King T facts for kids

Roger McBride (born December 14, 1968), known by his stage name King T, is an American rapper from Compton, California. He was one of the first hip-hop artists to become famous from Compton.

King T signed with Capitol Records and released his first album, Act a Fool, in 1988. It had several hit songs, including "Act a Fool" and "Bass" [Remix]. These songs are now considered hip-hop classics. In his early career, he often worked with producer DJ Pooh. King T is also the CEO of his own record label, King T Inc.

Musical Journey

Roger McBride was born in Compton, California, on December 14, 1968. He grew up in the Los Angeles hip-hop scene with other early artists like Ice-T and Kid Frost. Because he was one of the first rappers from his area, he is seen as a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop.

Helping Other Artists

While working with Capitol Records, King T became a mentor to a young rap group called Tha Alkaholiks. The group included rappers Tash, J-Ro, and E-Swift. He helped them get started in the music world.

King T also guided a larger group of artists called the Likwit Crew. A member of this crew was Xzibit, who later became a famous rapper himself. This connection eventually led King T to work with the famous producer Dr. Dre.

Influence on The Notorious B.I.G.

King T's deep voice and unique rhyming style had a big impact on other artists. The famous rapper The Notorious B.I.G. was influenced by King T's flow. Some people say you can hear this influence on Biggie's 1994 album, Ready to Die. In an interview, Ice-T confirmed that King T was one of The Notorious B.I.G.'s favorite rappers.

Working with Record Labels

After releasing his 1993 album, Tha Triflin' Album, King T left Capitol Records. He then signed with MCA and released the album IV Life in 1994.

Later, he started working with Dr. Dre and signed to his label, Aftermath Entertainment. While at Aftermath, King T was featured on a few songs. One was "Some L.A. ...", which appeared on Dr. Dre's famous album, 2001. King T and Dr. Dre started working on an album together, but it was delayed many times. Eventually, King T decided to leave the label.

Collaborations and Later Work

King T has worked with many other artists over the years. He often collaborated with Oakland-based rapper and producer Ant Banks. He was also featured on an album by DJ Muggs called Soul Assassins II.

In 2002, King T released the album he started at Aftermath, called The Kingdom Come. It was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Battlecat. In 2004, he released The Ruthless Chronicles, which featured songwriting by his student, Young Maylay.

In 2006, the famous rapper Nas mentioned King T in his song "Where Are They Now?". The next year, King T appeared on the West Coast remix of that same song. He was featured alongside other pioneers like Kam, Ice-T, and Sir Mix-A-Lot.

Legacy and Importance

King T is known as one of the most important early rappers from the West Coast. Even though he did not have huge commercial success, many rappers who came after him have called him a major influence. He is respected for his unique style and for helping start the careers of other artists.

He is known for working with talented producers like DJ Pooh and E-Swift before they became famous. Over the years, King T has continued to release music on his own and appear on other artists' albums, proving his lasting impact on hip-hop.

Personal Life

His daughter, Heaven, passed away in a car accident on May 19, 2009, at the age of 16.

Discography

Studio albums

• Act a Fool (1988)
• At Your Own Risk (1990)
• Tha Triflin' Album (1993)
• IV Life (1995)
• The Kingdom Come (2002)