| Tha Alkaholiks | |
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Also known as |
E.S.P. |
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Origin |
Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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Genres |
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Years active |
1992-2006, 2011-present |
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Label |
Loud Records (1993-2001) |
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Associated acts |
Defari, Diamond D, Dilated Peoples, Ice-T, J. Wells, King Tee, Likwit Crew, Lootpack, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Xzibit |
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Members |
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Tha Alkaholiks is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Since the early 1990s, they have produced hedonism-themed party music with a hardcore hip hop edge, powered by the beats of DJ and producer E-Swift and the lyrics of rappers J-Ro and Tash. Though commercial crossover success has largely eluded the group throughout their career, they maintain a dedicated following on their native West Coast.
E-Swift and Tash had already formed a partnership in their native Ohio and met J-Ro when they moved to Los Angeles. The group was established as E.S.P. (an initialism of Educated Street Poets) but changed to Tha Alkaholiks from a suggestion by King Tee, who for some time had been looking for a group to mentor. Tha Alkaholiks made their debut appearance on Tee's Tha Triflin' Album in 1993. Their debut album, 21 & Over, was released the following year to moderate success, but it helped to establish the group as one of the most distinctive acts on the West Coast at a time when the vast majority of Californian artists were making either g-funk or gangsta rap music.
The group's follow-up album, Coast II Coast, was released in 1995 and saw the group attempting to develop their sound further while staying to their fun-loving roots, working with East Coast artists Diamond D and Q-Tip. Likwidation followed in 1997, and Tash's debut solo album Rap Life was released in 1999, both to mixed reviews. During this time they formed the Likwit Crew, a close association of artists including King Tee, Xzibit, Defari, and Lootpack. Tha Alkaholiks' popularity saw a slight increase due to a sudden Dr. Dre-powered rise to fame of Xzibit, and they sought to take advantage of this with the release of their album X.O. Experience in 2001, which sold moderately well.
The group then took a break of three years. It was announced in 2004 that their album Firewater, due to be released in 2006, would be their last. The group split on friendly terms and stated that they would continue to work together on their forthcoming solo projects. The group has begun touring together again.
Discography[]
- 1993: 21 & Over
- 1995: Coast II Coast
- 1997: Likwidation
- 2001: X.O. Experience
- 2006: Firewater