Tone Loc facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tone Lōc
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![]() Tone Lōc performing in October 2023
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Background information | |
Birth name | Anthony Terrell Smith |
Also known as | Tone Lōc |
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
March 3, 1966
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels |
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Anthony Terrell Smith (born on March 3, 1966), known as Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor. He is famous for his unique, raspy voice. Tone Lōc had big hit songs like "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina". He was even nominated for a Grammy Award for his music. He also joined other artists in the song "We're All in the Same Gang".
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Anthony Terrell Smith was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 3, 1966. His mother, Margaret, raised him and his three older brothers. When he was a teenager, Tone Lōc started performing with a rap group called Triple A. He also went to the Hollywood Professional School.
Music Career
Early Success with Hit Songs
Tone Lōc's first album, Lōc-ed After Dark, came out in January 1989. The music video for his first song, "Wild Thing", was played a lot on MTV. This song became very popular, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also did well in Australia.
His second song, "Funky Cold Medina", was also a big hit. It reached number 3 in the U.S. and was popular in Australia and the UK. His album Lōc-ed After Dark even reached number 1 in the U.S. It has sold over two million copies.
Second Album and Movie Music
Tone Lōc's second album, Cool Hand Lōc, was released in November 1991. The first song from this album, "All Through the Night", was also successful. It was played often on MTV and BET. Tone Lōc also sang the song "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody" for the movie FernGully.
Acting and Voice Work
Roles in Movies and TV Shows
Tone Lōc has appeared in many movies. He played Sergeant Emilio in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). His song "Ace Is in the House" was featured in this movie and its sequel, Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective.
He also lent his voice to characters in animated shows. He was Fūd Wrapper, the host of a show called Food Rocks at Epcot from 1994 to 2004. In this role, he sang a funny song called "Always Read the Wrapper".
Tone Lōc has acted in films like Poetic Justice, Blank Check, and Heat. He has also voiced characters in animated TV series such as King of the Hill and C Bear and Jamal. He voiced Pee Wee in the animated movie Bebe's Kids. In 2022, he was the singing voice of Penny Proud in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.
Touring and Performances
Since April 2016, Tone Lōc has been part of the I Love the 90s Tour. He has performed his hit songs for fans around the world. He also appeared on the I Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tour in 2017.
Health and Well-being
Tone Lōc has faced some health challenges over the years. He has sometimes collapsed during concerts due to medical conditions. For example, he was taken to a hospital in 2009 after collapsing during a show in Florida. He has also had similar incidents in Atlanta, Des Moines, San Francisco, and Sioux Falls. To help manage his health, he often wears his signature sunglasses during performances.
Discography
Studio Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
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US |
US R&B |
AUS |
CAN |
AUT |
NZ |
SWE |
SWI |
UK |
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Lōc-ed After Dark |
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1 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 31 | 30 | 22 |
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Cool Hand Lōc |
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— | 46 | 129 | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | ||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US |
US Rap |
US R&B |
US Dan |
AUS |
AUT |
CAN |
NZ |
SWI |
UK |
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"On Fire" | 1987 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Wild Thing" | 1988 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | — | 7 | 1 | 23 | 21 |
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Lōc-ed After Dark | |
"Funky Cold Medina" | 1989 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 13 |
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"I Got It Goin' On" | — | 18 | 59 | — | 52 | — | 9 | 27 | — | 55 | ||||
"All Through the Night" (featuring El DeBarge) |
1991 | 80 | — | 16 | — | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | Cool Hand Lōc | ||
"Cool Hand Loc" | 1992 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Posse Love" | 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Posse soundtrack | ||
"Ace Is in the House" (featuring Jim Carrey) |
1994 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ace Ventura soundtrack | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Featured Singles
Title | Year | Artist | Peak chart positions | Album | |
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US | US R&B | ||||
"We're All in the Same Gang" | 1990 | West Coast Rap All-Stars | 35 | 10 | Non-album single |
Awards and Nominations
Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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1989 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Rap Video | "Wild Thing" | Nominated |
1990 | Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
Best Rap Solo Performance | "Funky Cold Medina" | Nominated | ||
American Music Awards | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | Himself | Nominated | |
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album | Lōc-ed After Dark | Nominated | ||
Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist | Himself | Nominated | ||
Favorite Dance New Artist | Won | |||
1991 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | "We're All in the Same Gang" | Nominated |
Filmography
Film Roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1990 | The Adventures of Ford Fairlane | Slam | |
The Return of Superfly | Unknown | Uncredited | |
1992 | FernGully: The Last Rainforest | Goanna | Voice |
Bebe's Kids | Pee-Wee | Voice | |
1993 | Posse | Angel | |
Poetic Justice | James Paul | ||
Surf Ninjas | Lieutenant Spence | ||
A Cool Like That Christmas | Marvin | Television film | |
1994 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Handsome Cab Driver | |
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | Emilio | ||
Blank Check | Juice | ||
1995 | Heat | Richard Torena | |
Crosstown Traffic | Keiser | Television film | |
1996 | Spy Hard | Gangster #1 | |
1997 | Fakin' da Funk | "Frog" | |
1998 | Freedom Strike | Tyler Haynes | |
1999 | Jack and the Beanstalk | The Giant | Voice |
2000 | Whispers: An Elephant's Tale | Macho Bull | |
Titan A.E. | Tek | Voice | |
Space Cowboys | The Photographer | Uncredited | |
2001 | Deadly Rhapsody | Jelly's Cousin | |
They Crawl | Clarence | ||
2002 | Storm Watch | Ray | |
2006 | Totally Awesome | Himself | Television film |
Dreamweaver | Sandman | Television film | |
2011 | White T | Jerry | Voice |
2014 | Not Cool | Pedestrian #2 | Uncredited |
Television Appearances
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1990 | The Earth Day Special | Himself | |
1992–1994 | Roc | Ronnie Paxton | 7 episodes |
1994 | Aladdin | Magma | Voice, episode: "Smolder and Wiser" |
1995 | Touched by an Angel | Albert Turner | Episode: "Operation Smile" |
NewsRadio | Security Guard, Lorenzo | 2 episodes | |
1996–1997 | C Bear and Jamal | C-Bear | Lead role |
1996 | Living Single | Lester Tate | Episode: "School's Out Forever" |
1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | The Giant / Desmond Bear | Voice, 2 episodes |
Martin | Himself | Episode: "Ain't That About a Ditch" | |
Dangerous Minds | Mr. Summers | Episode: "To'e Me Up, To'e Me Down" | |
1999 | Early Edition | Derek "D.J." Johnson | Episode: "Number One with a Bullet" |
2000–2001 | Rude Awakening | Lenny | 2 episodes |
2001 | Thieves | Special Agent Al Trundall | |
2002 | The District | J.T. Betancourt | Episode: "Twist of Hate" |
Static Shock | Hyde | Voice, episode: "Static Shaq" | |
2004 | Superstar USA | Panelist | |
2005 | King of the Hill | Bouncer | Voice, episode: "Smoking and the Bandit" |
Yes, Dear | Dave | Episode: "Barbecue" | |
2008 | Chowder | Chestnut | Voice, 3 episodes |
2014 | Uncle Grandpa | Moon Man | Voice, episode: "Bezt Frends" |
2022 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Penny Proud (singing voice) | Episode: "Snackland" |
See also
In Spanish: Tone Loc para niños
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs