They said it couldn't be done, but KURUPT is proving he's second to none. Once again, this self-proclaimed Raw Dog Assassin has put down some of his best and hardest hitting rhymes on wax. Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha, released by ANTRA Music Group and Artemis Records, takes no prisoners.
The project reunites Kurupt with some the West Coast's biggest players- Daz Dillinger, Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg. Soopafly and Xzibit. KRS-One along with producers Battlecat and Organized Noize are also in the mix. And while some of hip hop's most revered appear on Streetz, Kurupt is totally in charge as the CD's opening track, "I Call The Shots," declares. Out first from the 18-track, power-packed album is "Girls All Pause" on which Nate Dogg does his musical magic and "Trylogy," full in effect with its classic gothic vibe.
Streetz is a nonstop journey with Kurupt displaying unmatchable skills. Blending fantasy with reality, Kurupt creates his own version of the notorious North Hollywood bank robbery on "Loose Cannons." Except this time, it's not the police who win out. "Who Ride Wit Us" flows on strictly West Coast funk while "Represent Dat G.C." is nothing but cold-hearted gangsta. "Welcome Home" marks Kurupt's return to Cali. The solemn title track, "Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha," takes on a harsh view of life in the 'hood.
"This album is about life," says Kurupt, whose dream materializes in a freestyle session with KRS-One, one of New York's top rappers , on "Live On The Mic." "If you can't freestyle, you ain't an MC. And I plan on being the world's greatest MC." Kurupt saves the most personal for last with "Callin' Out Names." For Kurupt it's time for truth or dare as he rhymes to former fiancee Foxy Brown and DMX, about his feelings of betrayal. "This is about freedom of speech. This is how I felt. It's not for the general public to get involved. It's about how I feel," explains Kurupt.
Streetz is definitely a very personal statement from Kurupt. He introduces his 15-year-old brother, Roscoe. "He's incredible," says Kurupt, who made sure to include his Dogg Pound partner Daz, who not only raps on several tracks but also served as executive producer. "I gave Daz his proper place in my life. He should produce everything I do," states Kurupt. "He's the second greatest producer in the world, second only to Dre." Dre gave Kurupt a few beats as well on "Hoe's A Housewife."
Hip-hop has been a lifelong mission for the 27-year-old Kurupt. "Rapping is my life." But while the gift of rhyme has been with him since he was a young boy, Kurupt's rap career didn't take off until, as a teen, he moved to Cali. Wanting to get Kurupt off the streets of his hometown Philadelphia, his mother sent Kurupt to live with his father in Hawthorne, later moving to South Central on his own. It was then that Kurupt hooked up with Snoop Doggy Dogg. Soon Kurupt was signed to the infamous Death Row label and dropped lyrics on Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop's Doggy Style (1993). By 1994, he and partner, Daz Dillinger, teamed up as the Dogg Pound and in 1995 released their debut, Dogg Food. The album was certified platinum.
As things unraveled at the West Coast powerhouse, Kurupt and future ANTRA CEO Joe Marrone, decided to go it alone and signed a joint-venture deal with A&M Records. The double CD, Kuruption, the first on ANTRA's label, was divided into an East Coast disc and a West Coast disc, which included such hits as "We Can Freak It."
Other projects also kept Kurupt busy. Dionne Warwick tapped Kurupt, along with Coolio, Bobby Brown and Flesh 'N Bone for a remake of "What The World Needs Now" for her CD, Dionne Sings Dionne. The proceeds from the single benefited the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.
This year, Kurupt, ANTRA and Joe Marronne struck a new deal with Danny Goldberg's new Artemis Entertainment record label, which will release Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha and other ANTRA artists and soundtracks.
While Kurupt has lots happening, there's only one concern right now. "I'm concentrating on taking Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha to number one." And no matter what you call him, be it Tha Kingpin, Kalhoon, Young Gotti, Ricardo Brown or Kurupt, this is one rapper on a mission.
