West Coast hip hop is a regional genre of hip hop music that encompasses any artists or music that originated in the West Coast of the United States. West Coast hip hop began to dominate from a radio play and sales standpoint during the early to-mid 1990s with the birth of G-funk and the emergence of record labels such as Suge Knight and Dr. Dre's Death Row Records, Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records, the continued success of Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, Aftermath Records belonging to Dr. Dre, and others.
Tha Alkaholiks, also known as Tha Liks, is an American hip hop trio from Los Angeles, California, United States. Since the early 1990s they have produced party music with a hardcore hip hop edge, powered by the beats of DJ and producer E-Swift and the rhymes of J-Ro and Tash. Though commercial crossover success largely eluded the group, they maintained a dedicated following on their native West Coast, throughout the United States and worldwide. 3 songs of Tha Alkaholiks were also featured on Loud Rocks.
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.
David Marvin Blake, better known by his stage names DJ Quik or Da Quiksta, is an American rapper and producer, 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".
Tracy Lynn Curry, better known as The D.O.C., is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. In addition to a solo career, he was a member of the Southern hip hop group Fila Fresh Crew and later collaborated with hardcore rap group N.W.A–where he co-wrote many of their releases–as well as Eazy-E's solo debut album Eazy-Duz-It. He has also worked with Dr. Dre, co-writing his solo debut album, while Dre produced Curry's solo debut album, released by Ruthless Records. He was one of the founders of Death Row Records along with Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.
Farid Karam Nassar, better known by his stage name Fredwreck, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop recording artist, DJ and record producer. He got his big break when he became a producer for Dr. Dre's newly founded record label Aftermath Entertainment, and then went on to work with Snoop Dogg's record label Dogghouse Records and became a known producer on Tha Dogg Pound-affiliated material. During this time he also was a producer for Snoop Doggs track: Riders on the storm Ft The Doors on EA's Need for speed underground 2. He has produced tracks from Kurupt's Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha and most of his next release, Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey; both released during the period the rapper had left Death Row Records. He has also produced for other hip-hop and pop artists such as Eminem, Britney Spears, Ice Cube, Westside Connection, Lil' Kim, Hilary Duff, Xzibit, The Game, Nate Dogg, Everlast, Cypress Hill, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, as well as non-US acts such as Dizzie Rascal, Tamer Hosny, Qusai Kheder and Karl Wolf.
21 & Over is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on August 24, 1993 via Loud/RCA Records. Recording sessions took place at Yo Mama's House in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Lootpack, King Tee, Derrick "D. Pimp" Williams, and Tha Liks themselves, who also served as executive producers together with Fabian Duvernay. It features guest appearances from King Tee, Field Trip, Lootpack and Threat. The album peaked at number 124 on the Billboard 200 and number 23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Coast II Coast is the second studio album by American hip hop trio Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on February 28, 1995 via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Yo Mama's House in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Diamond D, Madlib, and Tha Liks themselves. It features guest appearances from King Tee, Declaime, Diamond D, Lootpack, Q-Tip, The Baby Bubbas and Xzibit. The album reached number 50 on the Billboard 200 and number 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its lead single "Daaam!" peaked at No. 85 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and No. 20 on the Hot Rap Singles, while the second single off of the album, "Next Level", landed at No. 43 on the Hot Rap Singles.
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, along with Daz Dillinger. His first solo album arrived in 1998. After feuding, the duo reunited in 2005.
Likwidation is the third studio album by American hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on August 26, 1997, via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Enterprise Studio in Burbank, California, at Yo Mama's House and at Sound Castle Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was primarily handled by member E-Swift, as well as Madlib, Easy Mo Bee, T-Smoov, and Marley Marl. It features guest appearances from Xzibit, Keith Murray, King Tee, Lootpack, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Phil da Agony, The WhoRidas, with cameos from DeBarge, LL Cool J and Nas. The album peaked at number 57 on the Billboard 200 and number 15 on Top R&B Albums. Its lead single, "Hip Hop Drunkies", became the group's biggest hit in 1997, peaking at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
X.O. Experience is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on July 10, 2001, via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Soundcastle and Skip Saylor Recording in California, at The Hit Factory in New York, at Mastersound Studio in Virginia Beach, and at Mirror Image Studios in Dix Hills. Production was handled by member E-Swift, as well as Rockwilder, DJ Scratch, DJ Twinz, Thayod Ausar and The Neptunes. It features guest appearances from Xzibit, Busta Rhymes, Butch Cassidy, Defari, King Tee, Kurupt and Shae Fiol. The album reached number 47 on the Billboard 200 and number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its lead single "Best U Can" became a minor hit in 2001, peaking at No. 64 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 14 on the Hot Rap Songs. The album's cover art is an homage to The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 1967 album Are You Experienced.
