Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California, formed in 1988. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide, and they have obtained multi-platinum and platinum certifications. The group has been critically acclaimed for their first five albums. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast hip hop and 1990s hip hop. All of the group members advocate for medical and recreational use of cannabis in the United States. In 2019, Cypress Hill became the first hip hop group to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper and record producer from The Bronx, New York City, known for his surreal, abstract and often profane or incomprehensible lyrics. Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is generally considered to be one of hip-hop's most eccentric and unusual personalities.
Todd Anthony Shaw, better known by his stage name Too Short, is an American rapper and record producer. 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.
Jerold Dwight Ellis III, better known by his stage name Yukmouth, is an American rapper. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records and Godzilla Entertainment. He is a member of Thug Lordz with C-Bo.
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.
Lead the Way is the second studio album by American rap supergroup, T.W.D.Y. It was released October 3, 2000 on Thump Records. It peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was produced entirely by Ant Banks and Sonny B. It features guest performances by West Coast heavy-weights: Kurupt, Ice-T, Too Short, CJ Mac, B-Legit, MC Eiht, Luniz, King T, Dru Down and Cold 187um.
The BDI Thug is the only studio album by American rapper Buckshot. It was released on October 26, 1999, via Duck Down Records. Production was handled by Mark "Boogie" Brown, Baby Paul, Chris Ward, DJ Akshun, Just Blaze, Lord Jamar, Master Beats and Buckshot himself, who also served as executive producer together with Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman. It features guest appearances from BJ Swan, Blue Flame, FT, Half a Mill, Harly Hearts, Sweet Mellodye, Tone Capone and Top Dog. The album peaked at number 63 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 21 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States.
Chemistry is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Buckshot and record producer 9th Wonder. It was released on June 21, 2005 through Duck Down Music as a part of the label's "Triple Threat Campaign", preceded by Sean Price's Monkey Barz and followed by Tek & Steele's Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. Recording sessions took place at Missie Ann Studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. Production was handled entirely by 9th Wonder, with Buckshot and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Keisha Shontelle, Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Phonte, Sean Price and Starang Wondah. This album is paralleled by the Black Moon album Alter the Chemistry, which was basically a remix album produced by Da Beatminerz.
3X Krazy was an American hip hop group formed in Oakland, California in 1994. The group consisted of members Keak da Sneak, B.A. and Agerman.
Operation Stackola is the debut album by hip hop duo Luniz, released on July 4, 1995 through Virgin Records, Noo Trybe Records, and C-Note Records. The album was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipments and sales of over one million records on June 20, 2000. It features the group's most famous song to date, "I Got 5 on It." The album is The Luniz's best selling album, and it topped the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart for over 2 weeks and making the Top 20 on the Billboard 200.
Beat'n Down Yo Block! is the debut studio album by Atlanta-based American rapper Unk. It was released on October 3, 2006 through Koch Records. Production was handled by DJ Montay, MC Assault, Freddie B, Big Korey and Joe Durty. It features guest appearances from DJ Montay, Dru, Baby D, Backbone, Big Korey, D.G. Yola, DJ Jelly, Jazze Pha, Jizzleman, Loko and Parlae. The album peaked at number 109 on the Billboard 200, number 21 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 8 on the Top Rap Albums, and topped the Heatseekers Albums charts in the United States.
"I Got 5 on It" is a mobb music song by American rap duo Luniz featuring R&B singer Michael Marshall, released in May 1995 as the lead single from the duo's debut album, Operation Stackola (1995). The song reached number two in Germany, number three in the United Kingdom and number eight in the United States. It is a drug anthem about the consumption of marijuana; its title and chorus refer to the practice of splitting the cost of a marijuana purchase and claiming five dollars' worth of it. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on October 31, 1995 and sold one million copies domestically.
