| "Piru Love" | |
|---|---|
 Cover art of the CD single | |
| Song by Bloods & Crips | |
| from the album Bangin' on Wax | |
| Released | March 9, 1993 |
| Genre | Gangsta rap |
| Label | Dangerous Records |
| Producer(s) | Ron Phillips (executive producer) J. Stank (producer) |
"Piru Love" is a song from the 1993 album Bangin' on Wax by the gangsta rap group Blood & Crips. [1] It was subsequently released as a single, along with several alternate versions of the song. [2] It is the group's most popular single. [3]
The song sampled "Computer Love" by Zapp & Roger. [4] The song features verses sung by Fo' Clips, Bloody Mary, RedruM 781 and Lil' Leak (CK). In the song, Bloody Mary makes references to several Piru sets, including Elm Street, Fruit Town, Tree Top and Lueders Park. [5]
Suge Knight was impressed after hearing "Piru Love" and sought out Bloody Mary, [6] who he signed to Death Row Records in 1994. [7] The Chicago Tribune considered "Piru Love" one of the best songs that references Rosecrans Avenue. [8] The Los Angeles Times included the song on a similar list. [5]
Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. is an American music executive and convicted felon who is the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Knight was a central figure in gangsta rap's commercial success in the 1990s. This feat is attributed to the record label's first two album releases: Dr. Dre's The Chronic in 1992 and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle in 1993. Knight is serving a 28-year sentence in prison for a fatal hit-and-run in 2015.
Death Row Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1991 by The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. The label became a sensation by releasing multi-platinum hip-hop albums by West Coast-based artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and 2Pac, during the 1990s. At its peak, Death Row was making over US $150 million a year.
David Marvin Blake, better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper, record producer and DJ, known for his production in the G-funk style of West Coast hip-hop. Blake has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Tupac, Chingy, R. Kelly and Shaquille O'Neal, among others. Blake's stage name reflects his ability to produce songs in a short period of time. Some of his top songs include "Dollaz + Sense", "Tonite", "Born and Raised in Compton" and "Jus Lyke Compton."
Bangin' on Wax is the debut album by American hip hop group Bloods & Crips. The album was released in 1993 by Dangerous Records. Bangin' on Wax peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Four singles were released: "Bangin' on Wax", "Piru Love", "Crip, Crip, Crip", and "Steady Dippin'". Music videos were made for "Bangin' on Wax", "Piru Love" and "Steady Dippin'". The album was produced by Ronnie Ron, DJ Battlecat, Big Qluso, Siilski, Tweedy Bird Loc, and J. Stank.
Jerome Albert Evans Jr., known as Silkski, was an American rapper, songwriter, and music producer who is known from his affiliation with Ol' Dirty Bastard (ODB) and the Wu-Tang Clan, whose affiliates are known as the Wu-Tang Killa Beez. Silkski is a PYN, Wu-Tang Management, Da Gutta Ent., Bungalo, Street Scholar, Universal Music Group artist and was a member of Brooklyn Zu. Silkski died October 28, 2016. He is survived by his wife Linnette Evans (Diamond), and four kids: Octavia Evans, Gauvauen Evans, Heidie Workneh, and Shadé Evans.
Richard Johnson, better known by his stage name Tweedy Bird Loc, was an American rapper. Johnson and producer Ronnie M. Phillips organized the hip hop project Bloods & Crips, a collaboration between members of the California-based Bloods and Crips street gangs. Johnson was a Crip himself, affiliated with the Kelly Park Compton set.
The Watts truce was a 1992 peace agreement among rival street gangs in Los Angeles, California, declared in the neighborhood of Watts. The truce was reached just days before the 1992 Los Angeles riots and, although not universally adhered to, was a major factor in the decline of street violence in the city between the 1990s and 2010s.
Kevin Gilliam, better known by his stage name Battlecat, is an American hip hop record producer and DJ from South Los Angeles, California.
The Pirus are a subset of the larger Bloods gang alliance, an organized crime group in the United States.
The Cedar Block Piru is a "set" of the Piru gang alliance, which itself is part of the larger Bloods gang alliance. The gang gained notability for its connection to rapper The Game, who has referenced the gang in several of his songs.
Bloods & Crips was an American gangsta rap group from Los Angeles County mostly known for their record selling song "Piru Love".
On September 7, 1996, at 11:15 p.m. (PDT), Tupac Shakur, a 25-year old American rapper, was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The shooting occurred when the car carrying Shakur was stopped at a red light at East Flamingo Road and Koval Lane.
RedruM 781 was an American rapper from Inglewood, California. RedruM 781, Tweedy Bird Loc and producer Ronnie Phillips organized the hip hop project Bloods & Crips, a collaboration between Bloods and Crips members. He was a Piru gang member himself. redruM 781 is also known for his key role on "Bangin' on Wax", he and his fellow female MC Bloody Mary were the two key players for getting this particular Bangin' on Wax project off the ground. He was the cousin of the rapper Kurupt, with whom they had a long-time beef.
Wardell Fouse, also known by his aliases Darnell Bolton and Poochie, was a Bloods gang member who was implicated in the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. Since Fouse was deceased by the time his alleged involvement became known to the investigating police, no charges were filed against him.
The East Side Mob Piru are a "set" of the Piru gang alliance, which is itself part of the larger Bloods alliance. Suge Knight, the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, is an affiliate.
On April 3, 2002, Alton "Buntry" McDonald, a member of the Mob Piru Bloods and a production manager at Death Row Records, was shot dead at a gas station in Compton, California. The murder was believed to be the result of fighting between two rival "sets" of the Bloods, the Mob Pirus and the Fruit Town Pirus.
The South Side Compton Crips are a "set" of the Crips gang alliance, based in Compton, California. This gang is known for the murder of Tupac Shakur.
The Fruit Town Piru are a "set" of the Piru gang alliance, which itself is part of the larger Bloods alliance. This Piru set is known for its rivalry with the Mob Piru Bloods during the early 2000s.
The Crenshaw Mafia are a "set" of the Bloods gang alliance. The gang are depicted in several movies including Boyz n the Hood and Straight Outta Compton.
The Elm Street Piru are a "set" of the Piru gang alliance, which itself is part of the larger Bloods alliance. The Elm Street Piru started in Compton, California, but has since spread to other parts of the United States.
Suge Knight had heard about the success of Bangin' On Wax was having in the mid-90s. He had been looking for Bloody Mary since he heard her rap on the song Piru Love.
Then Suge Knight gave her $12,000 dollars to sign to Death Row Records in 1994 right after she left Dangerous Records over royalty disputes regarding money.