Sunday Music: No T-Swift, Just E-Swift
October 12, 2025·0 comments·zg
I have fully accepted that I’m far more interested in the critical discussion about Taylor Swift’s new record than the new record itself. I may change my mind in time. But, for the moment, thanks Popcast for scratching the itches, and let’s be clear about where my brain goes every time I hear the the name “Swift” - pretty much as far from showgirl life as you get, with a west coast party rap group I’ve been playin for decades now.
2 Ohio kids moved out West, made some friends, and in early 1990s g-funk LA, decided there was a void for straight party music that they could fill. They started a group and named it Tha Alkaholiks. Party on.
The Ohio detail’s important here. Middle America parties just aren’t NYC/LA parties. Young Eric Brooks was listening to a lot of The Ohio Players and Parliament-Funkadelic at his parties. Eric and his buddy Rico Smith would take road trips together to the east coast, started collecting tapes, and making music of their own.
Eric became E-Swift and Rico became Tash. They moved out west to make a go at music. They quickly met James Robinson, aka J-Ro, who brought them to an LA underground legend, King Tee, who loved their energy and wild partyer vibe.
E-Swift’s sound is sample heavy. He’s not a master recreator like Dr. Dre, and he’s not a master manipulator like Dilla, but he is a master vibe curator.
The first impressions of his stuff probably feel almost juvenile in approach. That ends when you realize they get stuck in your head. It evolves when you realize the layers of energy he was matching together, combined with the embedded hookiness of his choices.
Listen to “Likwit” as an example. Actually before you do let me break down what you’re going to hear when you’re listening to “Likwit.”
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