world class wreckin' cru
cabbage patch
Lonzo (Alonzo Williams), Andre Young (Dr. Dre), Marquette Hawkins (Cli-N-Tel), DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby), Barry Severe (Shakespeare), Mona Lisa Young, Michelle Toussaint (Michel'le). The group was originally formed by a Compton club owner Alonzo Williams as a mobile DJ crew for several years and it wasn't until 1983 that they decided to record music. In 1984 the group debuted on Lonzo's Kru-Cut record label releasing the single "Surgery" followed by "Juice". Both records proved to become local electro-rap favorites selling many units on the west coast. The following year the group put out their first album World Class. The group's dancer, Shakespeare, later replaced Cli-N-Tel as they signed to Epic Records releasing a string of singles and their second album Rapped In Romance. The Wreckin' Cru enlisted aspiring rapper Ice Cube to help as a ghostwriter for the "House Calls / Cabbage Patch" single in 1987. Shortly before disbanding over financial problems, the slow jam record "Before You Turn Off The Lights" (which featured Michel'le) became a big hit all across the country's urban and pop charts by early 1988. Dr. Dre and DJ Yella later continued producing music with N.W.A. while Shakespeare later pursued a position as a pastor. Michel'le married Dr. Dre and released an album on Ruthless Records. Lonzo attempted to play off the big success of the group's last single by reassembling a new World Class Wreckin' Cru and releasing the album Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane in 1988.
discogs
The World Class Wreckin' Cru was a 1980s Electro-hop group from [placeformedCompton, California formed by the Eve After Dark nightclub owner and established DJ Alonzo Williams. Other members of the fluctuating line-up included DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Shakespeare, Cli-N-Tel, and Mona Lisa Young (Dre's sister). Dr. Dre and DJ Yella would go on to achieve fame as members of N.W.A.. Fila Fresh Crew's Dr. Rock was also an early member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru. The group were originally known as The Wreckin' Cru and used that name when the groups first song was produced called "Slice" performed by DJ Yella and Cli-N-Tel. Although when the World Olympics were coming to Los Angeles during 1984, Lonzo decided to change the groups name to the World Class Wreckin' Cru. They were managed by Jerry Heller, who also managed Egyptian Lover and LA Dream Team. Heller would later become part of the gangsta rap scene on the west coast, forming Ruthless Records with Eazy-E, and helping launch the careers of several rap artists. Jerry Heller and Eazy-E were introduced through Lonzo Williams in the Eve After Dark nightclub. World Class Wreckin' Cru singles such as "Surgery" and "Juice" were marked by a blend of old school rap and a rip of the new electro sound, best exemplified by Kraftwerk's single, "Tour de France". The group released two albums; World Class (1985) and Rapped In Romance (1986). The group were part of the Kru-Cut record label established by Lonzo Williams. In 1987, the group hit the national charts with "Turn Off the Lights", featuring vocals by Michel'le. However, by this time Dr. Dre and DJ Yella had left to join Eazy-E and Ice Cube in N.W.A. Alonzo Williams went on to briefly front a new group with a similar name, World Class Wreckin' Kru. The album World Class contains pictures of Dr. Dre wearing flashy clothing and cosmetics, for which Eazy-E dissed him in the song "Real Muthaphuckkin G's", showing pictures of him from this album.
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