Credit: Spotify

Crooked I, also known as KXNG Crooked, is one of the most unappreciated West Coast artists hip-hop has produced. The Long Beach native has collaborated with all the best over the years and gets recognition within the industry and from his peers, yet it has never translated into fans or real commercial success.

Still, regardless of the awards and prestige that so many artists wildly chase, Crooked I continues to make music and still talks about the state of the culture regularly, revealing who he likes and dislikes and his experiences in the industry.

Crooked I has worked with a number of gangsta rappers during his time, appearing on alongside Heltah Skeltah and Planet Asia on Sway & Tech’s 1999 project This Or That, as well as securing features with Tray Deee, Legacy and Sho Shot on C-Style Presents… 19th Street — a 1998 West Coast underground compilation.

As such, it is unsurprising that, during a sit-down with an online hip-hop media outlet to discuss some of his most significant work, he was asked to name some of his favourite gangsta rappers. He began by naming an East Coast legend, stating, “Oh man, Kool G [Rap]. For me, Kool G was gangsta as fuck.” The former Juice Crew member was renowned for his style and ability to deliver flawless raps about the street in a way that seemed nonchalant and effortless. Still, it is surprising, as many would argue he is not a gangsta emcee. 

Irrespective of this, Kool G Rap was Crooked I’s first choice, and he cited the 2002 project The Giancana Story as a prime example of his gangsta rap capabilities. As he brought it back to the West Coast when listing his second choice, Crooked I chose the West Coast legend that is Kurupt.

Crooked I featured on Kurupt’s sophomore project, Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha, and the two are still close to this day. He continued to cite California rhymers and highlighted Compton-born King T as someone who inspired him.

Opening up about the legacy of his gangsta rap rhymes, Crooked I told HipHopDX, “King T. When I was real young, King had some fuckin’ ill-ass rhymes. Look at how he spread that shit through Tha Alkaholiks. He was instrumental with Xzibit’s career!” Although, again, the choice is debatable, he did appear on tracks such as Cypress Hill’s ‘Southland Killers’ and C-Bo’s ‘Bullets’.

King T did a lot of work with other West Coast MCs and, during the conversation, Crooked I briefly discussed when he worked on the Aftermath Entertainment compilation album Thy Kingdom Come, recalling, “I was a teenager. I was a kid. I was in the fuckin’ room with WC, King T, my homie Bo-Roc from The Dove Shack was doin’ the hook, Dr. Dre’s sitting in his chair, The D.O.C. is walkin’ around. I said, ‘Wow.’ I thought I made it back then to be honest with you.”

After speaking about Dr Dre, Crooked I admitted that concerning gangsta rap, he spent a while around 2Pac before he passed, recounting, To be honest with you, Tupac. There are so many shades of Tupac, but he had some gangsta shit. You know what I’m sayin’? There was so much to that man.” He concluded by expressing,  “The list goes on!.” However, his final pick was the Brooklyn star that is Jay-Z. Finishing the list Crooked I stated, “To me, all the shit Jay Z was sayin’ was gangsta! A lot of that shit was gangsta. He talkin’ about shoot-outs. He’s sellin’ drugs, fuckin’ police, gangsta of the year.”

However, on one track, Jay referenced “too much West Coast dick-lickin” which KXNG Crooked wasn’t a fan of, as he admitted, “That was the only thing I didn’t like on Reasonable Doubt. That whole album is a classic—except that line. Nah, I fucks with all that album.”

Crooked I’s favourite gangsta rappers:

• Kool G Rap
• Kurupt
• King T
• 2Pac
• Jay-Z