Dru Down | |
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Birth name | Danyel Robinson |
Born | East Oakland, California, U.S. | September 14, 1971
Genres | Hip hop, Gangsta rap, G funk |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, actor |
Years active | 1988–present |
Labels |
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Danyel Robinson (born September 14, 1971), better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California. [1] [2] 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.
Danyel Robinson grew up in East Oakland, California, raised by his grandmother and step-father after having lost his mother at the age of three. In his early teens, Robinson discovered from his grandmother that his biological father was bassist and singer Bootsy Collins, Collins having met his mother at a show. [3]
Robinson began developing an interest in rap music in the late 1980s, and eventually began recording his own songs as Dru Down, releasing his debut album Fools from the Streets in 1993 to moderate success in the Bay Area. [1] The local success of his album led to him being signed to Relativity Records, a Sony Music imprint to release his second album Explicit Game in 1994. [1] The album spawned Dru Down's most successful single to date, "Pimp of the Year", which peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. [4] The single stayed on Billboard for 24 weeks. [5]
Dru Down's third album, Can You Feel Me , was released in 1996, and spawned a single of the same name that was a minor but commercial hit. [1] It also featured Dru Down's first collaboration with his father, Bootsy Collins, which was followed by a guest appearance on Collins' album Fresh Outta 'P' University. One of the album's songs, Mista Busta addresses Dru Down's then-ongoing feud with fellow Bay Area rapper Too Short, and serves as a diss track towards Too Short. The album peaked at #54 on the Billboard 200, and was critically praised, receiving a 4/5 star rating from Allmusic. [6] That same year, Dru Down began his acting career, appearing in the movie Original Gangstas as Kayo. He also appeared on the 2Pac song "All About You" from 2Pac's fourth studio album All Eyez on Me, where he performs the intro. [1]
In 2001, he signed with Ruthless Records, but did not release any albums, instead releasing his fourth and fifth studio albums through American Recordings and C-Note Records, respectively. [1]
Currently, Dru Down is signed to rapper Yukmouth's Smoke-A-Lot Records and owns his own record label, Pimp On Records, where he released his 2010 album Chronicles of a Pimp. He also serves as a member of the hip-hop collective The Regime, a group led by Yukmouth. The group released their debut album, Dragon Gang in 2013. [1]
In 2013, Dru Down was sentenced to three years in the Santa Rita jail for driving under the influence and evading police, a violation of his probation for a prior driving offence. He was featured on an episode of Lockup on MSNBC. [2]
Year | Title[ citation needed ] | Artist(s) | Album |
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1995 | "Pimps, Playas & Hustlas" | Luniz feat. Dru Down & Richie Rich | Luniz - Operation Stackola |
"Put The Lead On Ya" | Luniz feat. Dru Down | ||
"I Got 5 on It (Bay Ballas Remix)" | Luniz feat. Dru Down, Richie Rich, E-40, Shock G, Humpty Hump & Spice 1 | Luniz - I Got 5 on It (Single) | |
1996 | "All Bout U" | 2Pac feat. Dru Down, Yaki Kadafi, Hussein Fatal, Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg | 2Pac - All Eyez on Me |
1997 | "I'm Busy (Off Dah Hook)" | Bootsy Collins feat. Dru Down | Bootsy Collins - Fresh Outta P University |
"Sliden" | Cobra feat. Dru Down, Knucklehead, Otis & Shug | Cobra - Playaz In Paradise | |
"Pistols Blazin" | 3X Krazy feat. Dru Down & Yukmouth | 3X Krazy - Stackin' Chips | |
"Cali Lifestyles" | N2Deep feat. Dru Down & PSD | N2Deep - The Golden State | |
"Dirty Raps" | Luniz feat. Dru Down | Luniz - Bootlegs & B-Sides | |
"911" | |||
"Live Yo Life" | Luniz feat. Dru Down | Laylaw presents - The Lawhouse Experience | |
2000 | "She's Paid" | AMG feat. Dru Down & Bosko | AMG - Bitch Betta Have My Money 2001 |
"Pimpin', Playin', Hustlin'" | Boo Yaa T.R.I.B.E. feat. Dru Down, Knumskull & Byron "Blu" Mitchell | Boo Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Mafia Lifestyle | |
2001 | "Block Shit" | Yukmouth & Tha Gamblaz feat. Phats Bossalini, Dru Down, Mac Mall & Troopa | Yukmouth & Tha Gamblaz - Block Shit |
"I'm A Boss" | Daz Dillinger & JT the Bigga Figga feat. C-Bo, Yukmouth & Dru Down | Daz Dillinger & JT the Bigga Figga - Game for Sale | |