Thugged Out: The Albulation is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Yukmouth. It was released as double album on November 3, 1998 via Rap-A-Lot Records. Recording sessions took place at Enterprise Studio in Burbank) and at the Hippie House in Houston. Production was handled by Mike Dean, Mr. Lee, Don Juan, Tone Capone and Keith "88 Keys" Kinlow, with J. Prince serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from his The Regime groupmates Phats Bossilini, Tech N9ne, Madd Maxx and Poppa LQ, a former Luniz partner Numskull, West Coast hip hop acts MC Ren, Outlawz and Tha Dogg Pound, several labelmates from Rap-A-Lot roster, such as the 5th Ward Boyz, DMG, Do or Die, Scarface and Willie D, as well as Fa Sho, Big Lurch, Tela and Val Young among others. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and at number 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Smoke N Mirrors is the debut solo album by American rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill. It was released on February 24, 2009 through Duck Down Records with distribution via Koch Entertainment. Production was handled by Jay Turner, Scoop DeVille, Soopafly, Alchemist, Fifth, Salam Wreck, Sick Jacken and B-Real himself. It features guest appearances from Young De, Babydoll Refresh, Bo-Roc, Tek Nizzle, Buckshot, Damian Marley, Kurupt, Mal Verde, Sen Dog, Sick Jacken, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, Trace Midas and Xzibit.
The Formula is the second collaborative studio album by American rapper Buckshot and record producer 9th Wonder. It was released on April 29, 2008 through Duck Down Music. Recording sessions took place at De Stu at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. Production was handled entirely by 9th Wonder, with Buckshot and Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Carlitta Durand, Arafat Yates, Big Chops, Keisha Shontelle, Swan, Talib Kweli, Tyler Woods and the Formula Crew. The album debuted at #137 on the Billboard 200 album chart, opening with 5,874 units sold.
Pimpin' Phernalia is the fourth studio album by American rapper Dru Down. It was released on August 28, 2001 via AMC American Music/Loon E Bin Productions/Pimp On Records. Pimpin' Phernelia charted significantly on two different Billboard charts, peaking at #81 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #15 on the Independent Albums chart.
Stackin Chips is the debut studio album by American rap group 3X Krazy. It was released on April 8, 1997 through Noo Trybe Records. Production was handled by Tone Capone, One Drop Scott, Ali Malek, Ant Banks, Bosko, Lev Berlak, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, and Spenc. It features guest appearances from Luniz, Harm, Mr. Spence, Christión, Cydal, E-40, Dru Down, Mike Marshall, Pleasure and Seagram. The album made it to No. 136 on the Billboard 200, No. 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 6 on the Top Heatseekers. One single, "Keep It on the Real," peaked at No. 19 on the Hot Rap Tracks, which was based on the 52nd Steet's 1985 song, "Tell Me How It Feels."
Hi-Tek is the second studio solo album by rapper, Keak da Sneak and considered to be his best album by fans. It was released on June 16, 2001, by Moe Doe and was produced by Ant Banks, Rick Rock, One Drop Scott, Tone Capone, D-Dre, and Keak da Sneak. The album was a modest success, peaking at #95 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #18 on the Top Independent Albums, and #37 on the Top Heatseekers, and selling 6,510 copies in its first week out.
The Lawhouse Experience, Volume One is a hip hop compilation album presented by American producer Larry "Laylaw" Goodman. The eighteen-track album features guest appearances from several notable West Coast hip hop recording artists, such as Above The Law, Coolio, Dru Down, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Kausion, K-Dee, Kokane, Luniz, L.V., Ras Kass, The Pharcyde, WC and Xzibit. Recording sessions for the album took place at Da Lawhouse Recording Studio Complex in Los Angeles, California. It was released on August 29, 1997, via Zomba Records. Audio production of the album was handled primarily by Laylaw and Derrick "D'Maq" McDowell. It peaked at number 169 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 43 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
American rapper Kendrick Lamar has released five studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play (EP), five mixtapes, 65 singles, and three promotional singles. Lamar initially performed under the stage name K.Dot, releasing three mixtapes under that moniker: Y.H.N.I.C. (2004), Training Day (2005), and C4 (2009). He gained major attention after the release of his fourth mixtape Overly Dedicated, which was released in 2010. It was Lamar's first full-length project to be released under his birth name and fared well enough to enter the United States Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where it peaked at number 72.
