Back to the Bay: LaRussell Carries the Hyphy Torch with Lil Jon

One thing that can’t be denied is LaRussell’s insane work ethic. He’s capitalizing on his recent wave of notoriety with his second project of 2026. The first, Father GOD, GUIDE ME (dropped in February), was an introspective deep dive—from the holy to the hedonistic.

This latest release, Something’s In The Water, fully produced by Lil Jon, is pure regional homage. As a Northern Californian who lived through the hyphy movement’s peak (2006–2010), I had to dive in and reflect on how LaRussell is carrying the torch.

Lil Jon nailed it with the production. These beats feel like they were unearthed from a 2006 Vallejo time capsule: stretched bass lines, crisp snares, and sharp claps that force you to bounce—no exceptions.

After a quick skit, the album opens with “I’m From The Bay,” which captures the Yay Area vibe of 2006 perfectly. Energy has always been the cornerstone of Bay Area music. If you were ever privileged enough to hit a sideshow back in the early 2000s, you know exactly what I mean.

“Wigglin” hits the nostalgia button hard. The beat drop had me expecting a Mac Dre verse. I respect how consistently LaRussell stays dedicated to his roots—especially in an era when some regional artists have drifted far from (or straight-up abandoned) the sound that put their city on the map.

The short Marshawn Lynch skit is a nice touch. One thing I’ve always loved about the Northern California rap scene is the camaraderie: if you’re on and putting on for the community, haters are rare. That definitely can’t be said for a lot of other places. Seeing LaRussell’s real community work in the Bay only solidifies my point.

Throughout the project, LaRussell pays homage to Bay pioneers with quotables from legends like Mac Dre and E-40. Tracks like “Hot Summer Night” and “I Got Flavor” take those of us who were “off the porch” in the early 2000s right back to how good we had it.

As a lyricist, LaRussell doesn’t chase complexity—and honestly, that’s refreshing. That was never the lane for the Bay scene that once had hip-hop in a chokehold. For anyone unfamiliar, this album is an excellent entry point into the ethos of Bay Area hip-hop. I hope it sends people back to explore the legends who gave LaRussell his blueprint. YEEEEEE!

Standout Tracks: I’m From The Bay, Wigglin’, Hot Summer Night, Thug Cry

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑(8/10)