Rest in Beats: LAYLAW, Westcoast Pioneer

The Hip Hop Community, and the World mourns another loss of a Hip Hop Pioneer, Larry “Lay Law” Goodman. Laylaw passed on January 12th, 2023 confirmed by Chill from Compton’s Most Wanted. Since the early 80’s, he was a contributor to West Coast Hip Hop, from being a producer, composer, writer and executive producer.

He first hit wax in 1985, when he was apart of a Dr. Dre produced electro track “Monster Rapping.” He preferred being behind the scenes, writing and producing. He would join his friend Dre at Ruthless records. His list of contributions included working with Above the Law, Tupac Shakur (Strickly for my N.i.g.g.a.z.). In 1989, Laylaw wrote for Michel’le, for her hit “No More Lies”.

His time in music, Laylaw was overlooked, discredited and done wrong on many levels. While working with Dre at Ruthless he reportedly didn’t get credit for written material for Michel’le , Eazy E and other artists. Jerry Heller was instrumental in that. He would move on from Ruthless, and produced “Strictly for my N.i.g.g.a.z.” and “I wonder if Heaven got a Ghetto” for Tupac, and did around 5 songs, that were stripped from that album. He also reportedly worked on the remix for “California Love” with no credit. Dre heard it, put Pac on it, and Laylaw’s version was to be the remix, when he sent it to Suge, he got no credit.

In 1996, I was honored to meet Laylaw, when he showed up at a studio in San Jose, Ca. Laylaw was there to contribute to Dj Assassin’s “Hitwork’s Volume 1”. Tall brother, whose presence is felt when he is in the room, and major talent. 1997 he would put together “The Lawhouse Experience Volume 1,” a compilation with a whose who of Westcoast Artists including, Ras Kass, Xzibit, Coolio, WC, Ice Cube, Ice T, Luniz, Above the Law and more. In 2011, it was reported he was working on “Lawhouse Greatest Hitz” with previously released and unreleased material from Cube, Nas, Pac, Quik, E40 and more.. we hope it will see the light of day, one day.

Salute and #RestInBeats to Larry Goodman, Laylaw, Westcoast Pioneer.

In his honor we will feature his work with WestSideRidahReport feature in the mix.