2.10.2023

Mixtape: Baby Stone Gorillas – The Military

The 4-Man L.A. Crew–5Much, EKillaOffDaBlocck, P4K, and Top5ivee–Returns With Their Second Full-Length Mixtape, Spanning 23 Tracks With Production from RonRon, Juneonnabeat, and More

Critical Praise:

“…They pass the baton with an uncanny chemistry.” – The Los Angeles Times, The 100 Best Songs of 2022

“The South East L.A. crew are having one of those runs where a regional rapper or group just break off hit after hit.” – Pitchfork

“Over the last year, the four childhood friends turned rappers have released a string of steadily improving and increasingly popular singles, the cumulative millions of music video views all culminating in “Keep Goin” and the other 22 songs on the group’s debut, BABYST5XNE GORILLAS (Baby Stone Gorillas / EMPIRE). They have the potential to be the biggest rappers to emerge from the Baldwin Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang-heavy and palm-tree-lined community that locals know by its foliage-inspired and far more evocative nickname: the Jungles.” – SPIN

“Baby Stone Gorillas have been on an impeccable run as of late, matching consistent releases with a deeply unique sense of artistry that only improves and expands with each new release” – Lyrical Lemonade

“Youthful and fiery, BSG continues to witness their sound sweep over Southern California and are poised to break across the map.” – Our Generation Music

The Mixtape:

Serving sizzling slices of funked-up L.A. street rap straight from the Baldwin Village jungles, Baby Stone Gorillas are their city’s hottest rap crew. Mounting up for a 23-track effort that bursts with inventive chemistry and fresh styles, the four-man group shares The Military, their second full-length mixtape. The new mixtape refines the group’s hard-hitting West Coast sound, its glossy textures, funk-forward rhythms, and boosted bass adding emphasis to quartet’s raw lyricism. The only voices you’ll hear on the album belong to the Gorillas themselves–who shoulder the full trackload without outside features–allowing plenty of opportunity for each of the four rappers to show off their distinct styles.

Sparkplug EKillaOffDaBlocck lights tracks aflame with his energetic, snarling delivery; Top5ivee brings his effortlessly cool flow and devious wordplay; P4K‘s syllable-rich, laid-back bars draw from L.A.’s rich street rap tradition; and 5Much uses the opportunity to show off his distinctive flow and unconventional melodies, taking the lead on hooks for songs like the recent single “WOP.“ The new mixtape is home to the recent single “Block Benders,” plus new highlights like mischievous, piano-led “Slide On Em,” the provocative and infectious “We Love Opp Hoes,” and the luscious “Koldest Addiction.” With production from West Coast mainstays like RonRonTheProducer, Juneonnabeat, and more, The Military is available everywhere via Park Money Records / EMPIRE.

The four members of Baby Stone Gorillas have known each other since they were 10-years-old, and were friends far before they dreamed of music stardom. The rappers have distinct styles and roles: 5Much brings a hustler’s mentality and vents about his life, while EK packs the energy. P4K is the proud instigator known for slick-talking raps, while Top5ivee often comes up with B.S.G.’s catchy hooks. In 2021, the group’s self-titled video racked up views in the millions, precipitating a winning streak of viral singles that included the Pitchfork–approved “Military,” which earned airplay on Drake’s OVOSound Radio, and “Untouchable” ft. RJMrLA, catching the attention of Shaquille O’Neal. The group made a major impact with their debut mixtape BABYST5XNE GORILLAS, released in March 2022, which earned praise from Pitchfork, SPIN, Audiomack, and many others, and featured “Keep Goin,” which The Los Angeles Times named one of the 100 Best Songs of 2022.

With The Military available everywhere, the Baby Stone Gorillas are on a mission to prove they’re the realest in L.A. Stay tuned for much more.

Stream The Military: https://music.empi.re/themilitary

The Military tracklist:

We The Ones They Talkin Bout
Slide on Em
Off the Meds
Block Benders
Watch Your Step
Wop
Unstable
Tomorrow Not Promised
Vaccine
Introduce You
We Love Opp Hoes
Off His Crew
Gettin’ Money Steppas
Fully Active
Ain’t Like That
Koldest Addiction
Miley Cyrus
In The Field Huntin
Y’all Know Who Did That
Let’s Get It Lit Then
First Place
Elite
Murder Musik

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

The Background:

“You can go and listen to damn near 50 people outta L.A., period, but you’ll notice that we’ve got a different sound,” proclaims Baby Stone Gorillas member EKillaOffDaBlocck. E.K., along with group-mates Top5ivee, P4K, 5Much are creating some of the most original music out of the West Coast. From Baldwin Villages, better known as “The Jungles,” this talented quartet blends elements of their street surroundings with imagination, humor, and a will to stand out. In 2021, videos like their introductory “STL Caps & Jay Hats,” “Baby Stone Gorillas,” and the charged-up “Military” made a powerful impression and garnered several million streams. By the end of 2021, OVORadio played music from Baby Stone Gorillas while Shaq reposted a video. Now, B.S.G. readies a 23-track mixtape that features 1takejay, Bla$ta, Band Gang Lonnie Bands, and Wallie the Sensei. “If we don’t capitalize on this moment right now, there’s no other time,” urges P4K. “That’s how we’re treating it: If we don’t do it now, it’s never.”