In 1986, DJ Glaze and MNMsta created a DJ group called "Perfection" and recruited members from their high school. The next three years "Perfection" as a DJ group rocked many school dances, weddings, and backyard boogies. By 1989, Perfection recruited close to a dozen members. Towards the end of Perfection's senior year, the group decided they wanted to produce their own rap record. Travvy Trav, one of the oldest members of the group went on a search for the dopest MC in Long Beach. Back then, it was a dude named Domino. Perfection recruited Domino and pitched in on the purchase of a Roland 808 drum machine to start making demos with the intention of getting a record deal. Dozens of songs were cut and members Tender D and Mellow D (now known as The Twinz) were brought into the group by T-Dubb and Travvy Trav, who are in real life, first cousins. After many disappointments and some personality conflicts, Domino stepped from the group leaving Perfection to fend for themselves. This sparked a collaboration with fellow eastsider Snoop Doggy Dogg called "'Let Em Understand Perfection" on a compilation album called "Please Pass The Mic" which was a diss track aimed at Domino for leaving. This explains the line by Snoop in Dr. Dre's Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang, "Perfection is perfected, so I let em understand."
In 1991, Perfection met Big Wes and Suge Knight who at the time were bodyguards for New Edition. Big Wes had his own label, Lockdown Records in the works and took an interest in the group. After a few months, the name Perfection was dropped and Foesum was born. The group consisted of T-Dubb, Wayniac, MNMsta, and DJ Glaze. Foesum recorded an entire album at Solar Records, home of legendary groups like Lakeside, the Whispers, Pebbles, and Babyface. Some of the songs that were recorded but never released included 'Ridin' High' (recut on the Twinz album) 'Point of No Return,' 'Knick Knack Patty Wack,' 'Ain't No Fun' featuring Kid Frost, 'Much Love,' and MNMsta's 'Chrome To The Dome.' After seeing little possibility of retaining a record deal, Foesum moved on. The group Foesum was inactive for about a year, but in 1992 member Wayniac was approached by Warren G who needed help writing his album "Regulate...G Funk Era." Eventually, Wayniac would team up with his brother Trip Locc to be known to the world as "The Twinz" signing their own record deal on Def Jam Records. In the meantime, this left Glaze, MNMsta, and T-Dubb left to be Foesum. They decided to keep the name and make Travvy Trav (who died from a heart problem during the struggle) the fourth member.
In 1994 Foesum hooked up with Tony G and Julio G of the original 1580 AM KDAY Mixmasters. Ruthless Records CEO, Eazy-E put Julio G down to co-host a radio show on LA's 92.3 The Beat called "The Ruthless Radio Show." In just a few weeks and with the help of Tony G, Foesum recorded the songs "Lil Somethin' Somethin' " and "Listen To The Sound." It caught the ear of Eazy E along with Big Beat/Atlantic and Tommy Boy Records. Foesum signed a deal with Atlantic Records in January 1995. The first single 'Lil Somethin' Somethin' was released in the summer of 1995 on Big Beat/Atlantic Records and got major play on The Box and radio stations everywhere. The album 'Perfection' was released on Penalty Records/Tommy Boy in the fall of 1996. Since then Foesum has been working on new albums to release on their own independent venture called The Perfection Label including The FoeFathers, A Greatest Hits album, and solo projects.
Lil' Somethin' Somethin'
Foesum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
break em off a lil somethin
break em off a lil somethin
break em off a lil somethin
break em off break em off
DJ Glaze
1995 fool let me set the scenery
Long Beach Eastside and it seems to be gettin kinda hectic
I picked up the Gs that I'm down with
rollin in an 83 coupe and it sounds hip
somethin that Glaze hooked up on a Foe track
a dope beat that'll go plat
so what's to do
picked up Dubb and kicked couple of rhymes with my old school crew
cuz no one knows what we go through
M&M drop the hit while we flow too
so low ridin old school beats
speakin on life is a G from the streets
so I threw it up while the beat was straight bumpin
just a lil somethin somethin
(Chorus)
Just a lil somethin rollin in a G ride
dip back and hit them switches
cuz we ridin and we slidin
all them thangs since how we cruise
rollin on the Eastside
T-Dubb-
So we comin up the backstreets and we ballin
peepin everywhere we look cuz we crawlin
try to shake the spot so lets dip
with the homeys in my ride comin up on a grip
thinkin you can fade my scene
so rough so tough with the flossy lean
no beat on dank as we step
through the LBC so fools recognize me
cuz ain't no way you could cope with the real
take a dip through the beach Eastside show my bills
gotta little somethin on my chest needs to get off
problem solved cuz we breakin em off
so Glaze put it down on this track
wit my mind on my money ain't no love for hoodrats
so flip the script cuz you know how I'm comin
T-Dubb wit a lil somethin somethin
(Chorus)
Just a lil somethin rollin in a G ride
dip back and hit them switches
cuz we ridin and we slidin
all them thangs since how we cruise
rollin on the Eastside
M&M-
So now we rollin in an 83 coupe on these
like it's the thang to do, I hit the switch with ease
2: 30 and I'm coastin
saw some poppin lil skirts hit the 3 wheel motion
dipped where the (?) dwell
couldn't find dubby dubb so I paged him on an over tel
(homey where you at?)
