Probably best known for a shout-out he received from Snoop Dogg on The Chronic (on the track "Lil' Ghetto Boy"), LBC rapper Lil ½ Dead was signed to Priority in the mid-'90s and released two marginally successful solo albums: The Dead Has Arisen and Steel on a Mission. Like many other lesser stars in the G-Funk universe, he'd pretty much faded into obscurity but dropped a cameo verse every once in a while; he also put out the little-heard EP Showtime in '04. Dead Serious is his first full-length since 1996. It finds him connecting with fellow Golden State vet RBX, plus up-and-comers Moe Z, MD, Gat, Keila, and others. Lyrically and musically, this plays like an ode to the good ol' days, with straightforward Cali G rhymes laced over sunny, Dre-esque production. While far from groundbreaking, it's definitely entertaining, especially for older cats who still appreciate the gangsta-pop steez. Check out "So Long Beach Strong," "Playground," and the pimp anthem "The World Made Me Cold."