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World Class Wreckin' Cru

World Class Wreckin' Cru was an American electro group, during the 1980s in the Los Angeles area, that contributed to rap's development. Two of its members, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, attained greater fame as members of N.W.A, which pioneered gangsta rap. A song by the Cru had also featured R&B singer Michel'le.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

World Class Wreckin' Cru
World Class Wreckin' Cru in 1985.
Background information
Also known asThe Cru, The World Cru Bangers
OriginCompton, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1983–1987, 1990–1991
Labels
  • Kru-Cut
  • Epic
  • Macola Records
Past members

Early career

World Class Wreckin' Cru debuted in the nightclub Eve After Dark, owned by Alonzo Williams, an early West Coast DJ very popular in the Los Angeles area. In the 1970s, Williams had begun producing dance songs under the name Disco Construction, named after funk group Brass Construction. At his songs' popularity, Williams arranged nightclub performances. Initially directing its music program was Detroit-born Andre "Unknown DJ" Manuel, influenced by East Coast sounds, like Soulsonic Force, Orbit, and Scorpio.

As the 1980s opened, electronic funk arrived, sampling drum beats and borrowing from old-school rap. Disco Construction created a subgroup, the Wreckin' Cru, which was the Lonzos' roadies. Later, this honorific prefix World Class signified a recording group. Lonzo hired two local DJs—Antoine "Yella" Carraby and Andre "Dr. Dre" Young—who became the original Mix Masters for KDAY. Wreckin' Cru performed in various shows elsewhere in Los Angeles, too, including shows promoted by Lonzo as well as opening for New Edition.

Success and break up

Alonzo Williams created the label "Kru-cut" which began releasing The Wreckin' Cru music through the mid-1980s with very minimal resources through Macola Records", a local independent record manufacturing and distributing company.[8] The Cru released the single "Slice", followed by "Surgery" and a full-length album titled World Class. The success of their early releases led to a major record deal with CBS/Epic Records.[8] After being signed to CBS records Lonzo was asked if he had any other acts. After seeing Dre's cousin Jinx' group perform in a rap contest, a teenage group called C.I.A. (Cru' In Action) starring O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson, Dre's cousin Tony ‘Sir Jinx’ Wheaton and Darrell ‘K-Dee’ Johnson, who with Dre would record a demo tape called "She's a Skag". The group was then signed to a single deal with CBS.

After being released from CBS the WCWC had the group's biggest hit, "Turn off The Lights." WCWC, known as a dance and romance act, also had songs like "Surgery," "Juice," "Cabbage Patch," and "Lovers."

By 1985 Kru-Cut had produced World Class’ debut album, World Class, with Cli-N-Tel leaving to control his own direction in life, leaving Shakespeare to step up to be the prominent MC as they signed with Epic Records.[8] With this they released a string of singles and also their second album, Rapped In Romance.

World Class's success was building an army of fans in the underground scene and each member a valued reputation. At this stage the look of Prince and Michael Jackson's Thriller outfits were cool, glitzy purple leather suits, sequin suits not unlike the glam-rock look running parallel to this scene, Dre was growing tired of the image and considered Lonzo's direction to be soft and yearned to control his own expression in music.[9]

At this time, Dre was working on side projects for local entrepreneur Eric "Eazy-E" Wright in the Kru-Cut studio, and Ice Cube was ghostwriting for the World Class single "House Calls/Cabbage Patch" in 1987. In April 1988, featuring Michel'le, Dre's girlfriend, their hit slow jam "Before You Turn off the Lights" peaked at #54 on the Billboard Black Singles Charts. The last time Dre was arrested and jailed for missed court appearances on multiple traffic violations was in 1986, when he owed $166, enough for an arrest warrant, and Lonzo refused to bail him out a third time. Eazy-E posted it in return for Dre's production for E's new record label, Ruthless Records. Eazy and Dre's combined collaboration of talent known as N.W.A. As a solo artist, Lonzo released another LP, titled Phases in Life, in 1990. World Class member Shakespeare sought to become a pastor.

