Band,
Hip-Hop/Rap and Electronic
A.k.a. Lonzo (Alonzo Williams), Andre Young (Dr. Dre), Marquette Hawkins (Cli-N-Tel), DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby), Barry Severe (Shakespeare), Mona Lisa Young, Michelle Toussaint (Michel'le)
Lonzo (Alonzo Williams), Andre Young (Dr. Dre), Marquette Hawkins (Cli-N-Tel), DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby), Barry Severe (Shakespeare), Mona Lisa Young, Michelle Toussaint (Michel'le). The group was originally formed by a Compton club owner Alonzo Williams as a mobile DJ crew for several years and it wasn't until 1983 that they decided to record music. In 1984 the group debuted on Lonzo's Kru-Cut record label releasing the single "Surgery" followed by "Juice". Both records proved to become local electro-rap favorites selling many units on the west coast. The following year the group put out their first album World Class. The group's dancer, Shakespeare, later replaced Cli-N-Tel as they signed to Epic Records releasing a string of singles and their second album Rapped In Romance. The Wreckin' Cru enlisted aspiring rapper Ice Cube to help as a ghostwriter for the "House Calls / Cabbage Patch" single in 1987. Shortly before disbanding over financial problems, the slow jam record "Before You Turn Off The Lights" (which featured Michel'le) became a big hit all across the country's urban and pop charts by early 1988. Dr. Dre and DJ Yella later continued producing music with N.W.A. while Shakespeare later pursued a position as a pastor. Michel'le married Dr. Dre and released an album on Ruthless Records. Lonzo attempted to play off the big success of the group's last single by reassembling a new World Class Wreckin' Cru and releasing the album Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane in 1988.
Marquette Hawkins | |
Mona Lisa Young voc, bvoc US | |
Frank Tebo b, g | |
Andre Young *1965 US | |
Will Griffin key | |
Barry Severe | |
Darrell Robertson g | |
Alonzo Williams b, voc US | |
Antoine Carraby |
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
The World Class Wreckin' Cru Greatest Hits Plus | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 2000 | Compil. |
The Cowboy Song (Devil Queen) / Weekend / The Fly / I'm The Rapper (Remixes) | Cowboy John / DJ Dick / World Class Wreckin' Cru / Back In Black | 2000 | Album |
Gold | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1994 | Compil. |
House Calls | Dr. Dre With World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1993 | Single |
House Calls / Your Boyfriends A Freak / Dance To The Music | Dr. Dre And World Class Wreckin' Cru / M.C. Latina | 1993 | Single |
I'll Be Around | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1991 | Album |
Turn Off The Lights (Before The Attitude) | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1991 | Compil. |
The Lights Are Out / World Class Bar-B-Que | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1990 | Single |
House Fly | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1990 | Album |
Phases In Life | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1990 | Album |
World Class Mega Mix | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1989 | Single |
Lovers / Lonzoland | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1988 | Album |
Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane | Lonzo And World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1988 | Album |
Lay Your Body Down | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1988 | Album |
Turn Off The Lights | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1987 | Album |
House Calls | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1987 | Album |
Must Be The Music | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1987 | Album |
Come See Me / Turn Off The Lights | Sargent Tucker / World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1987 | Album |
The Best Of The World Class Wreckin' Cru | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1987 | Compil. |
Love Letter | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1986 | Single |
Mission Possible / World Class Freak | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1986 | Album |
Rapped In Romance | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1986 | Album |
The Fly / He's Bionic | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1986 | Album |
World Class | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1985 | Album |
Bust It Up 2 + 1 | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1985 | Album |
Juice | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1985 | Album |
Surgery | World Class Wreckin' Cru | 1984 | Single |