From The Vaults Vol. 1 is the first in a series released by XL Middleton, to showcase previously unreleased g-funk songs and boogie instrumentals from him and his Crown City Ent. record label. The EP starts with “Can’t Help The Way I Feel,” a rare sample-based track in which XL chops a loop and adds synth and piano solos on top of it. “Don’t Wanna Rap No More” is a tongue-in-cheek look at the all-too-common practice of letting one’s escapades with the ladies interfere with making music. “Yeah Buddy,” locally released in 2010, is a g-funk anthem for XL’s native Pasadena, featuring guest artists Zone & BlackWest. “Into The Stars,” also released on DJ Couz’s Hood Famous mix CD in Japan, features XL, Reality Jonez, & Moniquea telling a true-to-life coming of age tale. “Let Me In (Don’t Let Me Go)” is a cool, laid back boogie instrumental inspired by tracks from Confunkshun’s Fever album. “Teasin’” features XL’s group Slacker Pad, spinning stories of women playing hard to get into light-hearted, imaginative narratives. On “You’ll Know,” XL laments relationships gone wrong with guest vocalist Moniquea. The EP ends with “Sunride,” ending the album on a more introspective note, over a moody, yet aggressive funk track.
A SPECIAL NOTE FROM XL: “This album is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and all of your other favorite digital retailers. But if you wanna really circumvent the system and stick it to the man, get the album from our Bandcamp store. And Keep It Funkin’!!!”
