Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of hip-hop that conveys the culture and values typical of urban gangs 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.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group formed in Compton, California. They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential groups in the history of hip hop music.
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream.
O'Shea Jackson Sr., better known 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.
Korn is the debut studio album by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on October 11, 1994, through Immortal and Epic Records. Before recording the album, the band was approached by Immortal/Epic Records after a performance at Huntington Beach, California. The band signed to their label because they did not want to "sign away all of their creative freedom". The band would record at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California, with producer Ross Robinson, who also produced their 1993 demo Neidermayer's Mind. The recording took place from May to June 1994. After the recordings, Korn toured with Biohazard and House of Pain.
Roger McBride, better known by his stage name King T, is an American West Coast Hip hop rapper from Compton, California. Emerging as one of Compton's earliest hip hop artists, he was signed to Capitol Records, where he released his debut album Act a Fool in 1988 with the hit singles "Act a Fool," "Payback's A Mutha," "The Coolest," and "Bass” [Remix], all of which were considered hip-hop classics. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked primarily with producer DJ Pooh, and was responsible for the rise of Tha Alkaholiks, whom he helped guide into the rap game. King T is also the CEO of his own record label, King T Inc.
Brian Philip Welch, also known by his stage name Head, is an American musician. He is a guitarist and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death, where he also provides vocals. Along with fellow Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, Welch helped develop Korn's distinctive sound that defined the nu metal aesthetic beginning in the mid-'90s.
Reginald Quincy Arvizu, also known as "Fieldy", is an American musician, best known as the bassist for nu metal band Korn. He is also the guitarist/bassist for rock band StillWell.
Ryan Daniel Martinie is an American musician, best known as the bassist for heavy metal band Mudvayne.
Korn Kovers is an unreleased cover album project by American nu metal band Korn.
"Alone I Break" is a song written and recorded by the American nu metal band Korn for their fifth studio album Untouchables. It was released as the album's third single in November 2002.
L.A.P.D. was an American funk metal band formed in 1989 in Bakersfield, California. From 1989 to 1992, the member line-up was James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Silveria and Richard Morrill. The group has released one studio album, one extended play, and one compilation album.
"Got the Life" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on November 23, 1998, as the second single from their third album, Follow the Leader (1998). The song was recorded in April 1998 at NRG Recording Studios. The band decided they would release the song as a promotional single after each member found that there was something "special" about the song. The single had "phenomenal success", and its music video was requested more than any other video on MTV's TRL, making it the first officially "retired" music video.
Rock'n Roll Gangster is the only studio album by Fieldy's Dreams, a hip hop project of Korn bass guitarist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu. It was released on January 22, 2002 via Epic Records. Production was handled by Bjorn "Polarbear" Soderberg and Fieldy himself. The album features guest appearances from RBX, Angela Rascoe, Helluva, Jonathan Davis, Polarbear, Son Doobie and Tre Hardson. Rock'n Roll Gangster peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart in the US.
Droid was an American groove metal band from Long Beach, California, formerly signed to Korn member James "Munky" Shaffer's record label Emotional Syphon Records.
Trevant Hardson, best known by his stage name Slimkid3, is an American rapper from Los Angeles. He is a founding member of The Pharcyde.
Behind The Player: Fieldy is an interactive music video featuring Korn bassist Fieldy. Released on November 1, 2008 by IMV, the DVD features Fieldy giving in-depth bass lessons for how to play "Got The Life" and "Freak on a Leash" by Korn and an intimate behind-the scenes look at his life as a professional musician, including rare photos and video. The DVD also includes Fieldy jamming the two tracks with Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, VideoTab that shows exactly how Fieldy plays his parts in the two songs, as well as other bonus material.
"A Song for Chi" is an instrumental alternative metal song recorded by several high-profile rock and metal musicians to raise money for poet and Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who was severely injured in a car crash in Santa Clara, California on November 4, 2008. All profits from the song went directly to Cheng and his family for the purpose of paying for his medical care. Cheng died in April 2013.
Neidermayer's Mind is a demo tape by American nu metal band Korn. It was produced by Ross Robinson and released in 1993. The demo is a rarity, but finished versions of the songs appeared on subsequent Korn albums.
