Menace II Society Soundtrack : Where Are They Now?

Catch up with the crew that put together this 1993 LP.

Menace II Society Soundtrack: Where Are They Now?  - The soundtrack to the award-winning movie Menace II Society came out twenty years ago, on May 26, 1993. With memorable songs from MC Eiht, Spice 1 and KRS-One, the album captured the sounds of the streets from coast to coast and, like the movie, epitomized the simultaneous derision and celebration of hip hop in that era — an in-your-face mix of profanity, violence and preaching. Here, continuing our "Where Are They Now?" classic-album series (which last checked in with Janet Jackson's janet), we catch up with the rappers, singers and producers who helped give life to O-Dog and Caine. —Alex Gale(Photo: Jive)

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Menace II Society Soundtrack: Where Are They Now? - The soundtrack to the award-winning movie Menace II Society came out twenty years ago, on May 26, 1993. With memorable songs from MC Eiht, Spice 1 and KRS-One, the album captured the sounds of the streets from coast to coast and, like the movie, epitomized the simultaneous derision and celebration of hip hop in that era — an in-your-face mix of profanity, violence and preaching. Here, continuing our "Where Are They Now?" classic-album series (which last checked in with Janet Jackson's janet), we catch up with the rappers, singers and producers who helped give life to O-Dog and Caine. —Alex Gale(Photo: Jive)

Spice 1 - Bay Area rapper Spice 1 contributed the soundtrack's dope opener, "Trigga Gots No Heart," the biggest song of his career. He's stayed active with mostly overlooked independent releases in the new millennium, but made headlines when he survived a gunshot to the chest during an attempted carjacking in 2007.  (Photo: Jive)

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Spice 1 - Bay Area rapper Spice 1 contributed the soundtrack's dope opener, "Trigga Gots No Heart," the biggest song of his career. He's stayed active with mostly overlooked independent releases in the new millennium, but made headlines when he survived a gunshot to the chest during an attempted carjacking in 2007. (Photo: Jive)

MC Eiht - Compton Most Wanted front man MC Eiht is responsible for the soundtrack's undeniable highlight, the classic "Streiht Up Menace." He played a supporting role, as hardened O.G. A-Wax, in the film as well. He quietly released independent albums and collaborated with Snoop, Spice 1 and others in the new millenium, but made a big return to the spotlight last year on Kendrick Lamar's "m.A.A.d. city," a tribute to Compton's dark side.   (Photo: Epic Street)

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MC Eiht - Compton Most Wanted front man MC Eiht is responsible for the soundtrack's undeniable highlight, the classic "Streiht Up Menace." He played a supporting role, as hardened O.G. A-Wax, in the film as well. He quietly released independent albums and collaborated with Snoop, Spice 1 and others in the new millenium, but made a big return to the spotlight last year on Kendrick Lamar's "m.A.A.d. city," a tribute to Compton's dark side. (Photo: Epic Street)

Ant Banks - Bay Area rapper-producer and frequent Too $hort collaborator Ant Banks is behind the funky "Packin' a Gun." He released his solo debut, Sittin' on Something Phat, the same year and went on to collaborate with most of the West Coast gangsta-rap greats. Banks has continued producing for Bay Area rappers, including E-40, in the new millennium.   (Photo: Jive)

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Ant Banks - Bay Area rapper-producer and frequent Too $hort collaborator Ant Banks is behind the funky "Packin' a Gun." He released his solo debut, Sittin' on Something Phat, the same year and went on to collaborate with most of the West Coast gangsta-rap greats. Banks has continued producing for Bay Area rappers, including E-40, in the new millennium. (Photo: Jive)

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Too $hort - Oakland legend Too $hort rapped on soundtrack highlight "Only the Strong Survive," and since, Short Dog has been on the short list of the most active 1980s West Coast rap legends (Ice-T is the other one). Since 2010, he's released two albums and collaborated with Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, E-40 and 50 Cent.  (Photos: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)

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Kokane - L.A. rapper-singer Kokane collaborated with Mz. Kilo and Cold 187um on "All Over a H-." He released two overlooked records on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in the early '90s, but didn't make an impact till he appeared on "L.A. N----z," a posse cut from Dr. Dre's 2001, which led to frequent collaborations with Snoop Dogg. He's continued releasing albums independently, including 2012's The New Frontier, a collabo with Florida rapper Traffik.   (Photo: Ruthless Records)

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Kokane - L.A. rapper-singer Kokane collaborated with Mz. Kilo and Cold 187um on "All Over a H-." He released two overlooked records on Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in the early '90s, but didn't make an impact till he appeared on "L.A. N----z," a posse cut from Dr. Dre's 2001, which led to frequent collaborations with Snoop Dogg. He's continued releasing albums independently, including 2012's The New Frontier, a collabo with Florida rapper Traffik. (Photo: Ruthless Records)

Cold 187um - Cold 187um, aka Big Hutch, was the front man of gangsta-rap group Above the Law and also appeared on "All Over a H-." In 1999, he became the head beatmaker for Death Row Records, leading production of Tupac's posthumous Until the End of Time. In the 2000s, he linked up with horrorcore rappers/rednecks Insane Clown Posse and toured and recorded with them before serving time for drug trafficking in 2004. Last year he released a solo album, The Only Solution.   (Photo: Instgram/OGBigHutch)

