Geto Boys
Geto Boys | |
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Also known as | Ghetto Boys (1986–1990) |
Origin | Def American |
Past members |
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Geto Boys (originally spelled Ghetto Boys) was an American hip-hop group originally formed in Houston, Texas. The Geto Boys enjoyed success in the 1990s with the group's classic lineup consisting of Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D, earning several certified albums and hit singles, including "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" which reached No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs and #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The group was formed in 1986, and was active until the 2019 death of Bushwick Bill.
The Geto Boys earned notoriety for lyrics covering controversial topics such as
History
The original Ghetto Boys consisted first of Raheem, The Sire Jukebox and Sir Rap-A-Lot. When Raheem and Sir Rap-A-Lot left, the group added DJ Ready Red, Prince Johnny C, and Little Billy, the dancer who later came to be known as
In the early 1990s, several American politicians attacked rap artists associated with the subgenre gangsta rap, including the Geto Boys. A high-profile incident in which Bushwick Bill lost an eye in a shooting helped boost sales of the group's 1991 album We Can't Be Stopped. The album cover features a graphic picture of the injured Bushwick being carted through a hospital by Scarface and Willie D. On the album's title track, the group responded to Geffen Records ending its distribution deal with Def American. The album featured the single "Mind Playing Tricks on Me," which became a hit and charted at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
After Willie D left the group, Scarface and Bushwick Bill continued with the Geto Boys with the addition of
The song "Street Life" from Till Death Do Us Part was featured on the motion picture South Central. A video clip for the song with footage from the film was released.[4] Although the band rarely releases albums or perform together, the group came together for a reunion at Cypress Hill's SmokeOut festival in San Bernardino, California on October 23, 2009.[5] In 2010, Bushwick Bill was threatened with deportation to Jamaica.[6] In a 2015 DJ Vlad interview, Scarface stated that he will not be involved in another Geto Boys album.[7]
On August 24, 2018, founding member DJ Ready Red died at the age of 53, from an apparent heart attack.[8]
Following the stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis of Bushwick Bill in early 2019, a farewell tour, titled The Beginning of a Long Goodbye, The Final Farewell was announced, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to pancreatic cancer awareness.[9] However, this tour was cancelled just before its anticipated start. On June 9, 2019, Bushwick Bill died as a result of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 52.
Lyrics and influence
The group's name, Geto Boys, comes from an alternate spelling of the word "
The Geto Boys' popularity was boosted somewhat in 1999 by the prominent use of two songs—"Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" (released as a promotional single for the 1992 compilation album Uncut Dope)[15] and "Still" (from The Resurrection)—in Mike Judge's comedy satire film Office Space. The song "Mind of a Lunatic" has been covered by many recording acts including Marilyn Manson in 2003, as a B-side off the album The Golden Age of Grotesque. The single "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" has also been covered by the band Aqueduct and country singer Carter Falco.[16] Their song "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V and also in the Netflix series Maniac.
The Geto Boys were also heavily influenced by the social politics of the day. Their lyrics consistently include themes ranging from police brutality (such as in "Crooked Officer") to concerns over the negative impact of violence on the urban community (such as "The World Is a Ghetto", "Geto Fantasy", and "Six Feet Deep").[citation needed]
Discography
- Studio albums
- Making Trouble (1988)
- Grip It! On That Other Level (1989)
- We Can't Be Stopped (1991)
- Till Death Do Us Part (1993)
- The Resurrection (1996)
- Da Good da Bad & da Ugly (1998)
- The Foundation (2005)
Band members
Former members
- Bushwick Bill – hype man (1986–1989), vocals (1989–1997, 2002–2016; died 2019)
- Prince Johnny C. – vocals (1986–1989), production (1988–1991)
- Raheem – vocals (1986–1987)
- Sir Rap-A-Lot – vocals (1986–1987)
- Sire Jukebox – vocals (1986–1989)
- DJ Ready Red – vocals, turntables, production (1986–1991; died 2018)
- Big Mike – vocals (1992–1994)
Timeline
References
- ^ "Geto Boys Biography". Broadway World. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Adaso, Henry. "25 Best Rap Groups of All-Time". About.com. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
- ^ LeBlanc, Ondine. "The Geto Boys". Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ "geto boys street life". YouTube. April 19, 2007. Archived from the original on January 22, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
- ^ "Smoke Out Festival 2009 offers reunited bands and munchies…". Consequence of Sound. September 1, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Carroll, Susan. "Houston's own Geto Boy faces deportation Archived January 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Houston Chronicle. July 19, 2010. Retrieved on July 20, 2010.
- ^ Todd, Jessica. "EXCLUSIVE! Scarface: I'll Officially Never Do Another Geto Boys Album". VladTV. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "DJ Ready Red, hip hop group Geto Boys' first DJ and producer, dead at 53". Usatoday.com. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ "Bushwick Bill's Cancer Diagnosis Prompts Geto Boys Farewell Tour". TMZ. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-9741846-0-8.
- ^ Violent J (performer) (June 8, 2010). The Opening (song). Hatchet House/Psychopathic Records. Event occurs at 0:54.
Much love to Cube, Awesome Dre, The Geto Boys, and Esham / for making us want to be rappers, self employed, and the bomb
- ^ Weingarten, Christopher (October 28, 2011). "Insane Clown Posse's Violent J Picks 11 Horrorcore Classics". Spin. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ Hochman, Steve (December 13, 1992). "Geto Boys Wave Anti-Abortion Flag With 'The Unseen'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Nathan (March 17, 2016). "A Psychotic Ranking of All 97 Geto Boys Songs". Houston Press. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
"The Unseen" is a nasty, murderous anti-abortion screed
- ^ "Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangster (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Aqueduct - "Damn it Feels Good to Be a Gangster"". YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2007.