Too $hort Presents Badwayz

Too $hort was among the first West Coast rap stars, recording three albums on his own before he made his major-label debut in 1988 with the RIAA-certified gold Born to Mack. Anticipating much of the later gangsta phenomenon, he restricted his lyrical themes to explicit tales of sexual prowess and street life, with the occasional social message track to mix things up. Likely the only rapper to have recorded with 2Pac, the Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z -- all superstars indebted to his work -- he has remained an inspiration for his vulgar verses and sparse instrumentals, remaining...