I was on vacation too w the family. I was 14 and i was able to swoop it up. Actually ran into a ninja at the mall workin when i swooped it up. We debated what eas next for the clowns. My young self was worried they were done. Retired hangin up their boots cuz the saga was done. He told me naw homie they gonna keep goin lol

Pigg said
The first release I looked for from Psy on release day. Wasn't able to cop because I was on a vacation with my family and had no idea where to look.

 

genocide_cutter said
Lyrically Violent J was at his best on this album.  

Agreed. But that whole era he was on some other, you whack motherfuckers!

I attribute a lot of it to several factors. He was using cannabis medicinally for his anxiety, for the first time in a life mostly drug free. He was jogging miles at a time and lost loads of weight. The creative pressure of finally releasing their penultimate album of the sixth joker's card ("like jerking off for ten years then finally busting a nut" I think he said) was the climactic push. The triumphant vibe was unmistakable. I myself copped it at a rather opposite time in my life, yet the Shangri La album still gave me this incredible enthusiasm. Also, the introduction of Mike P for the Shangri La album was a needed change (for better or worse... lots of ninjas hated P but I think he was what was needed for that time and that time only). 

Wizard of the Hood, J's guest spots on his killer crew's albums.... it was a crazy time. 

P.S. - Bloody Bitch Dead, Burning Up, My Shine, Thy Staleness, Shiny Diamonds, Angels Falling, Migraine Headache, Sticky Icky Situations... the list goes on. Dude was at a creative peak that he has not hit as consistently since that era.