history / edit

Artist

Shortcut Code: [a1458]
Data Quality Rating: Correct
33 submissions pending
Add to List

Shopping

Search for this:
 eBay .uk
 Amazon .uk .de
X 382 For Sale

Jump To

World Class Wreckin' Cru

Real Name:
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)
Profile:
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 Kru and releasing the album Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane in 1988.
Members:
Variations:
edit genres sort

Discography

Releases:
Juice (2 versions)   Z Rock Records ... 1984
Slice / Kru Groove (12")   Kru-Cut Records 1984
Surgery (12")   Kru-Cut Records 1984
Bust It Up 2 + 1 (12")   Kru-Cut Records, Kru-Cut Records 1985
World Class (Album) (2 versions)   Kru-Cut Records 1985
World Class (Remix) (2 versions)   Kru-Cut Records 1985
Love Letter (12", Promo)   Epic 1986
Mission Possible / World Class Freak (6 versions)   Epic 1986
Rapped In Romance (Album) (2 versions)   Epic 1986
The Fly / He's Bionic (4 versions)   CBS ... 1986
Come See Me / Turn Off The Lights (2 versions)   Macola Record Co. 1987
House Calls (12")   Macola Record Co., Kru-Cut Records 1987
The Best Of The World Class Wreckin' Cru (LP, Comp, Album)   Kru-Cut Records 1987
Turn Off The Lights (4 versions)   Kru-Cut Records ... 1987
Lay Your Body Down (12")   Kru-Cut Records 1988
Lovers / Lonzoland (12")   Lon Hop Records 1988
Turn Off The Lights In The Fast Lane (Album) (3 versions)   Rams Horn Records ... 1988
World Class Mega Mix 89 (12")   Kru-Cut Records 1989
Phases In Life (LP, Album)   S.O.H. Distributors Network 1990
The Lights Are Out / World Class Bar-B-Que (12", Maxi, Promo)   S.O.H. Distributors Network 1990
I'll Be Around (12", Maxi)   S.O.H. Distributors Network 1991
The World Class Wreckin' Cru Greatest Hits Plus (CD, Comp, Album)   Missing Link Entertainment 2000
Mission Possible (12")   Electro Eternal 2005
House Fly (12")   Kru-Cut Records  
Production:
Dre's Drugstore (2xCD) World Class Street Dance 2002
Appears On:
Urban Car Tunes 2 (2 versions) Lay Your Body Down Street Dance ... 2005
Dr. Dre 2008 (2xCD, Comp) Do You Street Dance 2008
Tracks Appear On:
Hit Hip Hop On Hot Vinyl (LP) Surgery Macola Record Co. 1985
L.A. Beats (LP) Surgery, Juice ARS Productions 1985
New York vs L.A. Beats (Comp) (2 versions) Surgery, Juice Street Sounds 1985
Street Sounds Electro 9 (Comp) (2 versions) World Class Street Sounds 1985
Street Sounds Hip Hop Electro 13 (Comp) (2 versions) Mission Possible Street Sounds 1986
Best Of Macola Volume One (LP, W/Lbl, Promo) Cabbage Patch, Juice Macola Record Co. 1987
Best Of Macola Volume One (Comp) (3 versions) Cabbage Patch, Juice Macola Record Co. ... 1987
December 87 - Mixes 2 (12", Comp, Mixed) Cabbage Patch DMC 1987
June 87 - Mixes 2 (12") Cabbage Patch DMC 1987
Remixed Records 14 (2x12") Cabbage Patch Remixed Records 1987
Street Sounds Hip Hop Electro 16 (Comp) (2 versions) Cabbage Patch Street Sounds 1987
The Best Of West Coast Hip Hop (Comp) (2 versions) Surgery, House Calls, ... Street Sounds 1987
World Class Wreckin' Cru Ultimate Mega Mix / 808 Beats (12") The Ultimate Mega Mix Streetheat Music 1987
Furacão 2000 (LP) The Fly Som Livre 1988
Kool Rap (12", Com) Turn Off The Lights Priority Records 1988
Sunset Strip (CD, Comp) Turn Off The Lights Westside Records (2) 1988
Sunset Strip (LP, Comp) Turn Off The Lights Westside Records (2) 1988
Rap Beginnings - Vol. I (CD, Comp) Surgery K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1989
Rap Beginnings - Vol. II (CD, Comp) Lovers, Juice K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1989
