during a time where the people of California had the L.A riots of 1992 fresh in their minds. An event that was sparked after a Jury acquitted four officers of the LAPD charged with using excessive force during the arrest and beating of Rodney King.

I had an urge to listen to this album after replaying through GTA San Andreas and having the song Guerillas in the mist stuck in my head, needless to say I'm very glad I did. This album has a very aggressive and militant sound to it. A tone that drives home how enraged the people of L.A were feeling about Rodney king's police brutality case. This album has 90's west coast written all over it. Lyrically it is heavily inspired by Islam and social politics. Which may be a turn off for people.

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Songs

Capital Punishment In America
The intro to the album, not necessarily a song but more like a excerpt. It sets the tone for the album. It essentially talks about different ways the United States has used to execute it's criminals. Ranging from burning, being buried alive, stoned, crucified, etc. Leading up to modern day corporal punishment. In all honesty it's quite chilling.

Buck The Devil
The beat is great and features Ice Cube rapping alongside T-Bone and J-Dee, they all flow incredibly well. Throughout this album everytime they mention the devil they refer to the white race. Which really drives home that we don't give a fuck tone carried throughout the album.

Lost In The System
This song is essentially a J-Dee solo track and tells a story about how he was arrested and his experience being in prison. Near the end he shares a message about how prisoners will get transferred around prison to prison, getting more years added to their sentence until eventually they'll get lost and can't find their way home.

You and Your Heroes
This track features Ice Cube again alongside J-Dee and T-Bone. The beat on this one is amazing and is all about dissing popular white figures such as Elvis, Madonna, The Beatles, etc. They also talk about how popular black figures aren't talked about as much as white figures. Overall this is a very aggressive and great song all around.

All On My Nut Sack
I love how the beat on this track incorporates trumpets and has a funky vibe to it. Everybody's line delivery on this song is really smooth and feels good to listen to. The chorus is great as well.

Guerillas In The Mist
My favorite track off the album. The beat on this song is my favorite off the whole album. It also features everybody for a full assault. It hypes you up and makes you want to sing along. This track is very grimy but fun to listen to.

Lench Mob Also In The Group
The interlude for this album. Not much to say honestly. It's just a constant beat with a narrator constantly saying "Lench Mob also in the group". I would skip it.

Ain't Got No Class
This song is fast paced and the beat is once again awesome. This track also features B-Real from Cypress Hill. He unfortunately doesn't rap a verse but instead is in the background vocals but because of that it gives this song a unique sound to it. Lyrically this song is a critique against parents with drug addictions that are incapable of taking care of their children.

Freedom Got An A.K
Just like the last song this song is also fast paced, and has everybody rapping their own part. Because of it's fast nature it fills you up with adrenaline. My one critique being that the beat has this annoying yelling mixed into it, other than that everything else is great.

Ankle Blues
Another one of my favorites. This track unlike it's predecessors slows it down. I also loved the beat on this one as it has a somber mood to it. This song like Lost in the system tells a story, about how crack has ruined poor neighborhoods and the characters in the story track down and kill drug dealers to keep it off their streets.

Who Ya Gonna Shoot Wit That?
Probably the most average song on the track listing. This song lyrically is about stopping black on black violence. The beat isn't anything special, nothing much to else to say about it.

Lord Have Mercy
This song like Ankle Blues slows it down. It takes on a more serious tone and reminds me heavily of The ghetto by Too $hort. This song talks about the many issues poor neighborhoods face but despite it all they keep their heads, it's really motivating. Another favorite of mine.

Inside The Mind Of A Black Man
The outro to the album. This isn't a song but more like a beat with sounds of violence going off in the background. More notably sounds of a car jacking, screaming, glass shattering, explosions, etc. With the narrator from before periodically saying Lench Mob.

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Final Thoughts
In Conclusion this was a kickass album! It makes you feel like you're living in 90's Los Angeles. It amazes me that it isn't brought up when people talk about 90's west coast albums. Though it definitely doesn't help that the music videos that went along with this album were banned by MTV. Which made this album get swept under the rug.

My only critiques are that it isn't very accessible, as it isn't on Spotify but it is on YouTube for those who are interested. Also I understand that the lyrics aren't for everybody, since this album is very political. All in all if you're a fan of 90's hip hop, Gangster rap, etc, and don't mind the political heavy lyrics. I definitely would recommend this album, you won't be disappointed.

If I had to rate it out of 10: 8/10

Favorite Songs

• Buck the Devil
• You and Your Heroes
• All on my Nut Sack
• Guerillas in the Mist
• Ain't got no class
• Freedom got an A.K
• Ankle Blues
• Lord have Mercy

For those interested in checking it out here's a preview song: