Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.
Originally composed of six Samoan-descended brothers from Los Angeles, the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. offered a distinctly authentic brand of gangsta rap. Sons of a Baptist minister, the brothers Devoux -- lead rapper Paul (aka Ganxsta Ridd), bandleader Ted (aka the Godfather), Donald (aka Don L), Roscoe (aka Rosco), Danny (aka O.M.B.), and David (aka E.K.A.) -- grew up in a rough neighborhood and were drawn into gang culture as a survival tactic, joining up with the Mob Piru Bloods. They all served prison sentences at one time or another on drug and/or weapons charges, but it wasn't until brother Robert Devoux was killed in a shooting that they determined to leave the lifestyle. Quitting cold turkey, all six brothers left Los Angeles and moved to Japan to live with their cousin, a sumo wrestler. There they formed a rap and dance troupe dubbed the Blue City Crew, and performed regularly to enthusiastic response from Japanese audiences.
Encouraged by their success, the group returned to Los Angeles in 1988 and began working on original material, issuing a 12" single called "Coming Hard to America" later that year. They rechristened themselves the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., with the first part of their name taken from a slang term that mimicked the sound of a shotgun (prior to becoming a more general shout of exuberance); the last part, meanwhile, stood for "Too Rough International Boo-Yaa Empire." After a guest appearance on the Club Nouveau track "No Friend of Mine," the T.R.I.B.E. signed with Island's 4th & Broadway subsidiary and released their debut album, New Funky Nation, in 1990. Earning positive attention for its use of live instrumentation, it spawned a minor hit single in "Psyko Funk," and climbed into the Top 40 of the R&B album chart. A second album, Good Times Bad Times, was recorded in 1992 and featured guest appearances by George Clinton, Ice Cube, and Living Colour; however, despite some well-received appearances on that summer's Lollapalooza tour, the record was never released. In 1993, the group collaborated with Faith No More on "Another Body Murdered," one of the all-star metal/rap teamings on the Judgment Night soundtrack.
Signing with the smaller Bullet Proof label, the group issued two more albums, Doomsday and Occupation Hazardous, in 1994 and 1995, respectively. By this time, three members had adopted new aliases: Danny was Monsta O, Roscoe was Murder One, and Donald was Kobra Konvict (or just Kobra). Searching for a new musical direction, the T.R.I.B.E. formed their own Samoan Mafia label and tried their collective hand at rap-metal on 1997's Angry Samoans, albeit to little attention. Another effort, Mafia Lifestyle, appeared in 2000, with guest spots from Layzie Bone, Yukmouth, and Naughty by Nature's Treach, among others. By this time, David Devoux had left the group, and was replaced by Vincent Devoux (aka Gawtti). Gawtti landed a small but memorable role in the 2003 film The Italian Job, and the T.R.I.B.E. further increased their visibility by snagging a rare guest appearance from Eminem on their subsequent album, West Koasta Nostra; it was released on Sarinjay and produced by Battlecat. Angry Samoans, an all-metal affair, arrived three years later. Danny Devoux, aka O.M.B. and Monsta O, died on October 12, 2022, at the age of 56.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Occupation Hazardous
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by First Kut Records on 31 May 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
911
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Doomsday
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 1 May 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New Funky Nation
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Angry Samoans
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by First Kut Records on 22 Mar 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Godfather's Top Picks
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by World Kommission Music Group LLC on 22 Jun 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Death Row California
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 31 Mar 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Metally Disturbed - EP
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 7 Jun 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mafia Lyfestyle
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 31 Oct 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Metally Distrubed
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by First Kut Records on 31 May 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rumors Of A Dead Man
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 5 Jun 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bang On
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Occupational Hazard
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 7 Nov 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Special Day (feat. Eboni Foster, iamJUICE, Rcade, Uptown Swuite & Pistal The Ballanesian)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by SoSouth on 14 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
COMING HARD TO AMERICA (12")
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 10 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chilling On The Westside
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 1 May 1995
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RID Is Coming
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Ganxsta Ridd
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 5 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Happy Feeling
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Ganxsta Ridd
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Precise on 3 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo