For decades Too $hort has made his living rhyming about the seedier side of life. Blatant objectification of women characterized much of Too $hort's work, going back to his earliest demos in the mid-'80s. These days most of the 50-year-old East Bay rapper's message comes off as more nonsensical and silly, but his laidback beats and rhymes are still rock solid, if not a little outdated in 2016. Too $hort is a hip-hop legend, no doubt—songs like "Blow the Whistle" and "The Ghetto" are still incredibly important and pioneering pieces of West Coast rap. MARK LORE