The Best Of Electric Slide (Cass, Album, Comp) Bus Stop (Electric Sli... S.O.H. Distributors Network 1991
West Coast Rap - The First Dynasty Vol. 1 (CD) Slice Rhino Entertainment Company 1992
Compton's Greatest Rap Volume 1 (Cass, Comp) Surgery Priority Records 1993
Macola The Early Years (Cass, P/Mixed, Comp) Surgery, Cabbage Patch... Macola Record Co. 1993
The Best Of LA Techno - Funk (Comp) (2 versions) Surgery Basix Music 1993
The Best Of LA Techno - Rap (Comp) (2 versions) House Calls, Cabbage P... Basix Music 1993
Dr. Dre: Concrete Roots Anthology (LP) Dre's Beat Re-Mix, Sur... Triple X Records 1994
Dr. Dre: Concrete Roots Anthology (CD, Comp) Dre's Beat Re-Mix, Sur... Triple X Records 1994
Street Jams: Electric Funk Part 3 (CD) Surgery Rhino Entertainment Company 1994
Street Jams: Electric Funk Part 4 (CD, Comp) Juice Rhino Entertainment Company, Skanless Records 1994
Street Jams: Electric Funk Parts 1-4 (4xCD) Surgery, Juice Rhino Entertainment Company 1994
Old School Rap Volume 2 (2xLP, Comp) The Cabbage Patch Thump Records 1995
Diggin The Crates Vol. 2 (For The West Coast Funk) (CD) Surgery Hot Associated Label 1996
Electro Funk Volume One (CD) Juice Priority Records 1996
Electro Funk Volume Two (CD, Comp, P/Mixed) Surgery Priority Records 1996
First Round Knock Out (CD) He's Bionic, Juice, Tu... Triple X Records 1996
N.W.A. And The Posse 2 (2xCD) Surgery Dance Factory 1996
West Coast Posse 1 (3xCD) Slice Street Dance 1997
Electro Boogie Vol. 2 - The Throwdown (Comp) (2 versions) Surgery, Surgery Studio !K7 1998
Love Line Vol.8 (CD, Comp) Turn Off The Lights Kaskata's 1998
Miami Bass Classics Vol. 2 (12", Comp) Surgery (Remix) Wicked Mix 1998
Miami Bass Classics Vol. 8 (12", Comp) Juice (Remix) Wicked Mix 1998
Strip Jointz 2 - More Hot Songs For Sexy Dancers (CD) Turn Off The Lights Robbins Entertainment 1998
Timex Social Club + Posse (CD) Cabbage Patch Street Dance 1998
The Classic Collection (CD, Comp) World Class, Cabbage P... Street Dance 1999
Dr. Dre 2002 (2xCD) House Calls, Gang Bang... Street Dance 2000
Legends Of Hip-Hop (3xCD) Funky Chicken, Cabbage... Blue Dolphin Entertainment Corp. 2000
Dr. Dre & Posse 5 (CD, Comp) Lay Your Body Down Street Dance 2001
The Best Of Electro Boogie (3xCD) Surgery, Surgery Studio !K7 2001
Dr. Dre 2003 (2xCD) The Fly, Fast Lane, Lo... Street Dance 2002
Dre's Drugstore (2xCD) World Class, Surgery, ... Street Dance 2002
Hip Hop Most Wanted - Chapter 2 (3xCD + Box) Dre's Beat, World Clas... Street Dance 2002
Dre's 2nd Drugstore (2xCD) World Class Freak, He'... Street Dance 2003
80 Minutes Of Stank Stank (CD, Comp, Mixed) Turn Off The Lights Ekler'o'shocK 2004
Dr Dre 2004 (2xCD, Album) Paid Street Dance 2004
The Definitive Electro & Hip Hop Collection (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Mission Possible Universal Music TV, Street Sounds 2004
Dr. Dre 2005 (2xCD, Comp) Boo Yaws, Mission Poss... Street Dance 2005
Newyorkelectropunkfunk (CD, Comp) Juice, Surgery Neverstop 2005
Urban Car Tunes 2 (2 versions) Cabbage Patch, World C... Street Dance ... 2005
Hip Hop Most Wanted Vol. 1 (CD) Surgery Street Dance  
Hollywood Live (LP) Cabbage Patch West Coast Wax  
Kiss 98.7 FM Mix (LP, Pic) Juice, Juice TSR Music GmbH  
L.A. Beats (12") Surgery, Juice Dunk Yer Funk Records  
Monster Hits (LP) Turn Out The Lights Warlock Records  
Unofficial Releases:
Blame It On The Music / The Music Is To Blame (CDr, Mixed) Surgery (Bootleg) Institubes 2003
My Electro Classics Vol. 1 (CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo) Juice Atimeinyourlife Recordings 2007
Body Rock (2xLP) Surgery Not On Label  
edit

YouTube Videos

The Wreckin' Cru 'Surgery' (Kru Cut 1984)