Throwback: Too Short: Blow The Whistle

Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle” was a career resurgence for him that combined the energy of crunk music and the Bay Area’s hyphy movement. The Oakland, California, rap legend was living in Atlanta and had already worked with crunk producer Lil Jon in the past. Both styles were similar in their call to the dance floor with pulsating beats that built excitement through repetition. Lil Jon’s murky production put a spell on the listener that was sexy and perfect for the club. Too Short’s command telling everyone to “Blow The Whistle” with an actual whistle in the mix landed in the Top Ten on the R&B/Rap, Tastemaker, and Rap Albums charts. He started making rap records in 1983 but “Blow The Whistle,” which is on his 16th album, became his signature song. “Blow The Whistle” helped put Oakland on the map for rap music all over again years after Too Short’s debut and the rise of MC Hammer. Contemporary Oakland artists Saweetie and G-Eazy have sampled the song and followed Too Short’s path. The City of Oakland named a section of Foothill Boulevard Too Short Way in 2022 and declared December 10th Too Short Day. The film Freaky Tales, inspired by Too Short’s 1987 single, opened in theaters April 4, 2025. Too Short narrates the movie that stars Pedro Pascal and Jay Ellis, which is a tribute to Oakland and the Berkeley punk scene in the ’80s.