| Compton's Most Wanted | |
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Also known as |
C.M.W. |
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Origin |
Compton, California, U.S. |
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Genre |
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Years active |
1989-2007 |
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Labels |
Orpheus/Epic |
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Associated acts |
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Past members |
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Compton's Most Wanted was an American hip hop group and one of the pioneers of the West Coast hip hop scene. The group consisted of rappers MC Eiht, Boom Bam and Tha Chill, DJ Ant Capone, and producer DJ Slip. DJ Mike T joined the group after Ant Capone left sometime before the group's debut album.
In 1990, the group released their debut album, It's a Compton Thang, which was produced entirely by DJ Slip and The Unknown DJ. The album peaked at #132 on the United States charts. A year later, the group released their second album, Straight Checkn 'Em, and it peaked at #92 on the United States charts. The album featured the popular single "Growin' Up in the Hood", which was featured in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood. Tha Chill was sentenced to three years in jail three months before the album's release and was unable to contribute to the album and its successor.
In 1992, the group released their third and most successful album, Music to Driveby. It featured the single "Hood Took Me Under", which peaked at #5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The album charted at #66 on the United States charts and is considered a classic West Coast hip hop album. Following the album's release, the group split as the record label chose to highlight lead rapper MC Eiht as a solo artist because he had written all of the lyrics on the group's first three albums. MC Eiht's first two solo albums were credited to MC Eiht featuring Compton's Most Wanted.
After a break of three years, the group released their fourth album, Represent, in 2000, but it achieved little success. They released their fifth album, Music to Gang Bang, in 2006, but this album did also not sell well. The group broke up again afterward.
Discography[]
- 1990: It's a Compton Thang
- 1991: Straight Checkn 'Em
- 1992: Music to Driveby
- 2000: Represent
- 2006: Music to Gang Bang