Rating:
  Review Date: March 22, 2007
  Website: Potluck Website
  Label: Suburban Noize

Potluck “Straight Outta Humboldt” Album Review
Damn, these cats love the chronic yo. I guess being from Humboldt County, California, the weed-growing capital of the United States, will make you appreciate your herb. Over half of the songs on Potluck’s “Straight Outta Humboldt” are dedicated entirely to marijuana, and I’m pretty sure the topic comes up in every other song at least once.

But I’m cool with that homie. Being somewhat of a connoisseur of that sticky-icky myself, I can attest to the importance of having an album you can throw in when the blunt is goin’ round. In addition, I think it’s important to be yourself. 1 Ton and UnderRated of the Potluck crew consistently reiterate that weed is what they know, so weed is what they talk about. Or as Dead Prez might say, “If you wanna just get high, then just say it.”

Marijuana and the Brain
Back in grade school, way before I started smoking herb, I remember watching a video on how marijuana affects the brain. The video displayed a cartoon drawing of the human brain and cells moving around rapidly inside it. The cells were flying all around, bouncing off each other, and creating all kinds of havoc. This, it said, was the normal functionality of the brain. The cartoon brain then inhaled some marijuana, and it showed a cloudy substance called THC slowly fill the brain in the spaces between the rapidly moving cells. This THC created a barrier between the brain cells, causing them to move slower and not bounce off of each other so quickly. And that was not a good thing. For some reason, that image has always stuck in my memory.

Years later and well into my existence as a pothead, I curiously researched this effect to find that the video showed what scientists feel is a real depiction of the affects of marijuana on the brain. Scientifically speaking, the human brain contains cells called neurons that process information. These neurons communicate with each other using chemicals called neurotransmitters, which bind to a neuron’s protein receptors and fill the gaps between individual neurons. When THC is introduced to the brain, it blocks the actions of the neurotransmitters and binds with special cannabinoid receptors to interfere with normal neuron functions. In other words, THC basically causes brain activity to slow down.

Now what I have always found interesting about the affects of THC on the brain is the simple assumption that temporarily slowing down brain function is bad for us. All day long, while we’re sitting in our cubicles or serving fries and milkshakes or robbing hardworking people of their pensions, we are constantly thinking and our brain cells are bouncing around like crazy. Well, maybe that’s bad for us. Maybe a little THC in moderation intended to slow that down is actually a good thing. Maybe relaxing your brain cells from time to time actually helps you not go crazy and live longer. I don’t know man … but considering the fact that we still know next to nothing about the real functionalities or complexities of the brain, that theory seems feasible to me. And I bet it would seem feasible to the Potluck crew.

Not just about the chronic
Aside from the abundance of weed tunes, Potluck does a great job creating interesting and heartfelt song topics. Track six is about the world’s obsession with the almighty dollar. Track eight allows the emcees to reflect on their lifelong experiences with racism and ignorance. Track thirteen expresses happiness with life regardless of fame or financial status. Track fifteen contemplates a growing artists’ ability to find love and trust in light of newfound fame. Track sixteen, with the help of a dope verse and chorus from label mate Chali 2Na, attempts to redefine the idea of revolution. And track twenty tells the story of how Potluck came to be.

In addition, the two emcees often speak of peace and racial unity. In “My Life” UnderRated says:

I’m lucky I got white friends, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans
In business on a mission with a black dude and a Mexican
No question, treat each other like a family is how we living
So when I rap understand I wanna teach the children

The beats are west coast gangster-ish, reminiscent of old school Dre production, and 1 Ton and UnderRated do a good job rocking the mic, making the album an enjoyable and fun listen.

If you’re a pothead, nighttime smoker, or just a social fan of herb, this album will definitely entertain you. Pick up a quarter of your area’s equivalent of the Humboldt County super bud, roll one of those tasty peach Phillies, and slow your brain cells down a little to Potluck’s “Straight Outta Humboldt.” Shit, it might just help you live a little longer. Peace.