LBC Crew

Lore & Background

The LBC Crew formed in Long Beach, California, and were signed to Death Row Records. Early on, a small dispute broke out between Lil' C-Style and Snoop Dogg over C-Style's royalties, which was never settled. This resulted in C-Style damaging the original tape of the group's debut album beyond repair and telling Snoop he no longer wanted to be part of the group. The group disbanded following the collapse of Death Row, but unreleased material from the group emerged on the underground.

Reader's Guide

The LBC Crew's significance lies in their role as the first act executively-produced by Snoop Dogg, marking a key moment in West Coast hip-hop during Death Row's peak. Their hit single 'Beware of My Crew' appeared on the A Thin Line Between Love and Hate soundtrack, and they contributed to Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather. Despite internal conflict that destroyed their debut album's master tape, their long-unreleased album Haven't U Heard... finally saw release in 2011. After the group's dissolution, members remained visible: Bad Azz released solo albums under Doggy Style, Lil' C-Style stayed in the disorganized Death Row camp, and Techniec signed to The Game's The Black Wall Street Records before starting his own label. Their legacy includes appearances on soundtracks and compilations, and their story illustrates the turbulence of Death Row's later years.

Did You Know?

• Lil' C-Style damaged the original tape of the group's debut album beyond repair during a royalties dispute.
• Their album Haven't U Heard... was recorded during their time with Death Row but not released until February 8, 2011.