The Debut

Down 4 Tha Cause

Released 1995 on G-Note Records in joint release with Airwaves. Recorded at B.A.R.Studio (Bay Area Recording Studio), known internally as "The Honeycomb Hideout." Cover artwork by phunky phat graph-x, the same artist behind covers for Master P, E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay, C-BO, and JT The Bigga Figga.

Year
1995
Labels
G-Note Records · Airwaves
Catalog #
GNR 9501
Format
CD (Standard Jewel Case)
Studio
B.A.R.Studio, San Francisco
Cover Art
phunky phat graph-x
Genre
Bay Area Rap · West Coast
Executive Producers
The Fast 1 (G-Note) · Airwaves
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11 Tracks

The Tracklist

  1. 01I Had It Hard
  2. 02Shady Niggaz
  3. 03Down Fa The Cause
  4. 04Black By Nature Nigga By Choice
  5. 05Fully Loaded
  6. 06Wake Up
  7. 07Freak Da Fonk
  8. 08Land It On A Mill Ticket
  9. 09Fuckin' Up Ya Program
  10. 10Operation Come Up
  11. 11Major Threat

Background

San Francisco, 1995

Released on Fast's own G-Note Records in joint release with Airwaves, Down 4 Tha Cause was The Fast 1's debut as a recording artist. The Fast 1 held the studio license at B.A.R.Studio (Bay Area Recording Studio) in the Fillmoe district, where the album was recorded. G-Note Records and Airwaves co-executive-produced.

Cover artwork by phunky phat graph-x, who also designed covers for Master P, E-40, Rappin' 4-Tay, C-BO, and JT The Bigga Figga.

In 1996, The Fast 1 executive-produced his younger brother Tha Dangla's debut Straight Max'n — also on G-Note Records, also recorded at B.A.R.Studio. G-Note operated alongside Paragon Entertainment and Proplylaced Music through the late 1990s. Done Deal Digital is the current label.

Radio & TV

Mid-1990s airplay.

Down 4 Tha Cause–era records and appearances aired on Bay Area radio and television.

  • KMEL 106.1 FM— Freak Da Fonk in rotation (1995) Radio
  • KMEL — The Quick Mixwith DJ Franzen & Trace Dog — Freak Da Fonk and Land It On A Mill Ticket Radio
  • KMEL — Roll Callwith Sway & King Tech — the very first rappers at KMEL to rap on Roll Call, with Mr. C (RBL Posse) & JT The Bigga Figga Radio
  • KMEL — Street Soldierswith Mr. Marshall — aired I Had It Hard (feat. Tha Dangla) Radio
  • KMEL — The Chuy Showwith Chuy Gomez — created a custom drop (a one-verse song) for the show Radio
  • California Music Channel (CMC)— on-air appearance (with DJ Franzen) sharing a positive message for the kids TV

Press

Mid-1990s coverage.

The Fast 1 was featured in three 1990s hip-hop magazines.

  • Murder Dog— Vallejo, CA underground hip-hop magazine (1993–~2014) Mid-1990s
  • Rap Pages— Eazy-E tribute issue August 1995
  • The Source— Eazy-E tribute issue ("In Memory of a Gangsta Rap Superstar") June 1995

The Neighborhood

From the Fillmoe district.

San Francisco's Fillmoe has been home to a number of Bay Area rap artists across multiple generations.

Hugh-E MCJT The Bigga FiggaSan QuinnMessy MarvRappin' 4-TayAndre Nickatina The Fast 1

Related

Feady Crocka

The Fast 1's current name. Founder of Done Deal Digital. Same person.

Visit page →

Tha Dangla

The Fast 1's younger brother. 1996 debut Straight Max'n also on G-Note Records.

Visit page →

Done Deal Digital

Current iteration of the label arc that started with G-Note Records in 1995.

Visit homepage →

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New Fast 1 material coming.

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