Chillin Villain Empire is a product of the Goodlife open mic sessions, the same South Central Los Angeles locale that also introduced us to the likes of Freestyle Fellowship, Volume 10, Abstract Rude, and Jurassic 5. Initially known locally as intense party rockers and proper beat providers, CVE crewmembers Riddlore and Ngafsh did much to build the infrastructure of the GoodLife movement. By fusing old school production principles with new school innovations, CVE instrumentals quickly became second nature to an entire amalgamation of hungry emcees including Aceyalone, Ellay Khule, Tray Loc, and the Badstads. Beginning with the Project Blowed compilation in 1994, which featured 3 CVE tracks titled What a Pity, Once Upon a Freak, and Narcolepsy, Riddlore and Ngafsh additionally became known as prolific emcees, fully seasoned by almost a decade of freestyle frenzy.
Influenced first and foremost by the likes of Melle Mel, Run DMC, and LL Cool J, at times CVE is apt to sound like MC Shan being backed with Kurtis Mantronik production. But being from Los Angeles CVE also presents many shades of the classic gangsta rap heritage ala groups such as NWA, Compton's Most Wanted, and the Geto Boys. Throw in an appreciation for jazz and reggae that naturally comes with Goodlife affiliation and suddenly CVE is grounded enough to evolve ahead of schedule with their later excursions into Southern bounce.
As the Goodlife eventually gave way to the opening of Project Blowed, just down the street on Crenshaw Boulevard, Chillin Villain Empire created quite a buzz for itself by kicking off Acealone's Mic Check video with their version of Calisthenics. Riddlore also produced the beat for Arythamaticulas which appeared on Aceyalone's All Balls Don't Bounce solo debut. By way of their own label, Afterlife Records, CVE capitalized on the residual hype in 1996 by releasing the Kaos Coup de Ta EP as well as their highly sought-after instrumental album titled Portrait of a Serial Chiller. Making it a point to back solo releases by their Project Blowed counterparts, including Ellay Khule's Riflemanz Kclass-sixx and Tray Loc's Sex on the Beach, CVE continued their propensity for collaborative magic by introducing the world to both Busdriver and Otherwize.
With each of CVE's 1998 releases titled Unclassified and Declassified, Wreccless was presented as a new full-time member of the group. Compounding the accelerated ferocity of their clique, CVE then released Biggest of the Baddest by the Badstads, an album that epitomizes the street-oriented Project Blowed aesthetic as well as any chant of "please pass the mic" ever could. Followed up with solo releases from each of Riddlore and Ngafash, appearances on OD's Beneath the Surface project, and collaborations with Of Mexican Descent and Jizzm, CVE then decided to focus all of its energies into promoting their Afterlife family with what they hoped would become the crew's definitive recordings. In 2000 both Welcome to the Afterlife and Declaration of an Independent were unleashed upon public ears, essentially cementing CVE's favorable reputation everywhere from Vancouver to Austin, Havana, Australia, and Germany. Sporting incredible material from each of CVE, Hip Hop Kclan, Easty Boys, Tray Loc, Cypher 7, Legion, Busdriver, and Of Mexican Descent, the 2 albums made a musical statement and then some by proving that not only do Afterlife artists collectively have the entire history of hip hop on lock, but also a good chunk of its future to boot.
As of 2003 CVE continues to support Project Blowed as a weekly rap event, continues to record extensively, as evidenced by Riddlore's latest solo pieces as well as his work with Aceyalone, and continues to serve as an inspiring precedent for independent rap artists worldwide. ~ Robert Gabriel, All Music Guide
