Menace II Society Soundtrack : Where Are They Now?
Catch up with the crew that put together this 1993 LP.
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Menace II Society Soundtrack: Where Are They Now? - The soundtrack to the award-winning movie Menace II Society came out twenty years ago, on May 26, 1993. With memorable songs from MC Eiht, Spice 1 and KRS-One, the album captured the sounds of the streets from coast to coast and, like the movie, epitomized the simultaneous derision and celebration of hip hop in that era — an in-your-face mix of profanity, violence and preaching. Here, continuing our "Where Are They Now?" classic-album series (which last checked in with Janet Jackson's janet), we catch up with the rappers, singers and producers who helped give life to O-Dog and Caine. —Alex Gale(Photo: Jive)
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Spice 1 - Bay Area rapper Spice 1 contributed the soundtrack's dope opener, "Trigga Gots No Heart," the biggest song of his career. He's stayed active with mostly overlooked independent releases in the new millennium, but made headlines when he survived a gunshot to the chest during an attempted carjacking in 2007. (Photo: Jive)
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MC Eiht - Compton Most Wanted front man MC Eiht is responsible for the soundtrack's undeniable highlight, the classic "Streiht Up Menace." He played a supporting role, as hardened O.G. A-Wax, in the film as well. He quietly released independent albums and collaborated with Snoop, Spice 1 and others in the new millenium, but made a big return to the spotlight last year on Kendrick Lamar's "m.A.A.d. city," a tribute to Compton's dark side. (Photo: Epic Street)
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Ant Banks - Bay Area rapper-producer and frequent Too $hort collaborator Ant Banks is behind the funky "Packin' a Gun." He released his solo debut, Sittin' on Something Phat, the same year and went on to collaborate with most of the West Coast gangsta-rap greats. Banks has continued producing for Bay Area rappers, including E-40, in the new millennium. (Photo: Jive)
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Too $hort - Oakland legend Too $hort rapped on soundtrack highlight "Only the Strong Survive," and since, Short Dog has been on the short list of the most active 1980s West Coast rap legends (Ice-T is the other one). Since 2010, he's released two albums and collaborated with Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, E-40 and 50 Cent. (Photos: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)
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Kokane - L.A. rapper-singer Kokane collaborated with Mz. Kilo and Cold 187um on "All Over a H-." He released two overlooked records on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in the early '90s, but didn't make an impact till he appeared on "L.A. N----z," a posse cut from Dr. Dre's 2001, which led to frequent collaborations with Snoop Dogg. He's continued releasing albums independently, including 2012's The New Frontier, a collabo with Florida rapper Traffik. (Photo: Ruthless Records)
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Cold 187um - Cold 187um, aka Big Hutch, was the front man of gangsta-rap group Above the Law and also appeared on "All Over a H-." In 1999, he became the head beatmaker for Death Row Records, leading production of Tupac's posthumous Until the End of Time. In the 2000s, he linked up with horrorcore rappers/rednecks Insane Clown Posse and toured and recorded with them before serving time for drug trafficking in 2004. Last year he released a solo album, The Only Solution. (Photo: Instgram/OGBigHutch)
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Da Lench Mob - Ice Cube affiliates Da Lench Mob added "Guerillas Ain't Gangstas" to this soundtrack the year after they dropped their debut, Guerillas in tha Mist. In 1993, Mob member J-Dee was sentenced to life for murder. The group continued on without him for one more album in 1994, but disbanded soon after. (Photo: Street Knowledge Records)
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Smooth - L.A. rapper/singer Smooth, the younger sister of renowned producer Chris Stokes (Destiny's Child, IMx, B2K), was behind "You Been Played," which was also the lead single and title track to her second album the same year. She released two more albums, most recently 1998's Reality. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
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Brand Nubian - Pioneering New York group Brand Nubian contributed "Lick Dem Muthaph---as," one of their first songs as a duo (Grand Puba left in 1991). The crew reunited in the late '90s and have stayed active with occasional tours and albums since. 2007's Time's Runnin' Out is the most recent. (Photo: Elektra Records)
Photo By Photo: Elektra Records
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