Sir Jinx
Encyclopedia
Sir Jinx, born Anthony Wheaton, is an American
hip-hop
record producer
and rapper
from South Central Los Angeles
, California
.
(known then as Kid Disaster) and appeared on their 1987 release, My Posse
. Through his friendship with Jinx, Ice Cube came into contact with Dr. Dre and became a part of N.W.A.
. When Cube left N.W.A. and Ruthless Records over a financial dispute, Sir Jinx went with Cube, producing & mixing on Cube's first album.
on Ice Cube's solo debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. He handled all the production on the track "Once Upon A Time In The Projects", while also contributing production to all of the 15 other tracks. Sir Jinx was instrumental in Cube's 1991 EP Kill at Will
, composing, producing and mixing all of the tracks.
Sir Jinx would make an appearance on the Boyz n the Hood
soundtrack. "How To Survive In South Central" was performed by Ice Cube and produced by Jinx. The soundtrack was very successful, making it to #12 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was later certified gold by the RIAA on September 12, 1991.
Cube stepped back a bit from his role in the production, and Sir Jinx produced much of Cube's next three albums, Death Ceritficate
(1991), The Predator
(1992), and Lethal Injection (1993), as well as rapper Yo-Yo's first two albums, Make Way for the Motherlode
and Black Pearl.
Jinx joined WC and the Maad Circle
in 1991, producing most of their album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
. While the group never gained notoriety, former members went on to have successful careers. Member Coolio
released his first solo album in 1994 and topped the charts with "Gangsta's Paradise
in 1995. Lead rapper WC
went on tour alongside Ice Cube and Mack 10 in 1994, forming the group
Westside Connection
. WC also had three solo albums go top-10 on the rap chart.
Jinx later expanded his production base. Jinx became the first West Coast rap producer to work on an East Coast album, Kool G Rap's
Live And Let Die. Sir Jinx created remixes for rap-rock outfits such as Rage Against the Machine
: "Guerrilla Radio (Sir Jinx Edit)", "Bullet in the Head (Sir Jinx Remix)", and the unreleased "Bombtrack (Remix)", all of which were recorded in 1992.
After Ice Cube's 1993 album, Lethal Injection, Cube and his group Lench Mob took a more controversial direction, which caused Jinx to stop working with them. He moved on to producing for R&B-oriented solo acts such as CeCe Peniston
, Gerald Levert
, Isaac Hayes
, Teena Marie
, and former Bell Biv Devoe
member Ricky Bell
.
. He also helped produce Xzibit's next album, Restless
in 2000. Following some other minor production work on the 2003 soundtrack
to comedian Eddie Griffin
's film of the same name. Outside of some minor production on Kurupt
's 2005 album, Against tha Grain
, Sir Jinx was relatively low-key during this period.
Sir Jinx stated in an October 2010 interview that he was going to help produce cousin Dr. Dre's long-awaited
2011 release, Detox. In spite of his relation to Dr. Dre, this is the first album the two have worked on together. 2010 also marked the first time Sir Jinx and Cube had worked together on any new material together in 17 years, with Jinx contributing on the track "Life in California" from Cube's I Am the West album that year.
In 2011, Jinx announced he was working on another solo album, titling it General Population.
Rap City: Tha Basement, MTV
, VH1
, and many other hip hop video shows.
He has also DJ'ed for various TV shows including The Jimmy Kimmel Show and The Orlando Jones Show
.
In 1993, Sir Jinx had a cameo in John Singleton's romantic/drama film Poetic Justice.
's Thought 'Ya Knew
(1994)
Ice Cube:
Kool G Rap
& DJ Polo's Live and Let Die
(1992)
Too Short - Short Dog's in the House
(1990)
WC and the Maad Circle
- "Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
" (1991)
Xzibit
:
Yo-Yo
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
from South Central Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Beginnings
Sir Jinx was part of the group C.I.A. alongside Ice Cube and K-DeeK-Dee
K-Dee, formerly Kid Disaster, born Darrel Johnson, is an American rapper most known for his album Ass, Gas, or Cash . He was Introduced into the hip hop scene by fellow West Coast rapper, Ice Cube on the group C.I.A...
