Yo Francel, you see that couch, I got five on that homie...

I Got Five On It (remix) - Luniz

In the spirit of re-remix week here at The Funk (I'ma call it that to see if it catches on), I thought I'd bring a little bit of that 90's gangsterism up out the crate to share with yawl.

Picture if you will, the year is 1995. The city? Oakland. Oaktown. (subliminal shout out to those cats who actually know who Oaktown 357 was!) The group? Da Luniz (f.k.a Luni Tunz). The track? I got 5 on it.

Now a song about buying a sack/bag/dime/brick/truckload of weed doesn't sound like a big deal for this era. I mean Cypress Hill did an entire album centered around the sticky icky. And who could forget Delinquent Habits?

But this track was more than just a profession of love for weed, it was smooth as a 1977 Cadillac on daytons plus packed with more funk than meeting Bootsy Collins after he traversed the Sahara, covered in camel doogie after stopping by the Degree factory and telling 'em, "nah baby, I'm good." Point being, this track is pretty good.

As an added bonus, it's hip hop's 1995 version of the all-star game. Check the lineup:

1. Dru Down - coolest hair outside of the original MC Eiht
2. Knumbskull - "Knum blowin it up like Oklahoma" ... yes that happened in 1995.
3. Richie Rich - Not the same cat from 3rd Bass, but he released an album or two.
4. E-40 - The original slang spitta. I wonder if he talks like that when he's on the phone with his moms?
5. Yukmouth - Luniz member and one time No Limit Soldier.
6. Shock G - Original Digital Underground member/Famous Alias/overall crazy dude
7. Spice 1 - O.G. Cali hip hop master. I had his 1st album for like 10 years but somebody stole it. bamas.

I mean, that's a lineup of some serious mid 90's West Coast heavyweights.

So the question is, is there some sort of personal story I can relate to this track that I can share with the masses?

Well in a round about way, the use of the term " I got 5 on it" was shortened to "I gots fives". Used primarily in college dorm rooms when a group of like minded people gather for an annual celebration known as Black Friday to reserve a seat on the couch, chair or floor. For instance, if you are in a prime location in front of the TV and you have to get up to use the lavatory, you would announce "Yo! I gots fives" to the room and for the next five minutes no one could sit there. Sounds a little petty...no...corny, but in a room full of like 10 cats, seats are an important commodity.

And if the 5 minute rule was violated by some newbie or funny-man, battles would most ceremoniously take place. Those were some fun times.

Oh and this track was on a tape that found its way into the hands of a girlfriend at the time and when I got it back, it had been taped over with some Enya. Seriously.

Whoop, Whoop, Chickenheads!

- Brother B. aka The Mike Vick of this rap shit (killin' you with crazy handle!)