O'Shea Jackson Sr., known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1988 album Straight Outta Compton contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popularity, and his political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992) were all critically and commercially successful. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.
G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre is heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It is represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).
Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, Brotha Lynch Hung, C-Murder, Mia X, Westside Connection, and Ice-T. It also distributed hip hop record labels including Death Row Records, Hoo-Bangin' Records, No Limit Records, Posthuman Records, Rap-A-Lot Records, Rawkus Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Ruthless Records Duck Down Records, and Wu-Tang Records. According to Billboard, "few record labels were as important to the rise of West Coast hip hop as Priority Records".
Westside Connection was an American hip-hop supergroup formed by Ice Cube, Mack 10 and WC. The group's debut album, Bow Down, reached the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in 1996, going platinum that year.
William LaShawn Calhoun Jr., better known by his stage name WC, is an American rapper and actor. He originally was a rapper in the group Low Profile and later formed his group WC and the Maad Circle, who first succeeded with the single "Ain't A Damn Thang Changed". He later started a solo career and has released four solo albums. He is also well known for being a member of the rap supergroup Westside Connection with West Coast rappers Ice Cube and Mack 10.
Dedrick D'Mon Rolison, better known by his stage name Mack 10, is an American rapper. He has sold nearly 11 million records combining his solo and group works. Mack 10 made his first appearance on Ice Cube's 1994 Bootlegs & B-Sides compilation on the remixed track "What Can I Do?" and was a member of hip hop supergroup Westside Connection along with WC and Ice Cube. Mack 10 is also the creator of independent record label Hoo-Bangin' Records and made his stage name with the Ingram MAC-10 submachine gun.
"Check Yo Self" is the third and final single from American rapper Ice Cube's third solo album, The Predator (1992). It was released on July 13, 1993 by Lench Mob Records and Priority Records, and features New York City rappers Das EFX. It topped both the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts while also reaching number 20 on the Hot 100 chart. The song retains two main versions, the original and a remix which utilizes the same beat as Grandmaster Flash's "The Message", titled "Check Yo Self ". The original mix includes a sample from the intro of the Beastie Boys' track "The New Style", which uses the phrase "check it" throughout the chorus.
"You Know How We Do It" is a song by American rapper, actor and filmmaker Ice Cube, released as the second single from his fourth studio album, Lethal Injection (1993). The song was released on February 2, 1994 by Lench Mob and Priority, and was a No. 30 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. Musically, it is in the G-funk genre, and has the same kind of mood and feeling as "It Was a Good Day". The song samples "The Show Is Over" by Evelyn "Champagne" King, "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang, and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.
"You Can Do It" is a hip-hop song by American rapper Ice Cube. It was released as the second single from the Next Friday soundtrack. The song features Ice Cube's Westside Connection bandmate Mack 10, as well as rapper Ms. Toi. "You Can Do It" later used as the lead single on Cube's sixth studio album, War & Peace Vol. 2 . The song also appears on his Greatest Hits and In the Movies compilations. It would also appear on the soundtrack for the film Save the Last Dance.
Bow Down is the debut studio album by American West Coast hip hop supergroup Westside Connection. It was released on October 22, 1996, through Lench Mob Records and Priority Records. The recording sessions took place at Ice Cube's house studio, Westsiiiiide Studios, in California, except for the song "Gangstas Make the World Go Round", which was recorded at Treehouse Studios in South Africa. The production was handled by Bud'da, Quincy Jones III, Binky Mack, and Ice Cube, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Allfrumtha I and the Comrads.
Hoo-Bangin' Records is a record label founded by Dedrick "Mack 10" Rolison in 1996. Its name is derived from the namesake song by his group Westside Connection, which was released that same year. The label operated as an imprint of Priority and Capitol Records until 2000, and later Fontana Distribution after the label's 2011 re-launch.
"Gangsta Nation" is a song by American West Coast hip hop/gangsta rap supergroup Westside Connection featuring Nate Dogg. It was released on October 14, 2003 via Priority Records as the only single from the group's second studio album Terrorist Threats. Written by all the three members, Ice Cube, Mack 10 and WC, as well as Nate Dogg and Fredwreck, it was produced by the latter. Mike Epps made a cameo appearance in the music video, which was directed by Dave Meyers.
