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Quick Facts
Born
1972
1972
From
United States of America
United States of America
Journey
Kurupt, born Ricardo Emmanuel Brown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American rapper, songwriter, and producer whose career became closely tied to the rise of West Coast hip-hop in the 1990s. After moving to Hawthorne, California, he connected with Snoop Dogg and entered the circle surrounding Death Row Records, where he emerged alongside some of the era’s most prominent rap artists.
Kurupt made his recording debut on Dr. Dre’s "The Chronic" in 1992, contributing to the album that introduced Death Row’s distinctive West Coast sound to a huge audience. He subsequently appeared on Snoop Dogg’s "Doggystyle" in 1993, further establishing his presence within the label’s growing roster. During this period, Kurupt and Daz Dillinger developed their partnership as Tha Dogg Pound. The duo first appeared under that name on the "Poetic Justice" soundtrack before featuring prominently on "Doggystyle." Their debut album, "Dogg Food," arrived through Death Row in 1995 and became one of the defining releases associated with the duo.
Kurupt eventually moved beyond his work with Tha Dogg Pound and began building a solo catalog. His first solo album, the double-disc "Kuruption!," was released in 1998 through Antra Records. He followed it with "Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha" in 1999, a harder-edged West Coast rap project that featured contributions from several established artists, including Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G, Dr. Dre, Xzibit, and KRS-One. In 2001, he released "Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey," which incorporated a broader range of production and guest appearances while retaining his West Coast foundation.
His career also included periods of separation and reconciliation with Daz Dillinger. Following the decline of Death Row, Kurupt pursued his solo career while Daz developed his own independent operations, but the two continued to record together. Their collaborations included "Dillinger & Young Gotti" in 2001 and "Dillinger & Young Gotti, Vol. 2: Tha Saga Continues" in 2005. Kurupt returned to Death Row in 2002 and later released "Against tha Grain" in 2005. He subsequently reunited with Daz, helping keep Tha Dogg Pound active through further projects, including "Cali Iz Active," "Dogg Chit," "That Was Then This Is Now," and "100 Wayz."
Across his career, Kurupt has maintained a substantial recording and collaboration history spanning several decades. His work with Tha Dogg Pound and his solo albums established him as a significant figure in West Coast and gangsta rap, while his extensive guest appearances extended his influence beyond his own releases. His sole Grammy nomination came in 1996, when Tha Dogg Pound’s “What Would U Do?” was nominated for Rap Duo/Group Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards.