West Coast Legend from Philadelphia. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound, along with Daz Dillinger.

In 1992, at age 19, Kurupt signed to Death Row Records, newly formed by music manager Suge Knight and Dr. Dre, the rapper and music producer who had just left the rap group N.W.A and its Ruthless Records. At Death Row, Kurupt joined a roster of artists—including Daz Dillinger, The Lady of Rage, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and RBX—who entered the public eye by their features on Dr. Dre’s debut solo album The Chronic. Kurupt and Daz soon teamed as a rap duo, Tha Dogg Pound, featured on Snoop Dogg’s debut solo album, Doggystyle, in the song For All My Niggaz & Bitches.

By 1996, the rap genre’s East Coast–West Coast rivalry was escalating, spurred on by Death Row’s CEO Suge and by rapper 2Pac, new to the label, who believed that a Bad Boy Entertainment circle, in their hometown New York City, had fostered his November 1994 shooting there. Tha Dogg Pound released the single New York, New York featuring Snoop Dogg, slighting the city. The duo’s debut album, Dogg Food, produced by Daz and mixed by Dre, drew favorable reviews and good sales.