RBX

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RBX, a cousin of Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dat Nigga Daz, got a start to his rapping career in 1992 when Snoop introduced him to Dr. Dre, who was to make his groundbreaking debut "The Chronic". RBX was added to the personnel making this album. His rough voice and bizarre flow which got him the nickname of "The Narrator" made him with Snoop one of the most promising and recognisable rappers at the time.

A year later, RBX appeared on Snoop's debut "Doggystyle" on the track "Serial Killaz" and seemed to sound even more non-canon as a rapper. It was likely that he was the next to blow up as an artist of the Death Row label.

Unfortunately, Dr. Dre and Death Row CEO Suge Knight didn't agree with that as they kept on delaying his debut; finally in 1995, RBX left Death Row. This is likely to have been his worst decision ever as it practically blew his chances for commercial success away. That year he released the dark and eerie "The RBX-Files" on a more or less underground label, Pre-meditated Records. It was the home of the track "AWOL" on which he addressed his feelings about Death Row and its politics.

In 1996, Dr. Dre left Death Row as well and redeemed himself with RBX, adding him to his new Aftermath label. He only stayed for some time however as Dre, facing difficulties, split ways with all his artists to reinvent the label.

From then to 2001 RBX had a sabbatical period of the odd guest feature, though releasing his second album with an equally dark-hitting vibe, "No mercy, no remorse/ The X-Factor" in 1999 on Street Solid Records. It was in 2001 that he joined Snoop's camp at Doggystyle Records and became one of the staple guests on its releases and Snoop's various projects.

RBX released another album, "Ripp the game bloody (Street Muzik)," in early 2004. In late 2004 it was followed by 'The Shining', where he seems to have reworked his flow somewhat to refresh himself musically. All tracklists can be found below.

As for his subject matter, RBX has used many. His Death Row-days saw him mostly doing gangster rap, but on The RBX-Files, more than this can be found. Many tracks concerned his newly-found islamic faith ('Burn', 'Our Time Is Now',etc.) or the problems of the black community ('No Time'). A reggae-inspired song,complete with Bob Marley sample,concerning gangbanging youth can be found in 'Moms Are Cryin'. Of course, The RBX-Files is also the home of highly-praised disstrack 'A.W.O.L.' and its remix. On his later albums, RBX was mostly doing gangsta rap, sometimes to an allmost parodic extent. Exceptions include 'Heatmizer',which is a weird battle rap,'Gigolo Skalloni',a track about being a gigolo and 'We Can Make It', which is a heartfelt ode to his wife, but still rough like an RBX-track is supposed to be.

Though most fans of westcoast rap appreciate RBX's lyrical capacity and unorthodox style, he is not without dissenters and finds himself having only quite few diehard-fans. In the westcoast rap scene itself, RBX seems well-respected and has worked with numerous westcoast rappers, as well as Eminem from the Mid West and KRS-One, Sticky Fingaz and Nas from the Eastcoast, the 504 Boys from the South and Malia Franklin of Parliament.

A point of criticism by many fans is RBX's heavy reliance on recycling of lyrics. A (likely incomplete list) of cases where has recycled lyrics can be found below. The numerous instances where he has used the lines 'I drop bombs like Hiroshima' are ommitted.

Serial Killa'- Verse repeated on 'No Mercy,No Remorse'
Our Time Is Now'-Verse repeated on 'Eastcoast Killa, Westcoast Killa'
Got To Getcha'- Verse repeated on 'Return of Unknown'
The Narrator'- Verse repeated on 'Jus...Murda!' and 'Killers In The West'
Oh No!'- Verse repeated on 'Return of Unknown'
Move'- Verse repeated on 'Legend of Jimmy Bones', 'Rock Head' and 'Return of Unknown'
Longbeach'-Verses or part of them repeated on 'Flip Side','Gangsta Love' and 'Return of Unknown'
Foul Mood'- Part of verse repeated on 'Cyber'
Cross The Line'-verse repeated,with slight modifications,on 'Sippin' On Some Moet'
Cyber'-Part of verse repeated on 'Return of Unknown'.

His commercially best musical achievement was co-writing Dr. Dre's Let Me Ride with Snoop Dogg, that has won a Grammy award for Dre in 1993. RBX recently appeared on Snoop Dogg's Welcome to tha Chuuch - Da Album and reportedly has a new solo album in the works, entirely produced by Young MC. The album, tentatively titled "Unanimous" will be his 5th release. RBX has also completed a mixtape titled "Veteran Status Vol. 1", expected to be released in April of 2006.