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Cold 187um - Cold 187um, aka Big Hutch, was the front man of gangsta-rap group Above the Law and also appeared on "All Over a H-." In 1999, he became the head beatmaker for Death Row Records, leading production of Tupac's posthumous Until the End of Time. In the 2000s, he linked up with horrorcore rappers/rednecks Insane Clown Posse and toured and recorded with them before serving time for drug trafficking in 2004. Last year he released a solo album, The Only Solution. (Photo: Instgram/OGBigHutch)

Da Lench Mob - Ice Cube affiliates Da Lench Mob added "Guerillas Ain't Gangstas" to this soundtrack the year after they dropped their debut, Guerillas in tha Mist. In 1993, Mob member J-Dee was sentenced to life for murder. The group continued on without him for one more album in 1994, but disbanded soon after.  (Photo: Street Knowledge Records)

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Da Lench Mob - Ice Cube affiliates Da Lench Mob added "Guerillas Ain't Gangstas" to this soundtrack the year after they dropped their debut, Guerillas in tha Mist. In 1993, Mob member J-Dee was sentenced to life for murder. The group continued on without him for one more album in 1994, but disbanded soon after. (Photo: Street Knowledge Records)

Smooth - L.A. rapper/singer Smooth, the younger sister of renowned producer Chris Stokes (Destiny's Child, IMx, B2K), was behind "You Been Played," which was also the lead single and title track to her second album the same year. She released two more albums, most recently 1998's Reality.  (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Smooth - L.A. rapper/singer Smooth, the younger sister of renowned producer Chris Stokes (Destiny's Child, IMx, B2K), was behind "You Been Played," which was also the lead single and title track to her second album the same year. She released two more albums, most recently 1998's Reality. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Brand Nubian's "Allah U Akbar" - New Rochelle legends Brand Nubian proudly proclaimed their Islamic faith with their stoic 1993 single “Allah U Akbar” — that’s “God is great” in Arabic.  (Photo: Elektra Records)

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Brand Nubian - Pioneering New York group Brand Nubian contributed "Lick Dem Muthaph---as," one of their first songs as a duo (Grand Puba left in 1991). The crew reunited in the late '90s and have stayed active with occasional tours and albums since. 2007's Time's Runnin' Out is the most recent.  (Photo: Elektra Records)

Photo By Photo: Elektra Records

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Pete Rock and CL Smooth - When you think about how many of your favorite stars have sampled Pete Rock and CL Smooth's classic, "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)," it becomes clear the influence they have in the rap game. When the Mount Vernon, New York duo released their debut album Mecca and the Soul Brother in 1992, it instantly reached critical acclaim and became known as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all times. The duo celebrated two decades since its release with a 25-city tour in 2013.(Photos from left: Jerritt Clark/WireImage, Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images)

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Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Acclaimed duo Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth represented for Mt. Vernon, N.Y., with "Death Becomes You," perhaps the darkest, hardest record of their career. The crew broke up in 1995, but Pete Rock continued to produce for many rap notables, including Ghostface, Jim Jones and most recently, The Throne. He reunited with C.L. in 2010; the pair have begun touring and recording a comeback album. (Photos from left: Jerritt Clark/WireImage, Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images)

Hi-Five - Texas R&B quintet Hi-Five, proteges of legendary new-jack-swing producer Teddy Riley, dropped off "Unconditional Love" for the soundtrack. The group disbanded a few years later. They reunited in 2005, but member Tony Thompson died tragically two years later. The group got together again last year, releasing a new single, "Favorite Girl."  (Photo: N'Depth Entertainment)

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Hi-Five - Texas R&B quintet Hi-Five, proteges of legendary new-jack-swing producer Teddy Riley, dropped off "Unconditional Love" for the soundtrack. The group disbanded a few years later. They reunited in 2005, but member Tony Thompson died tragically two years later. The group got together again last year, releasing a new single, "Favorite Girl." (Photo: N'Depth Entertainment)

"P Is Free," Boogie Down Productions - On this reggae-tinged 1986 rap classic, Boogie Down Productions' KRS-One explored crack's influence on female addicts who used sex to get high.   (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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KRS-One - Pioneering Bronx MC linked with DJ Premier for "'P' Is Still Free," a sequel to his 1987 classic with Boogie Down Productions "Remix for P Is Still Free." The track also appeared on KRS' The Return of the Boom Bap the same year. Though his popularity has slowly declined since the '90s, KRS still tours frequently and releases albums, including last year's The BDP Album. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Guru & The Cutthroats - Gang Starr front man rapper Guru linked up with Jive Records shout-rappers The Cutthroats for "Stop Lookin' at Me." He released classic albums with Gang Starr through the '90s before eventually going solo. Guru passed away in 2010 after slipping into a coma following a heart attack. (Photo: Dalle/Hernandez /Landov)

32. Bun B and Pimp C (UGK) - Port Aurthur pioneers UGK, led by Pimp's rich, laidback Texas funk and Bun's razor-sharp baritone, hit their stride on 1996's benchmark Riding Dirty, changing the sound of Southern hip hop forever. Highlights: "Ridin' Dirty," "Pocketful of Stones," "One Day"(Photo: John Ricard/Retna Ltd.)

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UGK - The classic single "Pocket Full of Stones" by pioneering Texas duo UGK was included on the soundtrack as well. UGK went on to become one of the most respected and influential Southern rap groups of all time. Pimp C died tragically after overdosing on prescription cough syrup in 2007. