Geto Boys
Southern rap pioneers known for controversial lyrics.
The Geto Boys were an American hip-hop group formed in Houston, originally spelled Ghetto Boys. They achieved commercial success in the 1990s with a lineup of Bushwick Bill, Willie D, and Scarface. Their 1991 single "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Ghetto Boys (1986–1990)
- Origin
- Houston, Texas, U.S.
- Genre
- Southern hip-hop
- hardcore hip-hop
- gangsta rap
- G-funk
- horrorcore
- Years active
- 1986–2019
- Label
- Rap-a-Lot, Def American
- Past members
- Willie D
- Scarface
- Bushwick Bill
- Raheem
- Sir Rap-A-Lot
- Sire Jukebox
- Prince Johnny C
- DJ Ready Red
- Big Mike
Facts from the source article.
History
The original Ghetto Boys consisted of Raheem, The Sire Jukebox, and Sir Rap-A-Lot. Their first single was "Car Freak" in 1986, followed by "You Ain't Nothin'/I Run This" in 1987 and "Be Down" in 1988. The debut album Making Trouble came out in 1988 but received little attention, and the group broke up shortly after. A new lineup formed with Bushwick Bill joined by Scarface and Willie D, both aspiring solo artists, recording the 1989 album Grip It! On That Other Level. The 1990 album The Geto Boys caused Def American Recordings to switch distributors from Geffen Records to Warner Bros. Records due to lyric controversy. In the early 1990s, several American politicians attacked gangsta rap artists including the Geto Boys. A high-profile incident where Bushwick Bill lost an eye in a shooting boosted sales of the 1991 album We Can't Be Stopped, whose cover shows the injured Bushwick being carted through a hospital by Scarface and Willie D. The title track responded to Geffen ending its distribution deal with Def American. The album included the hit "Mind Playing Tricks on Me. After Willie D left, Scarface and Bushwick Bill continued with Big Mike added for 1993's Till Death Do Us Part, which was certified gold and spawned the top 40 hit "Six Feet Deep. Big Mike was then dropped, and Willie D returned for 1996's The Resurrection and 1998's Da Good Da Bad & Da Ugly, which did not include Bushwick Bill. After a three-year hiatus, the group reunited in 2002 to record The Foundation, released on January 25, 2005. The Geto Boys were featured on Scarface's My Homies Part 2 album.
Lyrics and influence
The group's name comes from an alternate spelling of "ghetto." For the first two albums, Making Trouble and Grip It! On That Other Level, the spelling was "Ghetto Boys"; for the third album, The Geto Boys, they changed to the "Geto" spelling, used since. Their lyrics push gangsta rap themes to extremes, focusing on murder, explicit sex, and violence. The group is credited with putting Southern hip-hop on the map and inspired acts including 2Pac, Eminem, UGK, T.I., Goodie Mob, Outkast, 50 Cent, Chamillionaire, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Juvenile, Mystikal, Mac Lethal, Esham, and Insane Clown Posse. Violent J of Insane Clown Posse said the Geto Boys were the first rappers to perform horrorcore, with their song "Assassins" from Making Trouble, and that they continued pioneering the style on Grip It! On That Other Level with songs like "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Trigga-Happy Nigga." The song "The Unseen" on the compilation Uncut Dope expresses anti-abortion views. Their popularity was boosted in 1999 by the use of "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" and "Still" in the film Office Space. "Mind of a Lunatic" has been covered by Marilyn Manson, and "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta" by Aqueduct and Carter Falco. The group was heavily influenced by social politics, with lyrics addressing police brutality and the negative impact of violence on urban communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Geto Boys from?
Geto Boys originated in Houston, Texas, U.S.
When was Geto Boys active?
Geto Boys was active from 1986 to 2019.
What genre of music does Geto Boys play?
Geto Boys's music is classified as southern hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, gangsta rap, G-funk and horrorcore.
More in Hardcore Hip-hop Groups
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