DJ Yella

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DJ Yella
Background information
Birth name Antoine Carraby
Also known as Yella
Born December 11, 1967 (1967-12-11) (age 40)
Origin Compton, California
Genre(s) Hip hop
Occupation(s) Producing
Years active 1984 - 1996
1999 - 2002
2007 - present
Label(s) Ruthless Records
Associated acts World Class Wreckin' Cru
N.W.A
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

DJ Yella is the stage name of Antoine Carraby (born December 11, 1967), a DJ, music producer, and film director from Compton, California.[1] He was a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru along with Dr. Dre. He later became a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A. (comprised of Yella, Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and Eazy-E). Along with Dre he produced Eazy-E's debut album Eazy Duz It and all three N.W.A albums.

Contents

[edit] History

After the break up of N.W.A. in 1991, Yella, alongside MC Ren were the only members to stay loyal to Eazy-E.[dubious ] Over the following four years he produced albums and songs for numerous Ruthless Records acts, including Eazy, JJ Fad, Menajahtwa, H.W.A., B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. It was also during this time he would shoot pornographic films under his alias Tha Kidd.

In 1995 Eazy-E died suddenly of AIDS and the label was in disarray. Yella remained to piece together Eazy's final album however struggled to track down all the material Eazy had recorded with various producers. He did however with Ren, co-produce Eazy's final single entitled 'Just Tah Let Ya Know', released in September 1995.

In 1996 he released the One Mo Nigga Ta Go album on Street Life, that featured several members of the old Ruthless family rapping over his productions.

After this release he disappeared from the music scene, only to resurface years later as a director of pornographic movies. While for the most part he does not appear to be interested in returning to music, he did reunite with former N.W.A. member MC Ren for a song called Bangin on the soundtrack to one of his sex movies. On October 17, 2006, at VH1's Hip Hop Honors, Yella performed alongside Lil' Eazy-E and Young Jeezy in a tribute to Eazy-E.

[edit] Discography

Album information
One Mo Nigga Ta Go

[edit] With World Class Wreckin' Cru

Before You Turn off The Lights
Mission Possible / He's Bionic

[edit] With N.W.A.

Album information
N.W.A. and the Posse
Straight Outta Compton
  • Released: August 8, 1988 (original), February 6, 1989 (re-released date)
  • Chart positions: #37 US, #9 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #35 UK
  • Last RIAA certification: 3x Platinum
  • Singles: "Straight Outta Compton", "Gangsta Gangsta", "Express Yourself"
100 Miles and Runnin'
Efil4zaggin
  • Released: May 28, 1991
  • Chart positions: #1 US, #2 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #25 UK
  • Last RIAA certification: 2x Platinum
  • Singles: "Appetite For Destruction", "Alwayz into Somethin' (radio edit)"

[edit] Compilations

Album information
Greatest Hits
  • Released: June 2, 1996
  • Chart positions: #48 US, #20 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #56 UK
  • Last RIAA description: Gold
  • Singles: "Alwayz into Somethin'", "100 Miles And Runnin", "Express Yourself", "Straight Outta Compton", "Hello"
The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 1: 1988-1998
The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 2
The Best of N.W.A. - The Strength of Street Knowledge

[edit] With World Class Wreckin' Cru

  • Surgery (1984)
  • Bust It Up 2 + 1 (1985)
  • Juice (1985)
  • World Class (1985)
  • He's Bionic/The Fly (1986)
  • Love Letter (1986)
  • Mission Possible (7") (1986)
  • Mission Possible/World Class Freak (1986)
  • Rapped In Romance (1986)
  • The Fly (1986)
  • The Best Of The World Class Wreckin' Cru (1987)
  • Turn Off The Lights (1987)
  • Lay Your Body Down (1988)
  • World Class Mega Mix 89 (1989)
  • House Fly (1990)
  • Phases In Life (1990)

[edit] References

[edit] External links