Patiently Waiting
PACIFIC DIVISION LOS ANGELES, CA Words BY MAURICE G. GARLAND Usually when rappers are late for interviews it’s either because they had too much to drink the night before, or out of sheer laziness or diva-ness. But with Cali-based trio Pacific Division, tardiness comes from a more humble place. “I just got off work. I was in a rush and I didn’t have my license or registration on me from when I got towed two weeks ago,” rattles Pac Div member Like, explaining his CP time delay. “I got pulled over and the cop gave me the whole drill. He did a search, but luckily my record is straight so nothing happened.”
“We don’t really like telling people we’re about to start a new movement in Hip Hop,” chides Mibbs at the notion that his group is leading a new audio exodus from the norm. “We just let the music speak for itself. Whatever movement comes with it will just happen on its own.” “We represent the majority of young black men,” adds Like. “A good percentage of us out here don’t bang. Not taking away from those who do, but most niggas just work regular jobs, got baby mama drama, try to go to school and make a decent living without throwing up a flag.”
Straight records are working for Pac Div in more ways than one. Since they crept on the scene in 2005 with their highly-touted Sealed For Freshness “blend tape,” the group made up of brothers Like and Mibbs and close friend BeYoung have ushered in an alternative to West Coast Hip Hop.
Originally brought together through a love for basketball, all of them gave up hoop dreams for mic fantasies when they saw that being 5’9” didn’t offer much else besides a 9-to-5. Now linked by the same office, they juggle their work schedule with tour dates but hope to see that change very soon.
Almost identical to the options acts like Del the Funky Homosapien, Hieroglyphics, Likwit Crew and others presented at the height of 1990’s gangsta rap, Pac Div are coming in with everyday tales of girl problems, money issues and just trying to look good amidst the struggle. Add that to their preference of Nike SB’s and graphic tees over khakis and flags, and you have a group that reps an oft-forgotten image of Cali Hip Hop.
“We plan on giving our two weeks notice pretty soon because we’ve got some good stuff coming up,” laughs Like, mentioning that their popular video singles “Women Problems,” “F.A.T. Boys ’08,” “Paper” and occasional radio spins affords them job perks like coming in 30 minutes late and wearing jeans on dress-up day. “We wanna bring a camera in there and document it. We’ll call it Countdown to Quitting.” //
14 // OZONE WEST