I'm on the Eastside
crawlin on a caddy coupe, right
Here I come, T-Dubb let em know
T-Dubb-
Got a year rolled and
now I'm 24 so to lay back
so I can keep it intact
tryin to stay focus, kickin the facts
cuz Mama told me thug, there'd be days like this
when you couldn't trust no one, you gotta handle yo mix
so I rolled wit a crew, now don't be actin like I'm so in the juice
cuz homey don't front
if I'm not on the track then the beat just don't bump
otherwise recognize, and see how I'm comin in corners on the
Eastside
cuz it's only ridin
if the homeys ain't playin in the year 9-5
so now who's sprung
T-Dubb LBC a lil somethin
(Chorus) x2
Just a lil somethin rollin in a G ride
dip back and hit them switches
cuz we ridin and we slidin
all them thangs since how we cruise
rollin on the Eastside
The lyrics to Foesum's "Lil' Somethin' Somethin'" depict life in Long Beach Eastside in 1995. The track opens with DJ Glaze setting the scene, revealing that things are getting hectic in the neighborhood. Despite this, Foesum's crew isn't phased, as they don't slip. They pick up Dubb and spit rhymes about their old school life as Gs from the streets. The chorus repeats the phrase, "Just a little something rolling in a G ride, dip back and hit them switches, cause we riding and we sliding," which alludes to the group's cruising and low-riding lifestyle.
The verses alternate between Dubb and T-Dubb, who discuss balling, peeping, and cruising in their lowriders. T-Dubb raps about trying to keep it intact, trying to keep his focus, and not trusting anyone because there are days when you couldn't trust anyone. Instead, he chooses to roll with a crew, keeping things chill and taking things one day at a time.
"Lil' Somethin' Somethin'" is a straightforward rap song that describes a particular lifestyle, that of cruising and low-riding in Long Beach Eastside in 1995. The lyrics give insight into the lives of the people from the streets, how they keep it cool, and what they do to take their minds off things. The song's repetitive chorus and catchy beat make it perfect for cruising on the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Break em off a lil somethin
We're going to give you a taste of what we got
break em off a lil somethin
We're not going to give you too much, just a small sample
break em off a lil somethin
We don't want to overwhelm you, just give you a taste
break em off a lil somethin
We're going to give you just a little bit of our sound
break em off break em off
We're going to give you a small taste of our music, but it's still going to be good
DJ Glaze
The DJ who mixed this track
1995 fool let me set the scenery
This song was made in 1995 and it portrays an image of the Long Beach Eastside area
Long Beach Eastside and it seems to be getting kinda hectic
Long Beach is going through a period of turmoil
so why even trip when we dip cuz ya know we don't slip
We don't mess up when we do our thing, so why worry?
I picked up the Gs that I'm down with
I found some talented and trustworthy guys to work with
rolling in an 83 coupe and it sounds hip
I'm cruising around in a 1983 car that sounds good
somethin that Glaze hooked up on a Foe track
A beat that was produced by DJ Glaze and used in a Foesum track
a dope beat that'll go plat
The beat is so good that it will sell well
so what's to do
What else is there to say or do?
