Kausion - Youth Anasia

Review by Alma Myers

Youth Anasia, the debut album of the California-based hip-hop trio Kausion, is a powerful and gritty exploration of life in the gang-ridden streets of South Central Los Angeles. With hard-hitting beats, aggressive rhymes, and a raw, unfiltered energy, the album captures the intensity and urgency of a generation struggling to survive in a world of poverty, violence, and oppression.

From the opening track "What You Wanna Do?" to the closing cut "Grand Theft Auto," Youth Anasia delivers a relentless barrage of streetwise rhymes and thumping basslines that will make you want to nod your head and throw up your fists. The album's standout tracks include "South Central Los Skanless," a blistering anthem of defiance that lays bare the harsh realities of life in the inner city, and "Land of the Skanless," a haunting meditation on the cycle of violence and despair that plagues so many urban communities.

Despite its uncompromising tone and subject matter, Youth Anasia is not without its moments of humor and levity. Tracks like "Cocaine" and "What That South Central Like" inject a playful sense of swagger and bravado into the mix, while "Cellies" and "Cellies II" offer a wry commentary on the rise of cell phone culture in the late 90s.

Summary by Alma Myers

Youth Anasia is a powerful and uncompromising debut that firmly established Kausion as one of the most important voices in West Coast hip-hop. With its raw energy, hard-hitting beats, and unflinching honesty, the album remains a classic of the genre and a must-have for any serious hip-hop fan.