Later on the title of the album changed to Mama's Boy Got a Loaded Gun. It was not long after that when Crooked I signed a distribution deal with Treacherous Records/Universal, but more legal trouble from Death Row surfaced so Crooked I had to stop production for his then titled debut album, Mama's Boy, which was actually going to be the name of Crooked's second release under Death Row Records. He left Death Row in early 2004 to start his own label, Dynasty Entertainment. Start of a new Dynasty, and Digital Innovation īy 2004, Crooked I's album had not been released, Suge Knight was constantly in and out of jail, and Crooked I's contract with Death Row Records had expired by November 2003. He did manage to release a mixtape along with Death Row's then in-house producer, Darren Vegas, called Westcoasanostra Vol. He also recorded two albums, Untouchable and Say Hi To The Bad Guy, both of which were unreleased due to various label issues and industry politics. While on Death Row, Crooked I appeared on a number of compilations, such as Dysfunktional Family, and appeared on various releases, such as Ja Rule's The Last Temptation, and 2Pac's Nu-Mixx Klazzics. It was around this time that Crooked I re-negotiated the original deal he had with DPG Records/ Death Row Records as a solo artist deal with just Death Row Records.
Dre's Chronic 2001 album to be released before they would consider signing another West Coast MC. He also had talks with other major record labels who wanted to sign him, but they too were waiting for Dr. Dre's Aftermath imprint, but Dre wanted to release Chronic 2001 and Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP before releasing Crooked.
Daz left Death Row Records to run DPG Records independently, but rather than go with Daz, Crooked was trying to figure out his options.Ĭrooked I also had talks of signing to Dr. Crooked was going to be 20% owner of the label, and the first act released as well. Wickliffe was later contacted by Big C-Style and Daz Dillinger to form DPG Records, which was originally going to be a sub-label under Death Row Records at the time. Business was going well, but for unknown reasons, Virgin Records decided to get rid of their urban division, otherwise known as Noo Trybe, and Crooked I was out of a record deal. At the time, Crooked I was still signed under Noo Trybe/ Virgin Records, who handled distribution for 19th Street Records. He also appeared on the soundtracks to movies such as Ride and Caught Up, where he collaborated with Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Eastsidaz, and The Luniz. Ĭrooked I originally got his start appearing on compilations released by Big C-Style's record label, 19th Street Records, such as 19th Street LBC Compilation and Straight Outta Cali. This is when he caught the attention of Noo Trybe/ Virgin Records, and landed his first record deal in 1995. It's not known how many songs were recorded, and the music recorded during this period still remains unreleased.
1.3 Start of a new Dynasty, and Digital InnovationĬareer Virgin Records Era Īround the age of seventeen, Crooked I started an independent record company called Muscle Records with professional football players also from Long Beach, Chucky Miller and Leonard Russell.