King Harris puts his touch on the Ice-T classic “Colors.”

“Oxnard has always been a breeding ground for that sound that’s popular,” deduces King in a year where natives Madlib and Anderson .Paak have been behind two of 2016’s biggest albums (The Life Of Pablo and Malibu). “When somebody from Oxnard gets on, that’s the little door, and then it turns into a big hole.”

Today, King Harris and Oh No effectively bridge 1998 with 2016 by modernizing and paying homage to Ice-T’s classic west coast anthem “Colors,” but apply the title to a wider scope. The theme rap from the 1988 Dennis Hopper-directed film of the same name, “Colors” has always stood for a tour guide through the ganglands of Southern California. Almost 30 years later, Harris honors the formula—keeping the imagery strong and the chorus intact. Whereas Ice chronicled the bandana colors of the gangs (as portrayed in the film), King Harris opens the door to include the racial tensions plaguing cities, including the Ox’ and Oh No uses some of the Afrika Islam & Ice-produced elements from the Sire Records single.

“I always wanted to flip that beat” King relayed to Ambrosiaforheads. Colors was always one of my favorite movies; it was real in my eyes.  It didn’t feel the least bit Hollywood to me.  I was seeing that shit around me every day.  When O (Oh No) and I were making the album, I knew I wanted him to use this sample; especially with all of the racial tension that is going on—it was perfect.”