King T (Roger McBride) is a foundational figure in West Coast hip-hop, often cited as the 'rapper's rapper' of the Compton scene. Emerging in the late 1980s, his sound identity is built upon a deep baritone delivery and a sophisticated use of internal rhyme schemes that predated the more simplistic gangsta rap tropes.
His early work with producer DJ Pooh established a sonic template that utilized heavy P-Funk and James Brown samples, creating a bridge between the electro-hop of the early 80s and the G-Funk dominance of the mid-90s. A. He is the primary mentor for Tha Alkaholiks and a key member of the Likwit Crew, influencing the 'drunk-flow' aesthetic. His cultural position is that of a pioneer who provided the blueprint for the harder, street-centric narratives of the 1990s. Critical consensus views him as one of the most underrated lyricists of his era, a sentiment reinforced by his later collaborations with Dr. Dre on '2001'.
Shares gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style)
Shares gangsta rap, boom bap, funk (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style)
Shares gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style)
Shares sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style); gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres)
Shares gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style)
Shares sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style); gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres)
Shares gangsta rap, boom bap (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, lo_fi (production style)
Shares gangsta rap, funk, boom bap, rebellious (subgenre)
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