Five Best Songs from Spice 1’s ‘1990-Sick’ Album

Gunshots greet listeners on the 1990-Sick salvo, "Survival," one of Spice 1's more inspired tracks on the LP. Over a bass, guitar and ghastly piano keys (courtesy of producer Chase), the rapper laments, "I'm looking up at the barrel of a 45 / And I'm thinking survival, will these muthaf----- see me die / You see, I'm living in a society where soldiers breed / And you see murders and 187's over hustler's greed." "Survival" is in the vein of many Spice 1 songs -- lyrically felonious and sonically addictive.

Spice 1 reminds listeners of the perils of street life on "Ain't No Love." Produced by Chase, the song boasts a live bassline, guitars and keyboards. The Bay Area rhymer gets reflective about his hustling day, rapping, "I used to hustle street corners back in 1986 / Slanging yayo by the dub, me and E Bay in the mix." "Ain't No Love" sees the Cali rep dropping social commentary and cautionary tales on this memorable track. Watch the video below.

On "Tales Of The N---- That Got Crept On," Spice 1 details the lengths that gangsters go to whenever the beef needs to get cooked. Produced by BlackJack, the beat is one of the LP's more addictive efforts and contains enough bass to rattle the trunk of an old school Caddie with ease. Spice 1 comes equipped with plenty of lyrical firepower in tow and proves why he was considered one of the West Coast's most touted rap stars.

"Dirty Bay" is an ode to Spice 1's northern Cali stomping grounds that lets listeners know that nothing is sweet when it comes to Spice and his everyday life. Rhyming aggressively over the sinister Chase-produced soundbed, the Bay Area rhymer spits, "Born to die but hard to kill, a b-b-balling ass timer / Blow a hole up in ya' chest like the f---ing Una-abomber" over the grungy guitars and steady drums. Spice 1's intentions are far from pure on "Dirty Bay" and cooks up one of the album's superior tracks.

Spice 1 opens up the album up with the title track, "1990-Sick," with the rapper barking, "Cause everybody dies on this motherf---ing album." Produced by Blackjack, the beat is a nefarious soundscape which Spice 1 spits nihilistic rhymes to. "They telling me 'n---- get the f--- out before you die' / If you surrender we'll make sure that you could be fried / Should I kick in the door and go to war / Or should I slit my throat, leave a pipe bomb and a f---ing note." MC Eiht makes a cameo and turns in a lively performance on the third verse. "1990-Sick" was the album's biggest hit and is regarded as a classic rap song.

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