Discography

 
Album cover for the group's debut single "Slice" featuring DJ Yella

Albums

Singles

  • "Slice" (Kru-Cut, 1984)
  • "Surgery" (Kru-Cut, 1985)
  • "Juice" (Kru-Cut, 1985)
  • "House Calls" (Kru-Cut, 1987)
  • "Turn Off the Lights" (Kru-Cut, 1987)

Compilations

  • The Best of the World Class Wreckin' Cru (Kru-Cut, 1987)
  • Turn Off the Lights (Before The Attitude) (S.O.H., 1991)
  • Dr. Dre vs. World Class Wreckin' Crew (Street Dance, 2005)

References

  1. ^ John Bush. "World Class Wreckin' Cru". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2021. Compton electro/rap/R&B group
  2. ^ "Dr. Dre's World Class Wreckin' Cru uniform - The Worst Hip-Hop Fashion Fails of All Time | Complex UK". Uk.complex.com. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  3. ^ Cizmar, Martin (2010-05-06). "Whatever Happened to N.W.A's Posse?". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  4. ^ [1] October 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Bustle". Bustle. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  6. ^ "Vibe - Google Books". March 1994. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  7. ^ Duthel, C. Pitbull - Mr. Worldwide - C. Duthel - Google Books. ISBN 9781471090356. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  8. ^ a b c Hess, Mickey (2009-11-25). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide - Mickey Hess - Google Books. ISBN 9780313343216. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  9. ^ Brown, Jake (2006). Dr. Dre in the Studio: From Compton, Death Row, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent ... - Jake Brown - Google Books. ISBN 9780976773559. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  10. ^ Rabaka, Reiland (4 April 2013). The Hip Hop Movement: From R&B and the Civil Rights Movement to Rap and the ... - Reiland Rabaka - Google Books. ISBN 9780739181171. Retrieved 2015-08-18.

