Jerold Dwight Ellis, III, (born October 18, 1974
in Oakland, California) better known by his stage names Yukmouth,
is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from East Oakland, Oakland,
California. He is the founder of The Regime, Smoke-A-Lot Records
and Godzilla Entertainment.
He is a member of the platinum-selling rap duo Luniz along with
Numskull. Luniz recorded the successful weed anthem, "I Got
5 on It". He went on to sign a solo record deal at J-Prince's
Rap-a-Lot Records, releasing four albums. His double album debut
on the label, entitled Thugged Out: The Albulation went gold.[1]
Under his own label, Smoke-a-Lot Records, he has released DVD's and
compilation albums, such as the United Ghettos of America series.
He is a member of Thug Lordz, with C-Bo and Spice 1. He is known
in the rap industry for both his remarkable history of collaborations
and his ruthless diss tracks.
Contents
[show]
[edit] Smoke-A-Lot Records
Main article: Smoke-a-Lot Records
Yukmouth is CEO of Smoke-a-Lot Records, which is distributed by
Rap-a-Lot Records. The label is home to established artists such
as Luniz, Dru Down, Thug Lordz (Yukmouth, C-Bo & Spice 1), The
Regime, and Yukmouth himself. The Regime is a large collective of
MCs including Tech N9ne, Tha Realest, Dru Down, GONZOE, Monsta Ganjah
and Messy Marv among various others. It is home to newcomers Ampichino,
Nyce, Young Dru, and Marc Shyst. Attached to the label as In-House
DJ is former Cali Untouchable DJ, DJ Fingaz.
[edit] Feuds
[edit] Too Short
Luniz had an early rivalry with fellow Oakland rapper Too Short.
The rivalry began in 1994 shortly after Luniz released the underground
EP Formally Known As Lunitunz (later re-released as Bootlegs and
B-Sides in 1997). Around the time, Chris Hicks brought out Luniz,
Too Short introduced his rap duo Bad-N-Fluenz consisting of Ant Diddley
Dog and the late Rappin Ron. Due to the rising popularity between
the two duos in the streets of Oakland, both Too Short and Chris
Hicks set up a freestyle battle between the two acts. The agreement
was the loser of the battle would buy pizza for everyone who was
at the studio who witnessed the battle. No one outside The Dangerous
Crew or C-Note Records circle knows the true outcome of the battle,
however it was this event that is credited for spawning the feud
between the two crews. Later that year, Too Short relocated to Atlanta,
Georgia and Luniz taunted him on the song "Playa Hata" with
the lyric "that's why The Town got rid of Short" which
led to rumors[by whom?] of Too Short being run out of Oakland against
his own will. Too Short responded back on his tenth album with the
song "That's Why" with the hook mimicking lyrics from Luniz
song. On the song he boasts "Rappin Ron tore them up on the
freestyle tip, them niggas ain't ran nobody outta shit." Too
Short continued to take shots at Luniz on the song "Trouble" from
J-Dubb's EP Game Related. The artists later "squashed" their
rivalry by appearing on a track together called "Funkin' Over
Nothing", however Yukmouth continued to later take shots at
Too Short alongside Scarface and Master P on the song " Friends" from
his compilation United Ghettos of America. Since then, Yukmouth appeared
on the Too Short compilation released in 2007 titled I Love the Bay.
[edit] Master P
Yukmouth's most famous and long lasting rivalry is with veteran
rapper Master P. Yukmouth has claimed in numerous songs that he used
to know Master P before either man became a famous rapper. According
to Yukmouth, Master P "stole" or copied Yukmouth's nickname "The
Ice Cream Man". In 1993 Dru Down released single and video "Ice
Cream Man" featured on the album Fools from the Streets (Later
re-released in 1994 as Explicit Game). In 1995, Operation Stackola
featured a remix of "Ice Cream Man" called "Yellow
Brick Road" containing the original hook with the lyrics "It's
the Ice Cream Man! Bitch don't you hear the music?". Ice Cream
Man later became the name of a Master P CD in 1996. Yukmouth, also
claims that Master P, uses Tupac Shakur's name to gain fame, as noted
in the West Coast Bad Boys Compilation in the song "Tupac Shakur
tribute." Yukmouth has dissed Master P on every solo CD that
he has recorded (with the exception of his latest CD's Million Dollar
Mouthpiece, The West Coast Don and Free at Last) , along with both
of the United Ghettos of America CDs and all of his mixtapes.
