In the early 90’s Gansta rap was exploding on the west coast. Young Zito got caught up in it, even with having a heavy east coast bias at the time. A long list of groups came and went along the way, while some were versatile enough to stick around longer than others. I mean crap, Ice-T is on Law & Order and Ice Cube is doing family films! If you woulda told me that back in the day, I woulda had to pull out the gat and start pistol whippin’.

My group was Comptons Most Wanted. Fronted by MC Eiht, with MC Chill and DJ Ant Capone for the 1st album, production by DJ Slip and at times The DJ Unknown would contribute. DJ Mike T would replace Ant after the debut release in 1990 “It’s a Compton Thang” and MC Chill would be unavailable, due to incarceration. The overall style was unique and fresh coming from that era, Eiht’s voice and flow was unmistakable and most importantly it was Gangsta as all hell!

Comptons Most Wanted – One Time Gafflem Em Up (download) -It’s a Compton Thang 1990

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The group gained popularity with the song “Going Up In The Hood” which was featured on the “Boyz in the Hood” movie and soundtrack. Even with the roster trimmed down, the formula stayed the same, gangsta beats and gangsta rhymes.

Comptons Most Wanted – Raised in Compton (download) -Straight Checkn ‘Em 1991

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C.M.W.’s 3rd effort “Music To Drive By” is probably my favorite. It has a rebuttal to Bronx artist Tim Dog’s “Fuck Compton” called “Who’s Xxxxing Who?” A second installment of “Def Wish” which is directed towards an ongoing feud with fellow Compton artist DJ Quik. The project included “N 2 Deep” featuring Scarface and slew of other G’d out tracks. Maybe the most famous of them, “Hood Took Me Under” was featured on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in 2004.

Comptons Most Wanted – Hood Took Me Under (download) – Music To Drive By 1992

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After the 3rd C.M.W. album the group split and MC Eiht went solo. Eiht’s solo efforts came off very conventional and predictable, something was missing. In 2000 the group reformed and released “Represent” and way later in 2006 “Music To Gang Bang” neither selling well, nor ever reaching my ears. At the time, from 1990-1992 Compton’s Most Wanted flew a little under the radar during the Gangsta rap boom, but if you didn’t already know, now ya do. Geah!

– Zito