2002 | "Closer Than Close" | Luniz feat. Dru Down | Luniz - Silver & Black |
"Fugitive (Armed & Dangerous)" | Luniz feat. Dru Down & Benjilino | ||
"I'm So Cool" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down, Lil' Ron & Richie Rich | Yukmouth - United Ghettos of America | |
"Neva" | Yukmouth feat. Big Bear & Dru Down | ||
2003 | "Pimp Dat Bitch" | Yukmouth feat. B-Legit & Dru Down | Yukmouth - Godzilla |
2004 | "Spin & Chop" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down, Kieu & Nate Da Nut | Yukmouth - United Ghettos of America Vol. 2 |
"United Ghettos Of America pt. 2" | Yukmouth feat. 151, C-Bo, Dru Down, Eastwood, Roscoe, Spice 1 & Tha Realest | ||
2006 | "Get Nasty" | Pretty Black feat. Dru Down, Husalah & Kazi | Pretty Black - Prince Of The Streets |
"Mobsta's" | Pretty Black feat. Bleu Davinci, Dru Down & J-Diggs | ||
"We On" | Pretty Black feat. Dru Down & Mistah F.A.B. | ||
"Yada Wha" | Pretty Black feat. Dru Down, Monsta Ganjah & Young Dru | ||
"1st of the Month" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down & Monsta Gunjah | Yukmouth & Messy Marv - 100 Racks | |
2007 | "It's Pimpin'" | The Yay Boyz feat. Dru Down & Clyde Carson | The Yay Boyz - Nosebleed Muzik |
"My Bitches And Me" | The Yay Boyz feat. Dru Down | ||
"So Paid" | The Yay Boyz feat. Yukmouth & Dru Down | ||
"Wreckless" | The Yay Boyz feat. Dru Down | ||
"Eye Candy" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down, Lee Majors, Pretty Black & Tuffy | Yukmouth - United Ghettos of America: Eye Candy | |
2008 | "East Oakland" | Yukmouth feat. Bart, Beeda Weeda, The Delinquents, Dru Down, Kafani, Richie Rich, Tajai, The Team & Tuffy The Goon | Yukmouth - Million Dollar Mouthpiece |
"Pimpin'" | Mac Dre feat. Tuff Da Goon, Dru Down, Thizz Mob & Rydah J. Klyde | Mac Dre - Dre Area | |
2009 | "Pimpin' 4 Real" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down, Dyson & Mac Dre | Yukmouth - The West Coast Don |
"Hook Up, Cook Up" | Messy Marv feat. Dru Down | Messy Marv - Draped Up and Chipped Out, Vol. 4 | |
2010 | "Attention" | E-40 feat. Dru Down, Suga Free & Stompdown | E-40 - Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift |
"So Trill" | Yukmouth feat. Lil Hype & Dru Down | Yukmouth - Free at Last | |
"Cheat'n Ass Lover" | Tha Dogg Pound feat. Soopafly, Nate Dogg & Dru Down | Tha Dogg Pound - 100 Wayz | |
2012 | "Where U From" | Yukmouth, Rahmean, Stevie Joe, Clyde Carson, Philthy Rich | Half Baked |
"Airheads" | Blanco, Yukmouth, B-Legit, Richie Rich | Cookies 'n Cream | |
2013 | "Wow Really" | Yukmouth feat. Lee Majors & Dru Down | Yukmouth - The Last Dragon |
"Back In the Trap" | Yukmouth feat. Boss Tone, Monsta, T-Lew, Kuzzo Fly, Rahmean & Dru Down | ||
"It's a Mob Campaign" | Yukmouth feat. Dru Down, T-Lew, Rahmean, Kuzzo Fly & Lee Majors | ||
"Why Ask Why" | Yukmouth feat. Lee Majors, Dru Down & Chop Black | ||
"On Momz" | Yukmouth feat. Lee Majors, Rahmean, T-Lew & Dru Down | ||
"Who Me" | Yukmouth & The Regime feat. Lee Majors, Dru Down, Rahmean & Ampichino | Yukmouth & The Regime - Dragon Gang | |
"Bonified Husalah" | Yukmouth & The Regime feat. Lee Majors, Dru Down, Kuzzo Fly, T-Lew, Mosnta, BG Bulletwound & Chop Black | ||
"Rock n Roll" | Yukmouth & The Regime feat. Dru Down & Tech N9ne | ||
"Regime Terrorist" | Yukmouth & The Regime feat. Lee Majors, T-Lew, Chop Black, Dru Down, Kuzzo Fly & BG Bulletwound | ||
"All Nighters" | Yukmouth & The Regime feat. Kuzzo Fly, T-Lew, Dru Down, Boss Tone, Rahmean & Lee Majors | ||
"On Rubber Bands" | Lee Majors feat. Husalah, Breeze, Dru Down, Rahmean, Big Heazy & Young Jesus | G Slaps Radio Vol 4: Turkey Bags In My Louis Duffle | |
2014 | "The Best of Me" | Boss Tone feat. Dru Down & ROC | Guns & Rose |
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 was heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It was represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).
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.
UGK was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first major-label album, Too Hard to Swallow, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the self-titled Underground Kingz album, which contained their single "International Players Anthem " and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, in August 2007. The duo has also been featured on hit singles by several other artists, such as "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" by Three 6 Mafia. Pimp C founded UGK Records in late 2005. On December 4, 2007, Pimp C died in his West Hollywood, California hotel room.