Firewater is the fifth and final studio album by American hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks. It was released on January 24, 2006, via Waxploitation/Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Street Soul Studios in Los Angeles. Production was handled by members E-Swift and J-Ro, The Rural, Breakmecanix, Danger Mouse, Evidence and Keezo Kane. It features guest appearances from Bishop Lamont, King T and Styliztik Jones.
Tha Triflin' Album is the third studio album by West Coast hip hop artist King Tee. It was released on January 26, 1993, via Capitol Records. Recording sessions took place in 1992 in California. Production was handled by nine record producers, including DJ Pooh, DJ Aladdin, Bobcat, Marley Marl, Tha Alkaholiks, Broadway, SLJ, Mr. Woody, and King T himself. It also features guest appearances from Ice Cube, Deadly Threat, Nefretitti, Mad Kap, and Tha Alkaholiks. The album spawned two singles: "Got It Bad Y'all" and "Black Togetha Again". Both singles were later included on King Tee's greatest hits compilation Ruff Rhymes: Greatest Hits Collection. The album peaked at number 95 on the US Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The success of this album is quite significant as it allowed King Tee's protégés, Tha Alkaholiks, to gain a following. It also provided a foundation for King Tee's Likwit Crew.
IV Life is the fourth studio album by American West Coast hip hop artist King Tee. It was released on March 28, 1995 via MCA Records, making it his first album on the label after his split with Capitol Records. Production was handled by several record producers, including DJ Pooh, Moe Love, TR Love, Grand Mixer DXT, E-Swift, DJ Broadway, Mark Sparks, Rashad, Thayod, Da Mic Profesah, Nikke Nicole, SLJ, and King Tee himself. It also features guest appearances from Xzibit, Breeze, and Tha Alkaholiks. The album spawned three singles: "Dippin'"/"Duck", "Way Out There"/"Super Nigga" and "Free Style Ghetto"/"Let's Get It On", but only "Dippin'" made it to Billboard charts, reaching number 46 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Rap Life is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Tash. It was released on November 2, 1999 via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Skip Saylor Recording, Enterprise Studios, Troposphere Studios, Mirror Image Studios, and Soundcastle. Production was handled by E-Swift, Fredwreck, Minnesota, Rockwilder, DJ Battlecat, Knobody, Younglord and Sir Jinx. It features guest appearances from Tha Alkaholiks, Phil Da Agony, B-Real, Carl Thomas, Kurupt, L.V., Outkast, Philip Johnson, Raekwon, Xzibit and Ice-T. The album reached number 148 on the Billboard 200, number 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and topped the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States. Its singles—"Rap Life" and "Bermuda Triangle"—were minor success landing on the Hot Rap Songs at No. 45 and 39, respectively.
Jon Wells is an American record producer, record executive, and rapper. He is a member of the Likwit Crew.
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, better known by his stage name Xzibit, is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality.
Control Freek is the second solo studio album by American rapper Tash. It was released on June 30, 2009 via Amalgam Digital. Production was handled by E-Swift, J Beam, Affion Crockett, Da Truth, Emmaculate, E Sharp, Josh G, J. Wells, Maestro, Montage One, Oh No, Thayod Ausar and Tony Touch. It features guest appearances from Tha Alkaholiks, Knoc-turn'al, Fameus, King T, Ali Jammali, B-Real, Del the Funky Homosapien, Khujo, Kokane, Mathmadix, Montageone, O Sin, Samuel Christian and Styliztik Jones.
Shae Fiol is a Cuban-American singer-songwriter who currently lives in New York City. The name Shae was given to her after the Cuban revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Her mother is American born and her father is of Cuban descent. Shae's sound is described as acoustic soul, with Latin and jazz influence. She has been compared to artists Nelly Furtado, Esthero, and Sade.
"Hip Hop Drunkies" is a song written and performed by American hip hop group Tha Alkaholiks featuring Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard. It was released in 1997 through Loud Records as the lead single from Tha Liks' third studio album Likwidation. Recording sessions took place at Soundcastle in Los Angeles and at Marley's House Of Hits in New York. Production was handled by E-Swift with co-production from Marley Marl. The single peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100, at number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and at number 6 on the Hot Rap Songs, making it the group's most successful single.
