Last spring, hip-hop upstart Cali Swag District exploded on the music scene with their first single, “Teach Me How to Dougie,” which not only peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s rap singles chart, but also spawned the biggest dance phenomenon since Soulja Boy‘s “Crank Dat” back in 2007.
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Video: Cali Swag District Teach YOU How to ‘Dougie’
Today, although the Inglewood, Calif., boys were released from their contract at Capitol Records recently, C-Smoove, Jayare, Yung and M-Bone say the party must — and will — continue. In fact, while details are scant, Cali Swag is currently working on a new label situation and hope that their oft-delayed debut album, “The Kickback,” will be released later this year.
“That’s how we recorded our album – we pretty much were having ‘kickbacks,’ which are like small parties, at our studio every time we recorded a song,” C-Smoove tells Billboard.com’s The Juice. “These parties are more chill, and invitation only. You just kick back with a lot of females and a few of your friends and just play music, chill and have fun. By the end of the night it turns into a party because everybody’s adrenaline is pumping and the music is loud and you just go in. That’s why we call it ‘The Kickback.'”
The group began working on “Kickback” shortly after the release of “Dougie” in April. The third singled from the album is the title track and was released at the top of the year; it reached No.91 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
So far, besides Bow Wow and B.o.B, which appear on the “Teach Me How to Dougie” remix, C-Smoove says there are no other guest features on the album. The set does include samples from Michael Jackson, Jodeci and Rick Ross.
“You can expect to be shocked because I know for a fact that people are not going to expect what we have done with this album,” he adds. “The album shows our range, so you can be sure that you’ll hear another side of us. It’s not all dance — it’s fun and danceable but it’s like real hip hop. It’ll be fun to see what people think after this. I can’t wait for it to drop.”