UG Rap Community

Only the best, most driven hip-hop artists can double as artist and label head. Dr. Dre, Eminem and Jay-Z are among the few on this exclusive short list. Add C-Bo to the roster.

As owner of the successful West Coast Mafia Records, the Sacramento rap legend has a seven-figure deal with distributor Navarre (also home to E-40s Sick Wid It Records and R&B star Raphael Saadiq). C-Bo owns 100 percent of his labels masters, including new releases and back catalog, and has retail, marketing, promotions and publicity departments, as well as a full roster of artists, for his expanding company.

After releasing a string of his critically acclaimed, underground classic albums on a variety of labels, C-Bo knew it was time to strike out on his own. We knew what kind of deal we were looking for and Navarre gave us that kind of deal, he says. We went over there and told them what we wanted. They made it happen.

Indeed, with new albums from C-Bo and gold artist Young Bleed (Rise Thru Da Ranks), as well as the second C-Bo Presents West Side Ryders Vol. II compilation and a C-Bo and Killa Tay album both due out soon, West Coast Mafia is poised to make major moves within the next year.

Were about to do it like the majors from here on out, C-Bo says. Were independent, but were finna make some major moves right now. Its going to be on the mainstream type of scene, but were getting that independent profit.

One of West Coast Mafias most ingenious marketing strategies is to release two albums on the same day, as it did in 2003 when the debut album from 151, Code Of Tha Streets, and the C-Bo Presents West Side Ryders compilation arrived in stores. West Coast Mafia spent money making one television ad, but the spot will featured two artists. The same process went into posters and music samplers, among other marketing tools.

What we try to do is kill two birds with one stone and promote both of the albums together, running the ads together, C-Bo explains. We use one budget and do two records with it. C-Bo applied the same model for releasing product from his in-demand back catalog, which includes the classic albums 1994s The Autopsy and 1999s Final Chapter, among others. Even though C-Bo remains one of the most prominent underground rap artists, some of his releases had become increasingly hard to find. Thats why he was eager to put them back in circulation.

Most of them werent on the shelf, C-Bo says. Nobody could really get them. So, boom, I just wanted to put my stuff out back out on my label. It had been going out through other people and I really didnt have control over it.

Even though he was releasing his albums on other imprints during his first years in the music industry, C-Bo made an impact as soon as his product hit record store racks. Released in 1993, Gas Chamber established C-Bo as one of the most exciting rappers on the scene. Bald Head Nut and the title track became underground favorites and set the stage for 1994s The Autopsy. From there, C-Bos street-informed style became a sensation. Both 1995s Tales From The Crypt and 1998s Til My Casket Drops debuted at No. 4 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. Tales From The Crypt would go on to be C-Bos best-selling release, moving more than 200,000 units.

But while C-Bo was becoming a hip-hop icon, he was also becoming a fixture in Californias penal system. In and out of correctional facilities since he was 14, C-Bo has served time in some of Californias toughest prisons, including Salinas Valley State Prison (Soledad), Folsom, High Desert, Deuel Correctional Facility (Tracy), Avenal and Wasco.

In fact, C-Bo earned national headlines in 1998 when he was imprisoned for allegedly violating his parole because of the incendiary, anti-law enforcement lyrics contained on his fifth album, Til My Casket Drops. C-Bos legal situation changed his lyrical outlook. Once they came after me for that, it made me get on the anti-government, political stuff every album, C-Bo says. I had the NAACP come help me. The government couldnt stop me from saying what I wanted to say.

Now in complete control of his business and personal affairs, C-Bo will show his ear for talent when West Coast Mafia delivers in the near future albums from Young Bleed, Sacramento female rap legend Marvaless, underground rhyme hero T Nutty, rhyme family the Mob Figaz and others. C-Bo is also working on a number of DVD projects. His first DVD project, 2003s C-Bo Live And Uncut, was an underground sensation.

As West Coast Mafia prepares to dominate the independent music scene, C-Bo remains focused on making his company, which is adding Staccadolla to its name, a creative and financial success.

Im trying to get my label to be No. 1, he says. I want to put some good artists on it so they can provide for their family. Thats what its about. Weve been trying to stack some tickets. Now that weve done that, were ready to go do some things.

The album hits stores on August 8th.

1. Intro
2. Danger Music Ft Eyezlow
3. I'm Your Pusher
4. Same Niggaz Ft Domination & D-Mac
5. Skit
6. Do Tha Math Ft Marvaless
7. Left, Right Ft Eyezlow & Lil' Scrappy
8. Get It, Get It
9. Ball 4 A Livin Ft Sean Paul Of The Youngbloodz & Kurupt
10. Boyz In Tha Hood
11. Walked In Tha Club
12. On My Toes Ft Baby Bash
13. Rep Yo' Hood Ft Eyezlow
14. Ask For Me (Eyezlow Solo)
15. WCM Radio
16. On Top Ft Eyezlow

klar lags an den beats, bo rappt gott sei dank sei 10 jahren den gleichen scheiss und auch immer gleich. bei dem haben nur die beats den downfall ausgemacht, ansonsten aller feinste lyrics und geilster rap. das kannst du sicher bestätigen.

lol, nee spass bei seite- imo war das be bo schon immer so. ohne die top beats von damals hätte ich mir sicher keine cd gekauft, aber da das nicht so war hat er jetzt kultstatus bei mir und vielen anderen. werde mir auf jeden fall noch die bo sammlung komplett machen, obwohl die sachen nach awol alle enddreck sind.

Hat der g-funkdafied viel Ahnung von Rap?Nein definitiv nicht! Ist er ein hurenbastard?Keine Frage!

ich lutsch slims pimmel

ach stimmt, ja...ich meine ja auch verglichen mit den kritikpunkten die don immer nutzt.