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).
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.
Anthony H. Forté, better known by his stage name Rappin' 4-Tay, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California.
Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring and performed by Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil. The film's title comes from Snoop's song of the same name from his debut album, Doggystyle, which had been released a year earlier.
R U Still Down? is the sixth studio album and second double album by American rapper, 2Pac, released on November 25, 1997. It is his second posthumous release and the first to be released without his creative input and contains previously unreleased material from the time period of his albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z., Thug Life: Volume 1 and Me Against the World. Throughout the album, 2Pac airs his views on life from a time before he became involved in the controversial East Coast–West Coast rivalry. His lyrics foreshadow his death in songs like "Open Fire", "Thug Style" and "Only Fear of Death." The album spawned two hits, "Do for Love" and "I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto", of which "Do for Love" was certified Gold by the RIAA. R U Still Down? sold 549,000 copies in its first week, and topped the R&B charts in the United States for three weeks.
Contemporary R&B is a popular music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop, and electronic music.
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. To date, this is Eazy's most successful release, selling 110,600 copies in its first week. It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 as well as at number 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 1994, it was certified double-platinum by the RIAA, with over 2 million copies sold in America. It remains one of 2 gangsta rap EPs to go multi-platinum, alongside Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's Creepin on ah Come Up, which Eazy-E also appeared on.
5th Ward Boyz is an American southern hip hop trio, based out of Houston, Texas. Their name is derived from Houston's Fifth Ward. The group signed to Rap-A-Lot Records following the Geto Boys' popularity on the label.
Shock of the Hour is the debut album by rapper MC Ren, released November 16, 1993, on Ruthless Records and distributed by Relativity Records.
"Funky Worm" is a song by American funk group the Ohio Players, from their album Pleasure. It peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1973 and also peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 84 song for 1973.
Radio Fusion Radio is the debut album by rap group, the College Boyz. It was released on April 7, 1992, through Virgin Records. The album peaked at No. 118 on the Billboard 200, No. 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 2 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Three singles — "Victim of the Ghetto", "Hollywood Paradox" and "Humpin" — also made the Billboard charts.
Rigormortiz is the debut studio album by rapper DMG. It was released on June 1, 1993 through Rap-a-Lot and Priority Records and featured production from Mike Dean, N.O. Joe and DMG's mentor Scarface. The album made it to 40 on the R&B charts and 22 on the Heatseekers chart. "You Don't Hear Me Doe" was released as a single and had a promotional music video shot for it.
The 5th Ward Juvenilez was an American hip hop group from the 5th Ward of Houston, Texas. The group consisted of Daddy Lo, Mr. Slimm and Nickelboy and was signed to Rap-a-Lot Records.
Ghetto Dope is the debut studio album by American hip hop group 5th Ward Boyz. It was released in May 1993 through a joint venture between O.G. Dewey Forker's Underground Records and J. Prince's Rap-A-Lot Records with distribution via Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Jungle Style Studios and at Digital Services in Houston. Production was handled by John Bido, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, and J. Prince, who also was serving as executive producer together with Edward Russell and O.G. Dewey. It features guest appearances from Bushwick Bill, Devin the Dude and Scarface. Member Richard "Lo Life" Nash was absent on the project due to his imprisonment.
Usual Suspects is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group 5th Ward Boyz. It was released on November 18, 1997, through Rap-A-Lot Records. Recording sessions took place at Hippie House Studios and Digital Services in Houston and at the Enterprise in Burbank. Production was handled by Mike Dean, who had produced the majority of the group's previous three albums, Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams, Freddie Young, Scarface, Flip, John Bido, and the 5th Ward Boyz themselves. It features guest appearances from Mr. Slimm of 5th Ward Juvenilez, Do or Die, Devin the Dude, Johnny P, Scarface, Spice 1, Willie D, 8Ball & MJG.
P.W.A.: The Album... Keep It Poppin' is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group the 5th Ward Boyz. It was released on August 31, 1999, through Rap-A-Lot Records, making it their final record for the label. Production was handled by Derek "Grizz" Edwards, Mr. Lee and 5th Ward Boyz member E-Rock, with executive producers J Prince and OG Dewey. It features guest appearances from Devin the Dude, Ghetto Twiinz, Kuirshan, Outlawz, Rapsta, Willie D and Yukmouth. The album peaked at number 125 on the Billboard 200 and at number 26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
"Gangsta Lean" is a 1993 song by American contemporary R&B/hip hop group DRS, issued as the first single from their debut studio album of the same name. The song spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart. It was the group's only hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 4 in 1993. The Recording Industry Association of America awarded it a platinum certification, selling over 1.1 million copies domestically. Its highest chart peak was on the New Zealand Singles Chart, where it spent three weeks at No. 1.
Gangsta's Paradise is the second studio album by American rapper Coolio, released on November 7, 1995. It is Coolio's best-selling album, with over two million copies sold in the United States. The album produced three singles, which became hits: the title track, "1, 2, 3, 4 ", and "Too Hot".
J Prince Presents R.N.D.S. is a two-disc compilation album of presented and executive produced by Rap-A-Lot Records CEO J. Prince. It was released on October 5, 1999 through Priority Records.
Dion Marquise Hayes, known professionally as 42 Dugg, is an American rapper and singer from Detroit, Michigan. He signed to Yo Gotti and Lil Baby's respective labels, Collective Music Group (CMG) and Glass Window Entertainment through a joint venture with Interscope Records in 2019. He is best known for his collaborations with the latter, with whom he's released the hit songs "We Paid" and "Grace"; the former peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second mixtape, Young & Turnt 2 (2020) was met with critical acclaim and marked his debut on the Billboard 200. His 2021 singles, "4 Da Gang" and "Maybach" both received gold certification and preceded his fourth mixtape Free Dem Boyz (2021), which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.
