| Dresta | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andre DeSean Wicker |
| Also known as | Gangsta Dresta |
| Born | April 18, 1971 |
| Origin | Compton, California, United States |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1993-present |
| Label(s) | Toenail, Ruthless Outburst Def Jam Industry Phunk |
| Associated acts | B.G. Knocc Out, Eazy-E, MC Eiht |
Andre DeSean Wicker[1] (born April 18, 1971),[1] better known as Dresta, is an American rapper known for collaborating with Eazy-E on the 1993 single "Real Muthaphuckkin G's". He is also the older brother of rapper B.G. Knocc Out, who also collaborated in the song.
Contents |
Life and music career
Early years
Along with his brother, he is a Crips gang member,[2] associated with Nutty Blocc Compton Crips set.[3]
Dresta started rapping in mid-1980s[4] and had reputation of rapping when he was in California Youth Authority. Eazy-E eventually discovered the brothers, met up and recorded songs with them.[5]
He was first signed to Toenail Records with his younger brother B.G. Knocc Out. Then both signed to Ruthless Records with Eazy-E. With B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta appeared on the Eazy-E's 1993 double-platinum EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa on single "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (which was censored to "Real Compton City G's" in order to garner MTV and radio airplay) with Eazy-E, taking shots at Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg after Dre and Snoop dissed Eazy on 1992s The Chronic.
Thanks to the success of the album's signature track, they gained exposure and were inspired to record an album of their own. Dresta and B.G. Knocc Out released their debut album Real Brothas in 1995. Dresta made three guest appearances in Eazy-E's posthumous album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton.
Around the late 90's to 2000 Dresta worked with Death Row Records - the same label that the trio had dissed heavily in the mid-90's. Dresta appeared on two tracks from Death Row's Too Gangsta for Radio compilation, but never actually signed to the label.[2]
Recent years
Dresta stated in an interview that he is currently working on Dirty West mixtape series and on upcoming solo album. He also wrote a song for Dr. Dre's upcoming album Detox, but Dre didn't want to collaborate with him. Dresta also criticized Dr. Dre for surrounding himself with mediocre artists and delay of Detox.[2]
He currently resides in Victorville, California.[1]
Criminal record
Dresta is a registered sex offender convicted of "Lewd or lascivious act with child 14 or 15 years old" and "Sexual penetration with a foreign object".[1]
References
- ^ a b c d California Registered Sex Offender Profile - Andre Wicker (HTML) Megan's Law - California Sex Offender Registry. Retrieved on 2008-08-07
- ^ a b c Interview: West Coast Legend Dre'sta! (HTML) Raptalk.net. Retrieved on 2008-10-19
- ^ "Crips" (PDF). Gang Resistance Education And Training. http://www.greatonline.org/Conference/PDF/Cuthbertson_Media_Violence.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
- ^ Interview with Dre'sta (HTML) World Wide Connected Hip Hop. Retrieved on 2008-12-11
- ^ B.G. Knocc Out Interview (HTML) Dubcnn. Retrieved on 2008-10-12
External links
- Dresta at MySpace
- Discography at Discogs
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