picked up Dubb and kicked couple of rhymes with my old school crew
I got together with T-Dubb and some other guys I used to work with and we wrote some rhymes
cuz no one knows what we go through
Our lives are unique and no one really understands what we deal with
M&M drop the hit while we flow too
M&M (presumably Eminem) had a hit song around the same time we were making music
so low ridin old school beats
Our music has a classic, old-school sound
speakin on life is a G from the streets
We're talking about real life and the experiences of someone who grew up in the streets
so I threw it up while the beat was straight bumpin
I performed while the music was playing loudly and intensely
just a lil somethin somethin
Just a small sample of what we're capable of
Just a lil somethin rollin in a G ride
We're just cruising around in a nice car
dip back and hit them switches
We're smoothly moving the car up and down
cuz we ridin and we slidin
We're enjoying ourselves while driving around
all them thangs since how we cruise
This is how we have fun and relax
rollin on the Eastside
We're driving around in Long Beach's Eastside area
So we comin up the backstreets and we ballin
We're traveling on small streets and having a good time
peepin everywhere we look cuz we crawlin
We're checking out the area while driving slowly
try to shake the spot so lets dip
We're trying to avoid getting caught or causing trouble
with the homeys in my ride comin up on a grip
I'm with my friends and we're about to have some fun
thinkin you can fade my scene
You can't ruin my good time
so rough so tough with the flossy lean
We're confident, proud, and stylish
no beat on dank as we step
We're not in a hurry and we're relaxed
through the LBC so fools recognize me
I'm well-known in my Long Beach community
cuz ain't no way you could cope with the real
You can't handle what we've been through or our lifestyle
take a dip through the beach Eastside show my bills
We're driving around the Long Beach Eastside area and showing off our wealth
gotta little somethin on my chest needs to get off
There's something bothering me that I need to talk about
problem solved cuz we breakin em off
We're taking care of the problem and making things happen
wit my mind on my money ain't no love for hoodrats
I'm focused on making money and not interested in trivial relationships
so flip the script cuz you know how I'm comin
I'm going to surprise people and change the game
T-Dubb wit a lil somethin somethin
T-Dubb is here and we have something special for you
So now we rollin in an 83 coupe on these
We're driving around in an old car
like it's the thang to do, I hit the switch with ease
I'm casually moving the car up and down
2: 30 and I'm coastin
It's 2:30am and we're driving around slowly
saw some poppin lil skirts hit the 3 wheel motion
We saw some attractive women in another car moving their car up and down too
dipped where the (?) dwell
We went to a specific location in Long Beach that the singer is familiar with, but it's unclear from the lyrics where that is
couldn't find dubby dubb so I paged him on an over tel
We tried to get in touch with T-Dubb but couldn't find him, so we paged him
(homey where you at?)
We're trying to find T-Dubb and calling out to him
I'm on the Eastside
T-Dubb is in the Long Beach Eastside area
crawlin on a caddy coupe, right
T-Dubb is driving around in a Cadillac coupe and moving it up and down
Here I come, T-Dubb let em know
I'm here and it's time to start the fun
Got a year rolled and
I have a cigar in my mouth
now I'm 24 so to lay back
I'm 24 years old and trying to relax
so I can keep it intact
I want to maintain my laid-back lifestyle
tryin to stay focus, kickin the facts
I'm trying to stay focused and speak the truth
cuz Mama told me thug, there'd be days like this
My mom warned me that life would be tough sometimes
when you couldn't trust no one, you gotta handle yo mix
There will be times where you can't trust anybody and you need to take care of yourself
so I rolled wit a crew, now don't be actin like I'm so in the juice
I'm with a group of people, but I'm not trying to act like I'm better than anyone else
cuz homey don't front
Don't act like someone you're not
if I'm not on the track then the beat just don't bump
If I'm not involved in the music, it's not going to be as good
otherwise recognize, and see how I'm comin in corners on the
You should recognize me and see how I'm coming when I'm driving around corners
Eastside
Referring to the Long Beach Eastside area
cuz it's only ridin
We're just driving around for fun
if the homeys ain't playin in the year 9-5
If my friends aren't around or available, then we're not going to have as much fun
so now who's sprung
Now who's excited or impressed?
T-Dubb LBC a lil somethin
This is T-Dubb's music from Long Beach, and it's something special
Just a lil somethin rollin in a G ride
We're just driving around in a nice car
dip back and hit them switches
We're moving the car up and down smoothly and stylishly
cuz we ridin and we slidin
We're just cruising around and having a good time
all them thangs since how we cruise
This is how we have fun and relax
rollin on the Eastside
We're driving around the Long Beach Eastside area
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ThaGodKingDorell
R.I.P. T-Dubb 🙏🏿🕊
@nicoles4892
Miss u forever Troy😢
@LaCheleWallace
Ah, 1995... This feels and sounds like California in 1995. I miss these days. I miss g-funk.
@Alessandro1983
Damn babe. you're cute! I miss 1995 too! Cali vibes!
@stevemuntalima7734
G funk is my favourite genre..
@walidbelmiloud4478
foesum is the definition of underrated
@Dinocaprice
Old sckoolllll back in the daysssssss ouuuuu
@choquesito2792
R.I.P. T-Dubb
@goddler212
Just stopping by to say thank GOD this album has been added to Spotify. My god this album slaps. I listen to this more than Doggystyle and the Chronic - textbook laidback G funk from beginning to end. True Perfection 🙌
@Vcb619
This is that west coast music you can bump rolling in your car🎵🎶🎵