20 YEARS LATER: Gangsta Raps Influence on the 1992 Civil Unrest (4/25)

20 YEARS LATER: Gangsta Raps Influence on the 1992 Civil Unrest

Pioneered in the mid-1980s by rappers such as Schoolly D and Ice-T, gangsta rap was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by groups like N.W.A.  After the national attention that Ice-T and N.W.A attracted in the late 1980s and early 1990s, gangsta rap became the most commercially lucrative subgenre of hip-hop.  The subject matter inherent in gangsta rap has caused a great deal of controversy. Criticism has come from both left wing and right wing commentators, and religious leaders, who have accused the genre of promoting crime, violence, profanity, racism, street gangs, drive-bys, vandalism, thievery, drug dealing, alcohol abuse, substance abuse and materialism.

(L to R) Los Angeles underground hip-hop Queen Medusa, Yo-Yo, Above the Law's Big Hutch and DJ Quik at Los Angeles radio station KJLH-FM.

GUESTS

DJ Quik, is an MC and record producer from Compton, Calif., whose debut album, Quik Is the Name, which was released in 1991, was led by the success of two top 20 R&B singles, “Tonite” and “Born and Raised in Compton.”

Big Wy, is one of the original members of the of the Blood & Crips Bangin on Wax album.  He is best known as a member of the popular groups Young Soldiers signed to Dangerous Quality Records and The Relativez.  Later, music mogul Suge Knight signed Big Wy to Deathrow Records and featured him on the film soundtrack for Murder Was the Case.  Born and raised in Inglewood, today, Big Wy is the CEO and co-founder of 319 Music Group, which is also home to Cali Swagg District.

Bangin’ on Wax is the first album by Bloods & Crips. The album was released in 1993 for Dangerous Records. Bangin’ on Wax was a success, making it to #86 on the Billboard 200. Four singles were released “Bangin’ on Wax”, “Piru Love”, “Crip, Crip, Crip” and “Steady Dippin'”. The album has sold over 500,000 copies, reaching Gold status.

Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube. Yo-Yo dubbed her crew the IBWC, which stood for the Intelligent Black Woman’s Coalition.

Above the Law is a rap group from Pomona, Calif., founded in 1989 by co-founded by Cold 187um aka Big Hutch.  In 1989, the group signed to the late Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records. There they became close associates of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A. Their first album on Ruthless, 1990’s Livin’ Like Hustlers, featured guest appearances from N.W.A. members and some production from Dr. Dre. Above the Law is best known for their hit “V.S.O.P.” Above the Law member Cold187um worked closely with Dre on production and the two had great influence on each other.

Hailing from the West Coast, rapper, dancer, and actress Medusa is known as the Queen of underground hip-hop.

Gregory Everett is best known for being the founder of the 1980s DJ crew Ultra Wave.  Today he’s a filmmaker, his latest project being 41^st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers.  He is credited with being the Los Angeles historian of West Coast hip-hop having gotten his start as a music video assistant director for rappers Tupac and Ice Cube. Gregory has produced and directed numerous rap music videos for Innerscope, Priority, Death Row, Sony, Universal and for artists Kurupt, Tupac, Ice Cube, and L.L. Cool J.