LA Dream Team
Encyclopedia
The LA Dream Team were a hip hop
group based in Los Angeles, California
, active 1985-1989, 1993, and 1996. They are known for being one of the early hip hop
acts on the West Coast
and one of the pioneers of the West Coast electro hop scene.
who released their three albums, Kings Of The West Coast (1985), Bad To The Bone (1986), and Back to Black (1989). By 1986, as electro was faced with some mainstream coverage, the group began to fade into history as gangsta rap
on the West Coast began to rise, although they resurfaced in 1993 under the name DTP, issuing a few new singles, including "Rockberry Revisited", an updated version of "Rockberry Jam". Chris Wilson went on to a career in video and music production. Pardee worked in computing, working for Universal as a Business Services Analyst, and later Project Manager. Rudy Pardee died in a scuba-diving accident in 1998.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group based in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, active 1985-1989, 1993, and 1996. They are known for being one of the early hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
acts on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and one of the pioneers of the West Coast electro hop scene.
History
The group was formed in the early 1980s by Rudy Pardee and Chris Wilson. The duo formed their own Dream Team Records label, going on to release their own records and also releases by other California rap artists. two of the group's best known early releases are "The Dream Team Is in the House" and "Rockberry Jam". In 1986, the group signed with MCA RecordsMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
who released their three albums, Kings Of The West Coast (1985), Bad To The Bone (1986), and Back to Black (1989). By 1986, as electro was faced with some mainstream coverage, the group began to fade into history as gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
on the West Coast began to rise, although they resurfaced in 1993 under the name DTP, issuing a few new singles, including "Rockberry Revisited", an updated version of "Rockberry Jam". Chris Wilson went on to a career in video and music production. Pardee worked in computing, working for Universal as a Business Services Analyst, and later Project Manager. Rudy Pardee died in a scuba-diving accident in 1998.
Singles
- "Calling on the Dream Team" (12") (1985) Dream Team
- "Rockberry Jam" (12") (1985) Dream Team
- "The Dream Team Is in the House" (12") (1985) Dream Team
- "And the Orchestra Plays" (12") (1986) MCA
- "Hollywood Boulevard" / "You're Just Too Young" (12") (1986) MCA
- "Nursery Rhymes" (12") (1986) MCA
- "The Dream Team Is in the House" (12") (1986) MCA
- "Citizens on Patrol" / "Hollywood Boulevard" (12") (1987) MCA
- "Rudy and Snake" (12") (1987) MCA
- "Pitchin a Fit" (12") (1988) MCA
- "She Only Rock and Rolls" / "Stop To Start" (12") (1988) MCA
- "Doin' the Nasty" (12") (1989) MCA
- "You're Slippin" (12") (1989) MCA
- "The Bounce" (12") (1991) Dream Team
- "100 Proof (To the Zoom)" (12"), (cassette), (compact disc) (Excello Records) (1993)
- "Rockberry Revisited" (1993)
Albums
- Kings of the West Coast (LP) (1985) MCA
- Bad to the Bone (LP) (1986) MCA
- Back to Black (LP) (1989) MCA