The Bay Area has always been a hotbed of hip-hop innovation, but too often the spotlight skips over San Jose. That’s why the digital re-release of White Cloudz’s Burn Som’n feels like a victory lap for the South Bay. Originally recorded in the mid-’90s at China’s Cabinet Studios, this underground gem is finally streaming on all platforms, giving fans a long-overdue chance to experience the raw, smoke-laced sound that shaped San Jose’s distinct hip-hop identity.
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Among the standout cuts, “Plant Life” featuring Zori and D-Rum rises to the top like thick clouds on a summer night. Built on funk-heavy grooves and G-funk-inspired synths, the track delivers a head-nodding bounce that pulls you right into its cinematic haze. It feels like rolling through the South Bay in a lowrider, windows down, speakers knocking, hip-hop that’s as nostalgic as it is timeless.
The song stays true to its title. “I’ll smoke this plant life, it’s the only thing I smoke… Plant life, I got five on that dime”, the bars weave between weed culture, personal struggles, and vivid storytelling, carried by the charisma of White Cloudz and the chemistry with their guests. Zori and D-Rum add extra texture, sharpening the energy with sharp flows and raw imagery.
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What makes “Plant Life” special isn’t just its subject matter, it’s the atmosphere. This isn’t a party track or a glossy radio single; it’s gritty, lived-in, soaked in Cali sunshine and Bay smoke. It’s the sound of an era when crews like White Cloudz built legacies from the underground, with beats that slapped hard and verses that painted life as it was lived.
For those who missed it the first time around, Burn Som’n finally being on streaming is a gift. And with joints like “Plant Life,” it’s proof that San Jose deserves its flowers in the Bay Area rap conversation.
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