Serge Lama Napoleon CD

' Their first album, 'Eastside Drama,' issued in 1995, had been slated for release through Eazy-E's Ruthless label, until the Compton rapper's tragic death ended a solid paper trail of release agreements that had been signed between himself and the intensely street oriented gangsta rappers. Finally returning with 'The Takeover,' The Brownside is back again with real life street cred, history and tracks that have helped give them their often verified, authentic 'la vida gangsta' reputation.

The Brownside members are Wicked, Trouble and Toker, who is currently serving time for a sentence in a federal prison. 'I expect to be out of here by the end of next year,' he promises. In the meantime, however, his album speaks volumes for him. Eazy's son, Lil E, still has memories of his father's close friend Toker, from when they escorted the then ten-year old mini E around Disneyland. 'I can't wait to see Lil E when I am out of here,' says Toker, who adds, 'I have a lot to tell him about his father.

' Eazy-E and Toker were such a fixture, that in Jerry Heller's upcoming book, 'Ruthless,' slated for release in late August, Heller begins describing the end of Eric's life by writing, 'Only a handful of people were closest to Eric in the weeks leading up to his death. Toker, aka Little Beaver, his Latino street connection. The mixmaster Julio G.

' Heller also cites The Brownside in relation to Eric's both visionary and deep desire to become involved in the Latin rap movement, a move that was unfortunately nixed because of his death.

Wicked explains, 'Toker and Eazy were blood brothers.

' He adds, 'Eazy was so supportive of us, he kept trying to talk us into changing the name of the group to M.W.A., but we never did. He was relentless about it. He even wrote these little notes in the studio, trying to convince us.

' He observes, 'Eric was really looking forward to releasing our group on Ruthless, and we played some dates with Eazy and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

' Wicked points to 'La Despendida (Farewell)' as his favorite track on the group's second album, which is released by P.R. Records. As fate would have it, Trouble and Toker originally met in prison. Toker has stated, 'We're not rappers trying to be gangstas, we're gangstas trying to be rappers.