Warren Griffin III is an American rapper, record producer, and DJ who helped popularize West Coast hip hop during the 1990s. A pioneer of G-funk, he attained mainstream success with his 1994 single "Regulate". He is credited with discovering Snoop Dogg, having introduced the then-unknown rapper to record producer Dr. Dre.
West Coast hip-hop is a regional genre of hip-hop music that encompasses any artists or music that originated in the West Coast of the United States. West Coast hip-hop began to dominate from a radio play and sales standpoint during the early to-mid 1990s with the birth of G-funk and the emergence of record labels such as Suge Knight and Dr. Dre's Death Row Records, Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records, the continued success of Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and others.
Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.
Funkdoobiest was an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California, United States, composed of rappers Jason "Son Doobie" Vasquez, Tyrone "Tomahawk Funk" Pacheco and DJ Ralph "Tha Phunky Mexican" Medrano. They are members of the Soul Assassins collective. The group has released four studio albums. Their third LP, The Troubleshooters, was recorded and released without any participation of Tomahawk Funk due to his departure from the group.
Earl Tywone Stevens Sr., better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 studio albums to date, appeared on numerous movie soundtracks, and has also done guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. Initially an underground artist, his 1995 solo album In a Major Way opened him up to a wider audience. Beginning in 1998, he began collaborating with mainstream rappers outside the San Francisco Bay Area. He rose to higher mainstream popularity in 2006 with his single "Tell Me When to Go", which was produced by Lil Jon.
Ant Banks, is an American record producer and rapper from Oakland, California.
Eric Tyrone Breed, better known as MC Breed, was an American rapper best known for his singles "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'", which peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Gotta Get Mine", that made it to number 6 on the Hot Rap Singles.
Christopher George Manak, better known by his stage name Peanut Butter Wolf, is an American disc jockey and record producer from San Jose, California. He is based in Los Angeles, where he moved to in 2000. He is the founder of Stones Throw Records.
Farid Karam Nassar, better known by his stage name Fredwreck, is an American hip-hop recording artist, DJ, and record producer. He got his big break when he became a producer for Dr. Dre's newly founded record label Aftermath Entertainment, and then went on to work with Snoop Dogg's record label Dogghouse Records and became a known producer on Tha Dogg Pound-affiliated material. During this time he also was a producer for Snoop Dogg's track: Riders on the Storm ft. The Doors on EA's Need for Speed Underground 2. He has produced tracks from Kurupt's Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha and most of his next release, Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey; both released during the period the rapper had left Death Row Records. He has also produced for other hip-hop and pop artists such as Eminem, Britney Spears, Ice Cube, Westside Connection, Lil' Kim, Hilary Duff, Xzibit, The Game, Nate Dogg, Everlast, Cypress Hill, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, as well as non-US acts such as Dizzee Rascal, Tamer Hosny, Qusai Kheder and Karl Wolf.
Jerry Buddy Long Jr., better known by his stage name Kokane, is an American rapper and singer best known for his distinctive vocal style and numerous guest appearances, such as on Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal.
RBL Posse is a gangsta rap group from the Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco, California. The members were Black C, Mr. Cee, and Hitman. The only surviving member is Black C.
Charles Mitchell, known professionally as Mitchy Slick, is an American rapper from Southeast San Diego, California. He is a member of the rap supergroup Strong Arm Steady, along with rappers Phil Da Agony and Krondon. He performs solo with three albums released in addition to many collaborations. Mitchell is the CEO of Wrongkind Records.
Mandolyn Wind Ludlum, better known by her stage name Mystic, is an American singer and rapper from the San Francisco Bay Area. After touring and recording with Digital Underground, she released her debut solo album in 2001.
Tha8t'z Gangsta is the sixth studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on May 8, 2001 via Half-Ounce Records. Recording sessions took place at 6 Point Productions Studio and Dedal Recordings. Production was handled by Binky Mack, Tha Chill, Dâm-Funk, DJ Raw Steele, Young Trey, and MC Eiht, who also served as executive producer. The album peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Fiendin' 4 tha Funk was the debut album by rap group 11/5. It was released on March 31, 1995, for Dogday Records, and featured production from The Enhancer, T.C. and Reggie Smith. Fiendin' 4 tha Funk peaked at #76 on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
A-1 Yola is the second album by rap group 11/5. It was released on July 23, 1996, for Dogday Records, and produced by Premiere Music. A-1 Yola did better on the charts than the group's previous album, Fiendin' 4 tha Funk, peaking at #33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #22 on the Top Heatseekers.
Funk Mobb was an American, short-lived rap group composed of Bay Area rappers, K-1, G-Note and Mac Shawn who were signed by Sick Wid It and Jive Records. They were active from 1994 to 1998, first appearing on Little Bruce's debut album, XXXtra Mannish and then releasing their one and only album in 1996, It Ain't 4 Play. It peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 28 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers. After the album the group would disband with Mac Shawn releasing two albums, 1997's Music fo' the Mobb and 2001's Worldwide Bosses and Playas and even joining Death Row Records for a short while. In 1999 G-Note joined No Limit Records and changed his name to Lil Italy. There he released his debut solo album, On Top of da World.
The Mossie was an American rap group from Vallejo, California, with members: Kaveo, Mugzi and Tap Dat Ass. They first appeared together on E-40's 1993 EP, The Mail Man. Before dropping their 1997 debut album, Have Heart Have Money, on Sick Wid It and Jive Records, they appeared together on several other Sick Wid It releases, including: The Hogg in Me, The Hemp Museum and Southwest Riders.
Maurice "Marcellus" James McCarver, better known by his stage name Celly Cel, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. He released his first single, "Lifestyle of a Mack", on his independent record label Realside Records in 1992. He released his debut studio album, Heat 4 Yo Azz, in 1994, and released a second album, Killa Kali, two years later.
Project: Funk da World is the debut studio album by rapper Craig Mack, released in 1994. The album was the second release on Bad Boy Records, following the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die by one week. Propelled by the success of the platinum RIAA-selling hit single "Flava in Ya Ear," the album reached gold-RIAA sales status on February 22, 1995. "Flava in Ya Ear" also featured a successful remix, featuring guest verses from the Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Rampage and LL Cool J. The album's second single, "Get Down," was the rapper's second top 40 hit in 1994 and achieved gold sales status in the United States in April 1995.
