CJ Mac

Last updated
CJ Mac
Birth nameBryaan Ross
Born (1966-03-26) March 26, 1966 (age 58)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1990–present
Labels

Bryaan Ross, also known as CJ Mac (Born March 26, 1966) is an American rapper and controversial internet personality.

Contents

Music career

He released his debut EP, Color Me Funky, independently in 1991, under the name "CJ Mack." The album is out of print, and extremely rare. He returned in 1995 and released his second album, True Game on Rap-A-Lot Records, in 1995 with producer Mad. He was originally going to release the album through Ruthless Records.

He appeared in the movie Thicker than Water with Mack 10 and Fat Joe, where he played a drug lord called Gator. [1]

His third album, Platinum Game , featured various west coast rappers and peaked at 77 Top R&B/Hip-hop albums. [2]

CJ Mac also directed a documentary called On the C-Walk. He is also known for working with Death Row Records in late 2000 with his song "I Ain't Fuccin Wit' Cha" (from Too Gangsta for Radio ), in which he insulted Dr. Dre for leaving the label and declaring gangsta rap dead, as well as artists Hittman, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Aftermath Records. CJ Mac is also known for collaborating with artists C-Bo, Yukmouth, Dresta, Poppa LQ, Mack 10, Techniec, Scarface and WC.

Cj Mac was featured on a No Jumper interview, a podcast on the internet released May 15, 2016. [3]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Related Research Articles

Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture and values typical of urban gangs, reality of the world and street hustlers. Emerging in the late 1980s, gangsta rap's pioneers include Schoolly D of Philadelphia and Ice-T of Los Angeles, later expanding in California with artists such as N.W.A and Tupac Shakur. In 1992, via record producer and rapper Dr. Dre, rapper Snoop Dogg, and their G-funk sound, gangster rap broadened to mainstream popularity.

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.

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).

<i>Doggystyle</i> 1993 studio album by Snoop Doggy Dogg

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three 6 Mafia</span> American hip-hop group

Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Emerging as a horror-themed underground hip hop group, they went on to enjoy mainstream success. The group's 1995 debut album Mystic Stylez became an influential cult classic. They have released music on independent labels such as Prophet Entertainment and their own Hypnotize Minds label, as well as Relativity, Loud, and Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Short</span> American rapper (born 1966)

Todd Anthony Shaw, better known by his stage name Too Short, is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late 1980s. His lyrics were often based on pimping and promiscuity, but also drug culture and street survival; exemplified respectively in his most popular singles "Blow the Whistle" and "The Ghetto." He is one of few acts to have worked with both Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. during the height of their respective careers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daz Dillinger</span> American rapper and producer (born 1973)

Delmar Drew Arnaud, known professionally as Daz Dillinger or simply Daz, is an American rapper and record producer. As a member of Death Row Records in the early 1990s, he is credited with the label in pioneering West Coast hip hop and gangsta rap for mainstream audiences. Alongside Kurupt, he formed the hip hop duo tha Dogg Pound in 1992, with whom he has released eight albums.

Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is an American old-school rapper and producer from New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compton's Most Wanted</span> American hip hop group

Compton's Most Wanted (C.M.W.) is an American gangsta rap group and part of the early West Coast hip hop scene. The leaders of the group are MC Eiht and Tha Chill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangsta's Paradise</span> 1995 single by Coolio featuring L.V.

"Gangsta's Paradise" is a single by American rapper Coolio, released on August 1, 1995 by Tommy Boy, Warner Bros. and MCA. Interpolating Stevie Wonder's song "Pastime Paradise" (1976), "Gangsta's Paradise" features vocals from American singer L.V. who served as a co-composer and co-lyricist with Coolio and Doug Rasheed, with Wonder also being credited for the composition and lyrics. Certified Platinum in October, the song was included on Coolio's second album, Gangsta's Paradise, in November 1995. Its music video was directed by Antoine Fuqua and featured Michelle Pfeiffer. The song is taken from Pfeiffer's movie Dangerous Minds, and the music video is also themed around the movie.

Ant Banks, is an American record producer and rapper from Oakland, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The D.O.C.</span> American rapper (born 1968)

Tracy Lynn Curry, better known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. In addition to a solo career, he was a member of the Southern hip hop group Fila Fresh Crew and later collaborated with gangsta rap group N.W.A–where he co-wrote many of their releases–as well as Eazy-E's solo debut album Eazy-Duz-It. He has also worked with Dr. Dre, co-writing his solo debut album, while Dre produced Curry's solo debut album, released by Ruthless Records. He was one of the founders of Death Row Records along with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WC (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1970)

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.

Danyel Robinson, better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California. He is currently a member of The Regime, a collective of rappers that includes Yukmouth, Tech N9ne, Messy Marv, BG Bulletwound, Dorasel, Grant Rice, and Tha Realest.

<i>Its On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa</i> 1993 extended play by Eazy-E

It's On 187um Killa is the second EP released by American rapper Eazy-E and the last project to be released during his lifetime. It was released on October 19, 1993 via Relativity Records and Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, as a response to Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic, which repeatedly attacks Eazy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoo-Bangin' Records</span> American record label

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.

<i>Friday</i> (soundtrack) 1995 soundtrack album by various artists

Friday (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to F. Gary Gray's 1995 stoner film Friday. It was released on April 11, 1995, through Priority Records and consists of hip hop and R&B music.

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.

<i>Platinum Game</i> 1999 studio album by CJ Mac

Platinum Game is the second studio album by American rapper CJ Mac. It was released on August 31, 1999 through Hoo-Bangin'/Priority Records. Production was handled by Young Trey, Mad, DJ Crazy Toones, Ant Banks, DJ Battlecat and Johnny "J", with Mack 10 serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from WC, Big Pimpin' Delemond, Fat Joe, Finale, Soultre, Too Short, TQ, La' Reece and Barbara Wilson. The album peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 42 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums.

References

  1. Dargis, Manohla (1999). "Thicker Than Water". Movie section, New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  2. Allmusic charts
  3. Dargis, Manohla (2003). "C-Walk: It's a Way of Livin'". Movie section, New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-30.