Just about every morning, I wake up with a song already playing in my head. For some insane reason, the chorus to “Gun Rule” was already chorus by the time I woke up this morning.

“Middle East, Michigan, Grand Rap, Gun Rule…”

It was typical of the times, when Wu was spawning offshoots with more fervor than Shawn Kemp. But La stood out, mainly because of his distinctively raspy voice. Laced with a few choice productions by Muggs, Havoc & RZA, the standout producer on the album had to be Carlos “Six July” Broady, who matched La’s voice with both dark haunting melodies akin to RZA & uptempo, diddy bop headknockers. La’s movement away from the mic & into a highly successful career behind the scenes was augmented by what befalls so many rappers: the first album was filled with years of life experiences simply waiting to be told. La’s was a mixture of escapades centered around his times living in Brooklyn, Grand Rapids & all spots in between; materialism & 5% spirituality, enormous boasts coupled with the hunger for more.

And like so many, it was as if La put the pen down, closed the pad & said “okay, I’m done” because he’s never managed to come with any sort of followup that comparatively as sharp. Not for nothing, La’s first album was his Heist Of The Century indeed.

La The Darkman – Gun Rule