Too Short - Life Is...Too Short LP

The album’s title track is what turned Too $hort into a superstar. Like his earlier material, it’s simple, stripped down hip-hop, featuring a live replaying of Average White Band’s “School Boy Crush” and deep, thumping bass hits. The hook, which is just $hort Dog repeating his name with added studio effects, is downright catchy and certainly memorable. With his raps, Too $hort describes his success, hoping to inspire others who may live lives of crime. Extolling the virtues of living positive and pontificating on the intrinsic value of life have never been particularly common topics of rhyme, even during the late ’80s. Few other rappers have articulated the importance of recognizing self-worth as simply as $hort does here.