| World Class Wreckin' Cru | |
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Also known as |
The Cru |
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Origin |
Compton, California, United States |
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Genre |
Electro, hip hop |
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Years active |
1983-1987 |
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Label |
Kru-Cut (1983-1988) |
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Associated acts |
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Past members |
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World Class Wreckin' Cru was an American electro and hip hop group from Compton, California. The group is best known for its contributions to early West Coast hip hop and members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and Michel'le, who would all go on to greater levels of success after the group's dissolution.
World Class Wreckin' Cru was established by club owner Alonzo Williams as a mobile DJ crew and had been active for several years before recording music. In 1985, the group debuted on Williams' Kru-Cut Records label with the single "Surgery" and released their debut album World Class the following year. Lead rapper Cli-N-Tel left the group in 1985, so the group's dancer Shakespeare stepped up as the prominent vocalist on their 1986 album Rapped in Romance.
Dr. Dre had by this time become disenchanted with the group's fashion style and image (which consisted of glitzy leather suits), and he and DJ Yella departed the group in 1987 for the newly established N.W.A. Williams released two additional albums under the group's name in 1988 and 1990 before the group disbanded.
Discography
- 1985: World Class
- 1986: Rapped in Romance
- 1988: Turn off the Lights in the Fast Lane
- 1990: Phases in Life