DJ Battlecat

One of the West Coasts most promising rap producers, DJ Battlecat made a name for himself by laying down beats for Snoop Dogg and his affiliates (Kurupt, tha Eastsidaz, Doggys Angels, Xzibit), along with many other West Coast rappers. His aesthetic is a progression from the early-90s G-funk sound pioneered by Dr. Dre, characterized by fat synth bass lines and soulful keys.

In productions like Snoop Doggs Stacey Adams, E-40s Nah, Nah…, and Xzibits Been a Long Time, Battlecat brings a sense of laid-back funky soul to each artists traditionally gangsta rap sound. And with the chart-topping success of Doggys Angels Baby If Youre Ready (which spent several weeks at the top of Billboards Hot Rap Singles chart in late 2000) Battlecat’s place in the West Coasts roster of elite producers was solidified—and the potency of his aesthetic confirmed.