[edit] G-Unit
Yukmouth has had a rivalry with G-Unit. Yukmouth first took shots
at 50 Cent on the song "Thug Lordz" with C-Bo from his
2003 release Godzilla and later collaborated with Silverback Guerillaz
aka Bang 'Em Smurf & Domination on the song "He Ain't a
Thug" from the album In Thugz We Trust. Yukmouth had an ongoing
feud with Spider Loc which began with an altercation at a L.A. nightclub
where he was jumped by Spider Loc and his entourage, one of whom
managed to steal Yukmouth's chain. Yukmouth reclaimed his chain the
very next day as a mutual friend intervened. Yukmouth disses Spider
Loc in many songs such as "Aaaadadamean", "Get Wild", "Im
Da Shit" and "Playa Hata". In a recent interview,
Yukmouth stated he and Spider Loc ended the rivalry by way of a phone
conversation they had.
[edit] The Game
Yukmouth first met The Game at a club stating he had a feud with
50 Cent. Game released a diss track aimed at the rapper, entitled "I
Got a Mill on It," over the "I Got 5 on It" instrumental,
a song which Yukmouth recorded when he was a part of Luniz. [2] Yukmouth
responded with the track "Game Over" using the instrumental
from Young Buck's song "Let Me In" that mocked Game's appearance
on Change of Heart. The two later tried to bury the hatchet, due
to a personal friend and even recorded a song together with C-Bo's
protege Speedy, named "Peace". However the rivalry continued
afterward, since Game dissed Yukmouth on the "Peace" song
(they recorded their verses separately). [3] Since then, Yukmouth
responded by releasing the song and music video "Game Over Part
2" over Fabolous' "Breathe" instrumental in which
it parodied Game. In the video there is a look-a-like of the rapper
getting robbed and beaten up. Yukmouth claimed on the song that Game
had a tongue ring and was slapped by mogul Suge Knight. Yukmouth
dissed The Game once more with the song "Wartime". Since
the West Coast Peace Conference both rappers ended the feud and have
recorded a song with Erick Sermon called "Across The Coast" on
a Game mix cd called "The Face Of L.A.".
[edit] Afroman
Yukmouth has called out fellow California rapper Afroman on "World
War 3" on his Million Dollar mixtape. Yukmouth called him a "backpack
mother a... drunk ass, 40 oz drinkin ass nigga." After Afroman
spoke on him in an interview. Afroman is rumored to have dissed Yukmouth
in "Whack Rappers 2"(Yukmouth is not mentioned or referred
to in whack rappers 2).
[edit] Numskull
Numskull is one half of the platinum selling group Luniz. After
years of bad press between the duo, multiple songs that depict them
saying bad things of one another, it finally happens. Numskull attends
the infamous BARS awards and tells the crowd " Yukmouth",
and then puts a wad of money up and says "I bet 10 racks he
wont come up here", and is soon after stormed up on stage by
the late Pretty Black. Two diss tracks are later released, one of
which was released on Yukmouth's Lord of War mixtape titled "I
dont miss my dawgs".
Yukmouth revealed many new details about the Numskull beef and how
Luniz were formed. Among other things, he stated that "the group
was an idea he came up with while in prison, that he came up with
the logo and the names Luniz, Yukmouth and Numskull". He stated
that before Luniz, Numskull was rapping under the name "The
Skinny One" but was prompted by Yukmouth to change his stage
name.
[edit] Squashed Beef
Yukmouth has confirmed that he had settled his grievances with Daz
Dillinger, The Game, Young Buck, JT the Bigga Figga and Master P.
Yukmouth claimed in the interview that "all beef is squashable."
Yukmouth claims that he no longer has a rivalry with 50 Cent, and
The Game on the track "Bloody Mary" on his latest mixtape,
The City of Dope Volume 1 He also stated that he has plan's to work
with Boston artist Daney Foxxwoodz after being brought to his attention
by Sacramento super producer G.Gat.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Yukmouth discography
1998: Thugged Out: The Albulation
2001: Thug Lord: The New Testament
2003: Godzilla
2008: Million Dollar Mouthpiece
2009: The West Coast Don
2010: Free at Last
2011: The Tonite Show - Thuggin' & Mobbin'[2]
[edit] Filmography
Original Gangstas (1996)
Mexican Blow (also released as Warrior) (2002) - The Midnight Sun
United Ghettos of America vol. 1 (2002)
United Ghettos of America vol. 2 (2004)
T9X: The Tech N9ne Experience (2004)
United Ghettos of America: Eye Candy (2007)
Yukmouth Uncut (2007)
Million Dollar DVD (2007)
[edit] Awards
[edit] Grammy Award nominations
Category Genre Song Year Result
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
(with Numskull, Luke Cresswell, Fiona Wilkes, Carl Smith, Fraser
Morrison, Everett Bradley, Mr. X, Melle Mel, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Charlie
Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal, Quincy Jones & Coolio) R&B "Stomp" 1997
Nominated