"Gangstas Make the World Go Round" is the second single by Westside Connection from the debut studio album, Bow Down, which was released on February 18, 1997.
"Pushin' Weight" is a song written and performed by American rappers Ice Cube and Mr. Short Khop. It was released on October 13, 1998 through Priority Records as the lead single from the former's fifth solo studio album War & Peace Vol. 1 . Recording sessions took place at Atomic Dog Studios in Houston. Production was handled by N.O. Joe. An accompanying music video was directed by Gregory Dark starring Westside Connection and Mr. Short Khop.
The discography of West Coast hip hop artist Mack 10 consists of eight studio albums, two compilation albums, twenty-two singles, and fifteen music videos. He has also collaborated on two albums and was featured in two soundtrack albums. After signing to Priority Records in 1995, Mack 10 released his self-titled debut album in June. The album, produced by fellow rapper Ice Cube, saw considerable commercial success and went Gold in the US. His prosperity continued when he released Based on a True Story, which peaked at number fourteen on the US Billboard 200. The rapper collaborated with Tha Dogg Pound to record "Nothin' But the Cavi Hit" which was released on the Rhyme & Reason soundtrack. Mack 10's 1998 release, The Recipe, was the rapper's third and final album to be certified Gold in the US by RIAA. Mack 10's album sales began to decline after his first compilation album release, Hoo-Bangin': The Mix Tape, Vol. 1. His fourth studio album, The Paper Route (2000), debuted at number nineteen on the Billboard 200; however, it failed to earn the rapper any RIAA certifications.
Straight Outta Compton: N.W.A 10th Anniversary Tribute is a tribute album to the American Compton-based hip hop group N.W.A, released through Priority Records in 1998 on the tenth anniversary of the group's debut studio album Straight Outta Compton. It is composed of twelve of the thirteen songs in the order identical to the original, covered by N.W.A. members' affiliates, such as Ice Cube's Westside Connection groupmates WC and Mack 10 along with Hoo-Bangin' Records labelmates Allfrumtha I, Boo Kapone, MC Eiht and The Comrads, Eazy-E's protégés Gangsta Dresta and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Dr. Dre's long time partner Snoop Dogg with Snoop's allies C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker, and Aftermath Ent. signee King Tee, as well as several other fellow rappers, including Ant Banks, Jayo Felony, J Dubb, Mr. Mike, Big Pun, Cuban Link and Fat Joe. Production was mostly handled by Ant Banks, as well as Craig B. of Beats by the Pound, Krayzie Bone, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, with Andrew M. Shack and Marvin Watkins served as executive producers. The album peaked at number 142 on the Billboard 200 and 31 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Music video was shot for the title track.
Darrell L. Johnson, also known as K-Dee, formerly Kid Disaster, is an American rapper most known for his album Ass, Gas, or Cash
Section 8 is the fourth studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on June 8, 1999, through Hoo-Bangin' Records and Priority Records. Production was handled by several record producers, including Ant Banks, DJ Slip, Fredwreck, Julio G and MC Eiht himself, with Hoo-Bangin' Records founder Mack 10 serving as executive producer. It features guest performances from Ice Cube, High "T", Mack 10, Soultre, Techniec, Val Young and CMW.
Allfrumtha I was an American rap duo from Inglewood, California: Binky Mack and Squeak Ru. They first appeared together on Westside Connection's 1996 debut album, Bow Down. Before dropping their self-titled debut album on Priority Records in 1998, they appeared together on several Priority Records soundtracks and compilations, including: The Substitute, West Coast Bad Boyz II, Big Thangs, Gang Related, Straight Outta Compton: N.W.A 10th Anniversary Tribute, and Thicker Than Water.
"Throw Your Set in the Air" is a song by American hip hop group Cypress Hill, released in September 1995 by Ruffhouse, Columbia and SME as the lead single from their third album, Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom (1995). The song was written by group members B-Real and DJ Muggs, and produced by Muggs. Its accompanying music video, directed by McG, has a sepia tone and features the group performing in various places along with images of Buddha. Along with "Insane in the Brain", "Throw Your Set in the Air" is used in The Simpsons episode "Homerpalooza".