(known then as Kid Disaster) and appeared on their 1987 release, My Posse
My Posse
-Personnel:...
. Through his friendship with Jinx, Ice Cube came into contact with Dr. Dre and became a part of N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
. When Cube left N.W.A. and Ruthless Records over a financial dispute, Sir Jinx went with Cube, producing & mixing on Cube's first album.
Success
Sir Jinx's first major project came in 1990, when he produced alongside the Bomb SquadThe Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track...
on Ice Cube's solo debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. He handled all the production on the track "Once Upon A Time In The Projects", while also contributing production to all of the 15 other tracks. Sir Jinx was instrumental in Cube's 1991 EP Kill at Will
Kill at Will
-Partial list of samples:"Endangered Species "*"The Payback" by James Brown*"Funky Drummer" by James Brown*"Standin' on the Verge of Gettin' It On" by Funkadelic*"Bop Gun " by Parliament...
, composing, producing and mixing all of the tracks.
Sir Jinx would make an appearance on the Boyz n the Hood
Boyz N the Hood
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood film written and directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett and Regina King, the film depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California and was filmed and released...
soundtrack. "How To Survive In South Central" was performed by Ice Cube and produced by Jinx. The soundtrack was very successful, making it to #12 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. It was later certified gold by the RIAA on September 12, 1991.
Cube stepped back a bit from his role in the production, and Sir Jinx produced much of Cube's next three albums, Death Ceritficate
Death Certificate (album)
Death Certificate is the second studio album by American rapper Ice Cube, released October 29, 1991 on Priority Records. Highly anticipated with over one million advanced orders, the album was certified platinum in sales on December 20, 1991...
(1991), The Predator
The Predator
The Predator is the third studio album by Ice Cube. Released within months of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, many songs comment on the racial tensions. The title is in part reference to the movie Predator 2, and the album itself includes samples from the film...
(1992), and Lethal Injection (1993), as well as rapper Yo-Yo's first two albums, Make Way for the Motherlode
Make Way for the Motherlode
Make Way for the Motherlode is the first album by Yo-Yo. The album was released on March 19, 1991, on East West America/Atlantic Records and featured production by Ice Cube, Sir Jinx and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. The album did very well on the Billboard charts, peaking at #74 on the Billboard 200...
and Black Pearl.
Jinx joined WC and the Maad Circle
WC and the Maad Circle
WC and the Maad Circle was a hip hop group from Los Angeles, California that consisted of WC, Coolio, Sir Jinx and DJ Crazy Toones.Following the dissolution of Low Profile, the rapper WC formed the group and released a pair of albums, Ain't a Damn Thang Changed in 1991 and Curb Servin in 1995...
in 1991, producing most of their album Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed is the debut album by American rap group WC and the Maad Circle.The album peaked at #52 on the Top R&B/Hip-hop albums.- Track listing :- Samples :* "Ain't A Damn Thing Changed"** "Colour Me Funky" by Parliament...
. While the group never gained notoriety, former members went on to have successful careers. Member Coolio
Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. , better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.-Late 80s:He recorded two singles in the late 80s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me"...
released his first solo album in 1994 and topped the charts with "Gangsta's Paradise
Gangsta's Paradise (song)
"Gangsta's Paradise" is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V.. The song was released on the Coolio album Gangsta's Paradise, as well as the Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album...
in 1995. Lead rapper WC
WC (rapper)
William L. Calhoun Jr. , better known by his stage name WC , is an American rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to South Central Los Angeles at an early age. He originally was a rapper in the group Low Profile, and later formed his group WC and the Maad Circle, which also included fellow rapper...
went on tour alongside Ice Cube and Mack 10 in 1994, forming the group
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Westside Connection
Westside Connection
Westside Connection was an American gangsta rap group consisting of Ice Cube, WC and Mack 10. The group's debut album, Bow Down, reached the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in 1996, going platinum that year.-Biography:...