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Dejuan Walker, better known by his stage name Suga Free, is an American rapper.
Samuel Lindley, better known by his stage name The Legendary Traxster, is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. He is best known as a producer for hip-hop artists Twista, Do or Die, and Ludacris. He is the owner of Traxster Inc. and Co-CEO of CWAL Records. In 2017, he launched Nothing But Dope, an imprint distributed through Priority Records. He is also one half of the Hip Hop duo House Lindley, which is composed of him and his wife Latia "Tia London" Lindley.
Ridin' Dirty is the third studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on July 30, 1996, by Jive Records. Despite no music videos or official singles being released, it is their best selling album with over 850,000 copies sold to date, with 70,000 copies sold in its first week.
The Playa Rich Project is a compilation presented by American rapper Spice 1. It was released November 14, 2000 on Mobb Status Entertainment. The album features performances by Spice 1, Yukmouth, RBL Posse, C-Bo, Outlawz, Jayo Felony, Tray Dee, Three 6 Mafia, B-Legit, Hot Boyz and Yukmouth.
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Stretch, Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993, the song holds significance as the only song 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. officially recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song, originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World, then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life, Volume I, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively.
Hits II: Ganked & Gaffled is second greatest hits album by American rapper Spice 1. It was released February 20, 2001 on Mobb Status Entertainment. The album features production by Ant Banks, Blackjack, E-A-Ski, Mike Dean, Paris, Rick Rock, Sam Bostic and Spice 1. It features songs from all of Spice 1's previous albums, as well as guest appearances from the albums: Hard to Hit, In a Major Way, Lost and the single "I Got 5 on It". The album features performances by 2Pac, E-40, Luniz, Dru Down, Shock G, Richie Rich, Roger Troutman, Too Short, 8Ball and Rappin' 4-Tay.
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Can You Feel Me is the third studio album by American rapper Dru Down. It was released in 1996 through C-Note/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Infinite Studios in Alameda, at Backroom Studios in Glendale, at Power Play Studios in Oakland, at The Grill in Emeryville, at Umoja Vibe, at Bosko's Digital Chicken And Beats in Los Angeles, and at Blackhole Studio near Los Angeles. Production was handled by DJ Fuze, Alonzo Jackson, Lev Berlak, The Whole 9, Maurice "Butch" Stewart, Big D the Impossible, Bosko, DJ Battlecat, DJ Daryl, Jamiel Hassan, Kenny McCloud, Soopafly and Terry T, with Chris "C&H" Hicks serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Luniz, Bootsy Collins, Eklipze, Knucklehead, L.V., Nick Nac, Poppa LQ and T-Luni. The album peaked at number 54 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 14 on the Top R&B Albums chart in the United States. It spawned two singles: "Can You Feel Me" and "Baby Bubba". Its lead single reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
This is the discography of rap group Outlawz below:
Explicit Game is the second studio album by American rapper Dru Down, his first for Relativity Records, and his first to make the billboard charts. Essentially a re-release of his 1993 debut album, Fools from the Streets, the album features similar cover art, a re-ordered track list, and a few new tracks. Explicit Game made it to 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and 31 on the Top Heatseekers chart. In addition to the album charting, a single entitled "Pimp of the Year" made it to 65 on the Billboard Top 100 and 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
Life After Jive: 2000 to 2005 is the fourth greatest hits album by the American rapper Spice 1, released on April 4, 2006, on Real Talk Entertainment. The album has production by Big Hollis, Blackjack, DJ Epik, Pimp C, Spice 1 and Tone Tovin. The songs were recorded between 2000 and 2005, after Spice 1's last album on Jive Records was released, Immortalized, in 1999. Several guest performers appear on the album, including MC Eiht, UGK, Tray Dee, Celly Cel, Kurupt, Bad Azz, Jayo Felony, Yukmouth, C-Bo, MJG and Outlawz.
Hits 3 is third greatest hits album by American rapper Spice 1. It was released April 9, 2002 on Mobb Status Entertainment. The album was produced by Ant Banks, Blackjack, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Pimp C, Al Eaton, DJ Squeaky, Tony Harmon and Spice 1. It features songs from his "post-Jive" releases: The Last Dance, Spiceberg Slim and The Playa Rich Project, one song from the Jive album Immortalized, as well as guest appearances from the albums: The Big Badass, CrazyNDaLazDayz, Colouz Uv Sound and Cellblock Compilation, Vol. 2: Face/Off. Several guest performers appear on the album, including: 2Pac, Ant Banks, Too Short, UGK, Jayo Felony, Tray Dee, Yukmouth, MJG and Three 6 Mafia.
Little Bruce, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California, best known for this 1994 debut album released on Sick Wid It, now known as Heavy on the Grind Entertainment, and Jive Records, XXXtra Manish.
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