Kurupt Young Gotti

Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, known professionally as Kurupt or Kurupt Young Gotti, was born on November 23, 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16, he relocated to the Greater Los Angeles area, initially settling in Hawthorne, California, before moving to Los Angeles at 18. His career in music commenced in 1991 with three songs on The S.O.S. Band’s album “One of Many Nights.” In 1992, at 19, Kurupt signed with the newly formed Death Row Records, established by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre. There, he collaborated with artists such as Daz Dillinger, Lady of Rage, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and RBX, gaining recognition through features on Dr. Dre’s debut solo album, “The Chronic.” Kurupt subsequently partnered with Daz Dillinger to form the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, which was featured on Snoop Dogg’s debut solo album “Doggystyle” with the track “For All My Niggaz & Bitchez.” The duo’s debut album, “Dogg Food,” produced by Daz and mixed by Dr. Dre, was released in 1995, receiving positive reviews and achieving commercial success. This period solidified his position within the West Coast hip-hop scene.

Following the death of Tupac Shakur in 1996, Kurupt, alongside Dr. Dre, departed from Death Row Records. He then signed with A&M Records, where he founded the imprint Antra Records. Under Antra, he released his debut solo album, “Kuruption!,” in 1998, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. His second album, “Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha,” was released on the same label and gained attention for its diss track “Calling Out Names.” During this time, Kurupt also co-founded the hip-hop supergroup The HRSMN in 1996 with Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus, releasing two albums. Facing financial challenges, Kurupt briefly returned to Death Row Records (then known as Tha Row), assuming the role of Executive Vice President. While at Death Row, he continued to release music, including “Against tha Grain” in 2005, and engaged in acting roles, appearing in films such as “Half Past Dead” (2002) and “Hollywood Homicide” (2003).

In April 2005, Kurupt reconciled with Daz Dillinger, and Tha Dogg Pound officially reunited, releasing “Dillinger & Young Gotti II: The Saga Continuez” the same year. Subsequent projects included “Cali iz Active” (with Snoop Dogg) in 2006 and “Dogg Chit” in 2007. He continued to be active in music, releasing solo albums like “Streetlights” in 2010 and collaborating with artists such as DJ Quik on “BlaQKout” in 2009. Kurupt has also contributed voice work to video games, notably “Grand Theft Auto V” (2013). His influence on hip-hop is recognized by peers, with Kendrick Lamar citing him as a significant influence and Eminem including him among the best rappers of all time. Kurupt continues to perform and record, maintaining a consistent presence in the music industry.