. WC also had three solo albums go top-10 on the rap chart.
Jinx later expanded his production base. Jinx became the first West Coast rap producer to work on an East Coast album, Kool G Rap's
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
Live And Let Die. Sir Jinx created remixes for rap-rock outfits such as Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
: "Guerrilla Radio (Sir Jinx Edit)", "Bullet in the Head (Sir Jinx Remix)", and the unreleased "Bombtrack (Remix)", all of which were recorded in 1992.
After Ice Cube's 1993 album, Lethal Injection, Cube and his group Lench Mob took a more controversial direction, which caused Jinx to stop working with them. He moved on to producing for R&B-oriented solo acts such as CeCe Peniston
CeCe Peniston
CeCe Peniston is an African American recording artist and former beauty queen. At the beginning of the nineties, she was considered to be one of the most successful dance club artists in the history of the U.S...
, Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert...
, Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
, Teena Marie
Teena Marie
Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...
, and former Bell Biv Devoe
Bell Biv DeVoe
Bell Biv DeVoe is an American R&B musical group which branched off from New Edition. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe...
member Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (singer)
Ricky Bell, nicknamed "Slick" is an American R&B singer best known as one of the founding members of New Edition and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe...
.
Return
Following a low-profile independent solo album in 1995, Sir Jinx returned to hip-hop production on Xzibit's 1998 album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is rapper Xzibit's second album, which was released on August 25, 1998. It is often considered Xzibit's greatest album. The album featured four singles "What U See Is What U Get", "3 Card Molly", "Los Angeles Times" and "Pussy Pop"...
. He also helped produce Xzibit's next album, Restless
Restless (Xzibit album)
-Track listing:-Album singles:-Album chart positions:-Singles chart positions:...
in 2000. Following some other minor production work on the 2003 soundtrack
Dysfunktional Family (soundtrack)
Dysfunktional Family is the soundtrack to the 2003 film, Dysfunktional Family. It was released on March 11, 2003 through the newly reformed Death Row Records, which at the time was known as Tha Row Records...
to comedian Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin
Edward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
's film of the same name. Outside of some minor production on Kurupt
Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown , better known by his stage name Kurupt, also known as Kurupt Tha Kingpin, Kurupt Young Gotti or Young Gotstra is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records...
's 2005 album, Against tha Grain
Against Tha Grain
Against tha Grain is the fourth studio album by rapper Kurupt and his first on Death Row Records as a solo artist. Kurupt signed back on to Death Row Records, except as a solo artist in 2002. The album was supposed to be released in 2004, but was delayed. It was finally released in August 2005. It...
, Sir Jinx was relatively low-key during this period.
Sir Jinx stated in an October 2010 interview that he was going to help produce cousin Dr. Dre's long-awaited
Development hell
In the jargon of the media-industry, "development hell" is a period during which a film or other project is trapped in development...
2011 release, Detox. In spite of his relation to Dr. Dre, this is the first album the two have worked on together. 2010 also marked the first time Sir Jinx and Cube had worked together on any new material together in 17 years, with Jinx contributing on the track "Life in California" from Cube's I Am the West album that year.
In 2011, Jinx announced he was working on another solo album, titling it General Population.
Movies & Television
Sir Jinx has made appearances co-hosting B.E.T.'sBlack Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
Rap City: Tha Basement, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, and many other hip hop video shows.
He has also DJ'ed for various TV shows including The Jimmy Kimmel Show and The Orlando Jones Show
Orlando Jones
Orlando Jones is an American comedian and film and television actor. He is notable for being one of the original cast members of the sketch comedy series MADtv and for his role as the 7 Up spokesman from 1999-2002.-Early life:...
.
In 1993, Sir Jinx had a cameo in John Singleton's romantic/drama film Poetic Justice.
Production Discography
CeCe PenistonCeCe Peniston
CeCe Peniston is an African American recording artist and former beauty queen. At the beginning of the nineties, she was considered to be one of the most successful dance club artists in the history of the U.S...