External links

world, class, wreckin, american, electro, group, during, 1980s, angeles, area, that, contributed, development, members, yella, attained, greater, fame, members, which, pioneered, gangsta, song, also, featured, singer, michel, 1985, background, informationalso,. World Class Wreckin Cru was an American electro group during the 1980s in the Los Angeles area that contributed to rap s development Two of its members Dr Dre and DJ Yella attained greater fame as members of N W A which pioneered gangsta rap A song by the Cru had also featured R amp B singer Michel le 2 3 4 5 6 7 World Class Wreckin CruWorld Class Wreckin Cru in 1985 Background informationAlso known asThe Cru The World Cru BangersOriginCompton California U S GenresHip hopelectroR amp B 1 Years active1983 1987 1990 1991LabelsKru CutEpicMacola RecordsPast membersShakespeareDr DreDr RockCli N TelMichel leDJ YellaDJ Alonzo WilliamsMona Lisa Contents 1 Early career 2 Success and break up 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 3 3 Compilations 4 References 5 External linksEarly career EditWorld Class Wreckin Cru debuted in the nightclub Eve After Dark owned by Alonzo Williams an early West Coast DJ very popular in the Los Angeles area In the 1970s Williams had begun producing dance songs under the name Disco Construction named after funk group Brass Construction At his songs popularity Williams arranged nightclub performances Initially directing its music program was Detroit born Andre Unknown DJ Manuel influenced by East Coast sounds like Soulsonic Force Orbit and Scorpio As the 1980s opened electronic funk arrived sampling drum beats and borrowing from old school rap Disco Construction created a subgroup the Wreckin Cru which was the Lonzos roadies Later this honorific prefix World Class signified a recording group Lonzo hired two local DJs Antoine Yella Carraby and Andre Dr Dre Young who became the original Mix Masters for KDAY Wreckin Cru performed in various shows elsewhere in Los Angeles too including shows promoted by Lonzo as well as opening for New Edition Success and break up EditAlonzo Williams created the label Kru cut which began releasing The Wreckin Cru music through the mid 1980s with very minimal resources through Macola Records a local independent record manufacturing and distributing company 8 The Cru released the single Slice followed by Surgery and a full length album titled World Class The success of their early releases led to a major record deal with CBS Epic Records 8 After being signed to CBS records Lonzo was asked if he had any other acts After seeing Dre s cousin Jinx group perform in a rap contest a teenage group called C I A Cru In Action starring O Shea Ice Cube Jackson Dre s cousin Tony Sir Jinx Wheaton and Darrell K Dee Johnson who with Dre would record a demo tape called She s a Skag The group was then signed to a single deal with CBS After being released from CBS the WCWC had the group s biggest hit Turn off The Lights WCWC known as a dance and romance act also had songs like Surgery Juice Cabbage Patch and Lovers By 1985 Kru Cut had produced World Class debut album World Class with Cli N Tel leaving to control his own direction in life leaving Shakespeare to step up to be the prominent MC as they signed with Epic Records 8 With this they released a string of singles and also their second album Rapped In Romance World Class s success was building an army of fans in the underground scene and each member a valued reputation At this stage the look of Prince and Michael Jackson s Thriller outfits were cool glitzy purple leather suits sequin suits not unlike the glam rock look running parallel to this scene Dre was growing tired of the image and considered Lonzo s direction to be soft and yearned to control his own expression in music 9 At this time Dre was working on side projects for local entrepreneur Eric Eazy E Wright in the Kru Cut studio and Ice Cube was ghostwriting for the World Class single House Calls Cabbage Patch in 1987 In April 1988 featuring Michel le Dre s girlfriend their hit slow jam Before You Turn off the Lights peaked at 54 on the Billboard Black Singles Charts The last time Dre was arrested and jailed for missed court appearances on multiple traffic violations was in 1986 when he owed 166 enough for an arrest warrant and Lonzo refused to bail him out a third time Eazy E posted it in return for Dre s production for E s new record label Ruthless Records Eazy and Dre s combined collaboration of talent known as N W A As a solo artist Lonzo released another LP titled Phases in Life in 1990 World Class member Shakespeare sought to become a pastor Discography Edit Album cover for the group s debut single Slice featuring DJ Yella Albums Edit World Class Kru Cut 1985 10 Rapped in Romance Epic CBS 1986 Singles Edit Slice Kru Cut 1984 Surgery Kru Cut 1985 Juice Kru Cut 1985 House Calls Kru Cut 1987 Turn Off the Lights Kru Cut 1987 Compilations Edit The Best of the World Class Wreckin Cru Kru Cut 1987 Turn Off the Lights Before The Attitude S O H 1991 Dr Dre vs World Class Wreckin Crew Street Dance 2005 References Edit John Bush World Class Wreckin Cru AllMusic Retrieved 6 August 2021 Compton electro rap R amp B group Dr Dre s World Class Wreckin Cru uniform The Worst Hip Hop Fashion Fails of All Time Complex UK Uk complex com 2013 06 27 Retrieved 2015 08 18 Cizmar Martin 2010 05 06 Whatever Happened to N W A s Posse L A Weekly Retrieved 2015 08 18 1 Archived October 2 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bustle Bustle Retrieved 2015 08 18 Vibe Google Books March 1994 Retrieved 2015 08 18 Duthel C Pitbull Mr Worldwide C Duthel Google Books ISBN 9781471090356 Retrieved 2015 08 18 a b c Hess Mickey 2009 11 25 Hip Hop in America A Regional Guide Mickey Hess Google Books ISBN 9780313343216 Retrieved 2015 08 18 Brown Jake 2006 Dr Dre in the Studio From Compton Death Row Snoop Dogg Eminem 50 Cent Jake Brown Google Books ISBN 9780976773559 Retrieved 2015 08 18 Rabaka Reiland 4 April 2013 The Hip Hop Movement From R amp B and the Civil Rights Movement to Rap and the Reiland Rabaka Google Books ISBN 9780739181171 Retrieved 2015 08 18 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Class Wreckin Cru Audio interview with Lonzo at SoundCloud World Class Wreckin Cru at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World Class Wreckin 27 Cru amp oldid 1099009823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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