Kuruption
Year Released: 1998
Certification: Uncertified
Label: A&M
Guest Stars: Kurupt, Freeze, Baby S, Andre Wilson, Blaq Toven, Slip Capone, Tray D, Paul, Fuss, Buckshot, Barshawn, El-Drex, Short Khop, Trigga, Slop, Patacico, Deadly Venoms, Ralik Royale, Snake, Floyd, Drea
The Streets iz A Mutha
Year Released: 1999
Certification: Uncertified
Label: Artemis
Guest Stars: Warren G, Tray D, Snoop Dogg, Soopafly, Daz, LaToya, Roscoe, Dr. Dre, KRS-One.
Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessy
Year Released: 2001
Certification: Uncertified
Label: Artemis
Guest Stars: Nate Dogg, Soopafly, Damani, Daz Dillinger, Natina Wood, Anita "L.A.-Need" McCloud, DJ Quik, Butch Cassidy, Lil' 1/2 Dead, Jon B., Xzibit, MC Ren, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Goldie Loc, Traci Nelson, Mr. Kokane, Fred Durst, Dominique Gonzales
Biography
At this point in his illustrious career, KURUPT (aka Young Gotti) needs no introduction to anyone who has been keeping tabs on who's who in hip-hop. Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey, Kurupt's highly anticipated third LP, is his most ambitious artistic endeavor ever. It is no accident that this record comes at this particular time in his life when the MC is struggling to come to grips with his newfound status. "This album is more mature musically. I decided to call the album Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey because it's like traveling through my inner thoughts and taking people into a whole new realm. It's like a road map through my mind and into places where I never thought I could expose. I'm more or less sharing my inner thoughts and letting people into my mental maze."
Young Gotti has assembled an impressive array of talent to ride with him on this musical excursion. Executive produced by Joe Marrone and Farid "Fredwreck" Nassar, Space Boogie features Xzibit, Nate Dogg, Tha Liks, Daz, NWA's MC Ren, Jon B, Everlast, and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst with production by Fredwreck, Daz Dillinger, Soopafly, DJ Quik, Jon B, and Limp Bizkit's DJ Lethal. The album's first single, "It's Over," (produced by new talents Jeeky Man and Charm) features Natina Reed showing off her rap skills in the second verse. Rhyme partner, Daz Dillinger, produces and appears on "On Da Grind" and co-produced a second song, "Gangstas" with Mike Dean. Snoop Dogg and Goldie Loc of Tha Eastsidaz keep it gangsta with Kurupt on "Bring Back That G Shit." Kurupt, Fred Durst and DJ Lethal (LimpBizkit), and Nate Dogg trade verses on the smooth but funky, "Lay It On Back," a song that reflects Kurupt's new outlook on life. "Fred Durst and I were coming from the aspect that we were two artists who were in transition from wild-eyed youth to elders in the game. We threw Nate Dogg in there to twist it." "Sunshine" produced by and featuring Jon B is a heartfelt tribute to his lady love. But just before fans begin to think that Kurupt has forgotten his roots in the streets, tracks like "Hardest Mutha Fuckas" featuring Xzibit, Nate Dogg, and MC Ren hit you with a dose of vintage Kurupt.
Kurupt debuted on the world stage as a vital part of the team that brought you the multi-platinum classics, Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's debut, Doggystyle (1993). Both records helped establish West Coast hip-hop's cultural hegemony over the pop charts. Kurupt's appearance on both groundbreaking albums earned him the reputation of being one of hip-hop's boldest and most talented lyricists and one of the undisputed pioneers of West Coast hip-hop. "We were really just making music for our community back in LA," Kurupt explains. Fortunately, the whole world caught onto the Philly born, Los Angeles raised MC, whose clever lyrics and silky flow encompasses the best of both East and West Coast styles.
Kurupt met Snoop Dogg soon after arriving in Los Angeles. Through that relationship came his affiliation with Tha Dogg Pound and Deathrow Records. In 1995, he teamed with Daz Dillinger to form the group, Tha Dogg Pound, and further solidified his rep with the double platinum debut LP, Dogg Food. Kurupt became the most sought after MC in the country, laying lyrics on various albums, soundtracks, and remixes including the classic Lost Boyz's, "Music Makes Me High," remix and most recently on Jay'Z's, "Change The Game," remix, featured on DJ Clue's The Professional Part II. In 1998, Kurupt released his sensational solo debut album, Kuruption, a double disc set featuring collaborations with various MCs from across the nation. By sharing the spotlight with such diverse artists as Snoop Dogg and Noreaga, it proved that Young Gotti was indeed one of hip-hop's most versatile MCs. Kurupt recalls his first solo effort: "On my first solo album, I wanted all sorts of artists on it. I didn't pay attention to who was from the West Coast and who was from the East Coast. I just wanted rappers who I respected. I was more-or-less networking on that album."
The following year, Kurupt unleashed his sophomore LP, Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha, to legions of hip-hop fans eagerly waiting to hear the young lyrical giant to do what he does best-spit hardcore lyrics laced with straight drama from the streets. According to Kurupt, that LP brought him back to the days when he was a hungry youngster trying to get in the rap game. "Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha was about the youthful Kurupt," he explains. "I have many sides and on Tha Streetz, my wild side came out to take fans on a tour through the streets of L.A. As wild as it may have been to Kurupt, Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha earned him his first gold record and is considered his best lyrical work to date. The arrival of the new millennium saw a renewed interest in West Coast hip-hop as Kurupt's musical mentors Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg reunited to record the Chronic 2001 and headline the historic Up In Smoke tour. Once again Kurupt found himself at the forefront of hip-hop, only this time instead of being a new jack, he was an elder statesmen, a position that he admits he is still growing into. He accepts the honor with great humility, "We've been doing this for a minute, so I am honored to be considered a part of the movement that helped put it down for West Coast hip-hop." He credits Dr. Dre and Snoop for the role both men play in his life: "Dr. Dre talks to you about the game. He's been in the business longer than all of us. Dre's like The Wizard. He hollers at me from an artistic perspective. Snoop talks to me about life. Snoop made me realize that there is a lot more at stake now than when we started out. When you're young you do things that you think are important to you like chasing girls, acting wild and stuff like that. I'm burnt out on all that. After a while you're priorities change. I'm just trying to see life in a whole new way and show the other sides of Kurupt." While Snoop and Dre help to keep Kurupt's game tight, there is yet another person whom he credits with helping to keep him focused on his goals. That's his fiancée Natina Reed of the group, Blaque. "She's in the music industry and knows a lot about the game," says Kurupt. "She keeps me balanced and helps me stay on point."
In addition to all the heat Kurupt is bringing on this new LP, he makes his acting debut this year in the much-anticipated theatrical release, The Plague Season, starring Kurt Russell, Ving Rhames, and Michael Michelle. Directed by Ron Shelton (White Men Can't Jump and Eve's Bayou), The Plague Season is drama set within the LAPD during the April 1992 week leading up to the verdict of the Rodney King trial, and the subsequent riots. He is also filming a major role in the upcoming independent release Keepin' It Real starring Tiny "Zeus" Lister and The Wash directed by Dr. Dre and DJ Pooh (co-writer of Friday).
While Kurupt makes his rounds from the microphone to film, Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey takes fans on a joy ride through Kurupt's mental labyrinth. So if you're afraid of higher heights, put your seatbelts on because this odyssey promises to take you into unchartered territory. One giant step for hip-hop.
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