's Thought 'Ya Knew
Thought 'Ya Knew
Thought 'Ya Knew is the second solo studio album released by American singer CeCe Peniston, issued on January 25, 1994 by A&M Records. Peniston collaborated with her Chicago-based producer Steve Hurley, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin from Denmark, David Morales, Sir Jinx, and on one track also...
(1994)
Ice Cube:
- AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990)
- Kill at WillKill at Will-Partial list of samples:"Endangered Species "*"The Payback" by James Brown*"Funky Drummer" by James Brown*"Standin' on the Verge of Gettin' It On" by Funkadelic*"Bop Gun " by Parliament...
(1991) - Death CeritficateDeath Certificate (album)Death Certificate is the second studio album by American rapper Ice Cube, released October 29, 1991 on Priority Records. Highly anticipated with over one million advanced orders, the album was certified platinum in sales on December 20, 1991...
(1991) - The PredatorThe PredatorThe Predator is the third studio album by Ice Cube. Released within months of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, many songs comment on the racial tensions. The title is in part reference to the movie Predator 2, and the album itself includes samples from the film...
(1992) - Lethal Injection (1993)
- In the MoviesIn the MoviesIn the Movies is a 2007 album by Ice Cube. It is a compilation of tracks that have appeared in movies from 1991 with Boyz n the Hood to 2005 with xXx: State of the Union. It was released on September 4, 2007 and in Australia on September 24, 2007. The album was confused for a studio album prior to...
(2007) - I Am the West (2010)
- 3 - "Life in California"
Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
& DJ Polo's Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (album)
Live And Let Die is the third, and final, studio album by the American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, released November 24, 1992, on Cold Chillin'. The album features guest appearances from Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane, Scarface, and Bushwick Bill...
(1992)
Too Short - Short Dog's in the House
Short Dog's In The House
Short Dog's in the House is the sixth studio album by Too Short. This album also features Ice Cube and the Doggy style of the album inspired many upcoming rappers including Snoop Dogg....
(1990)
- 8- "Ain't Nothin' But a Word to Me"
WC and the Maad Circle
WC and the Maad Circle
WC and the Maad Circle was a hip hop group from Los Angeles, California that consisted of WC, Coolio, Sir Jinx and DJ Crazy Toones.Following the dissolution of Low Profile, the rapper WC formed the group and released a pair of albums, Ain't a Damn Thang Changed in 1991 and Curb Servin in 1995...
- "Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed is the debut album by American rap group WC and the Maad Circle.The album peaked at #52 on the Top R&B/Hip-hop albums.- Track listing :- Samples :* "Ain't A Damn Thing Changed"** "Colour Me Funky" by Parliament...
" (1991)
- Tracks #1-8, 10-17
Xzibit
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
:
- 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz40 Dayz & 40 Nightz40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is rapper Xzibit's second album, which was released on August 25, 1998. It is often considered Xzibit's greatest album. The album featured four singles "What U See Is What U Get", "3 Card Molly", "Los Angeles Times" and "Pussy Pop"...
(1998)- 1 - "The Last Night (Intro)"
- 2 - "Chamber Music"
- 8 - "Chronic Keeping 101"
- 9 - "Shroomz"
- 11 - "Jason (48 Months Interlude)"
- 14 - "Inside Job"
- 17 - "Outro"
- 18 - "Don't Let The Money Make You (Bonus)"
- RestlessRestless (Xzibit album)-Track listing:-Album singles:-Album chart positions:-Singles chart positions:...
(2000)- 1 - "Intro/Restless"
Yo-Yo
Yo-Yo (rapper)
Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube...
:
- Make Way for the MotherlodeMake Way for the MotherlodeMake Way for the Motherlode is the first album by Yo-Yo. The album was released on March 19, 1991, on East West America/Atlantic Records and featured production by Ice Cube, Sir Jinx and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. The album did very well on the Billboard charts, peaking at #74 on the Billboard 200...
(1991) - Black Pearl (1992)