A discussion about west coast hip-hop legends would be incomplete without mentioning Kurupt. At the tender age of 19, he signed with the infamous Death Row Records, home to other hip-hop greats like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Dr. Dre. Best known for being one half of the hip-hop duo Tha Dogg Pound, Kurupt didn’t release his solo debut album until after leaving the label. Although his music career has quieted down in recent years, he is still widely regarded for his role during the 90s and has enjoyed a successful acting career. Recently, he has gained renewed attention after being cast on the latest season of Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition. Here are 10 things you might not know about Kurupt.
1. He’s a Philly Native with West Coast Roots
Kurupt may be west coast to his core, but he was actually born and raised in Philadelphia. At 16, he relocated to California when his mother sought to give him a fresh start after a series of troubles. While he’s known for repping California, he has never forgotten his Philly roots.
2. His Battle with Alcoholism
Kurupt has struggled with alcohol addiction for many years. Although he hasn’t publicly addressed the issue, it has made headlines nonetheless. According to reports, he was hospitalized after an alleged relapse that occurred while filming for Marriage Boot Camp. The show has since decided to ban alcohol.
3. His Debut with The S.O.S Band
While Kurupt is most commonly associated with hip-hop, his debut actually came in a different genre. He got his first taste of the music industry when he co-wrote and performed on three songs for the S.O.S. Band’s 1991 album, One of Many Nights.
4. The Origin of His Stage Name
Unlike some other rappers, Kurupt’s stage name has no connection to his legal name, Ricardo Brown. He actually got the name from a friend. He told The Hundreds, “My homeboy Mental, rest in peace, from the IVCs, he gave me my name Kurupt. Came up with a group – Kurupt, Chaos, and Chainsaw. Chainsaw was our DJ, his name was Chaos, and he said, “You’re going to be Kurupt.” I’m like, “Damn. Okay, I like it.” I kept the K because I always had the K in my rap name. First they called me Kid, then I changed it to K.I.D., which was King in Destruction. Then I changed to K-Rock, that’s when I moved to California. Then he gave me Kurupt.”
5. Tupac’s Influence on His Acting Career
Kurupt has had quite an impressive acting career, appearing in both TV shows and movies over the last 25 years. But that may have never happened without help from an unlikely source: Tupac. Kurupt says it was actually Tupac who taught him about acting and got him interested.
6. Recognition from Fellow Rappers
One of the highest honors a rapper can earn is to be recognized as a great rapper by another great rapper. That’s an honor that Kurupt has received several times. Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Kool Moe Dee have all included Kurupt on their lists of the best rappers.
7. His Relationship with a Member of Blaque
True R&B fans will remember the girl group Blaque, who rose to fame in 1999 with the hit single “808”. Kurupt was briefly engaged to the group’s rapper, Natina Reed, in the early 2000s. The couple had a son together in 2002. Tragically, Natina passed away in a car accident in 2012.
8. His Defense of Donald Sterling Amid Racist Remarks
In 2014, businessman and former L.A. Clipper owner Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life after recordings of him making racist remarks surfaced. Most people, especially those in the Black community, were disgusted by what Sterling said. However, Kurupt told TMZ that he felt Donald Sterling was a great guy and that he believed they “took a good man down.”
9. His Grammy Nomination
Many younger fans may not be familiar with Kurupt or his music, but his resume speaks for itself. In 1996, his song “What Would You Do” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the short film, Murder Was the Case.
10. His Engagement to Foxy Brown
During the 90s, Foxy Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was one of the hottest women in rap. At one time, she and Kurupt were an item and they were engaged to be married. In fact, they were one of the first couples in hip hop to be open about their relationship. He said, “Me and Inga broke the game…I think we started off a whole new era, because after that, everybody started getting together and being public. Before us, we had Prince Markie Dee and Pepa. That’s about it. Everybody else was on the low. After that, you see all kinds of star couples nowadays, which is a good thing.”
Follow Us
