Brownside

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Brownside is a Chicano hip-hop group founded in 1994 by the late Eazy-E. The group originally consisted of rappers Toker (Felipe Gonzalez), Wicked (Pierre Lamas), Danger, and Lil Danger (Heder Hernandez Jr.) Sureño Gang members from the notorious Brownside 13 Gang South Central, Los Angeles. Their first album was Eastside Drama in 1997, although they recorded songs Gang Related and Eastside Drama in 1994 on Ruthless Records. Brownside has been known to use Sureño slang in their lyrics, as well as album covers. Brownside has collaborated with numerous West Coast artists such as Dirty Red, Slow Pain, Mr. Gee, and Lil Rob.

History

Originally Eazy-E's intentions on signing Brownside to Ruthless Records was to create a Chicano version of the critically acclaimed rap group N.W.A.. Toker had attended high school in Compton, CA where he later met Eazy-E, and the two developed a great friendship until Eazy-E's untimely death in 1995. It is said that towards the end of Eazy's life he was attracted to Chicano rap in California, and had even rapped with the group in the track called "Eastside Drama" and saw this as a new market to break into. Brownside was one of the most promising Chicano Rap groups coming straight out of Los Angeles. Brownside's line-up included members Toker, Danger, and Wicked. Their debut album "Eastside Drama" was recorded at the G-Spot Studio. There first single was "Life on the Streets". They also recorded a Chicano version of Eazy-E's "Boyz-N-The Hood" called "Vatos In The Barrio." Brownside's main image was that "they weren't rappers trying to be gangbangers, they were gangbangers trying to be rappers" Toker stated on a live interview with Julio G from radio station KBRN. Their greatest hardship came in 1997 when member Danger was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in South Central Los Angeles. As a result of the shooting Brownside's Toker and Wicked had to make their 1997 LP Eastside Drama without Danger, but they did put some of his tracks to show respect on the album in which they talked about him in an interview also with Julio G. In the Eastside Drama album they made a song that they dedicated to Danger called "Rest In Peace" a.k.a "Firme Memories" and its instrumental was an oldie beat from the song "Love Between a Boy & Girl can Be So Wonderful" and the song was a hit. Toker stated "I wish the song wouldn't even be on the album homes, because I know my homie would still be here..." but nevertheless it is a song that is known throughout the Chicano/Sureno rap mainstream. More recently, Toker was sentenced to and is now serving 25 to life in the state penitentiary, but stated "naw ese it ain't over for the Brownside". Toker has now been released and sign with Street Life Records (former part owners of Ruthless Records). Toker Is going to release a solo album with them.

Discography

• (1997) Eastside Drama
• (2002) Payback
• (2006) The Takeover
• (2008) 13 Reasons (Trece Razones)
• (Unknown) Tokers Solo Album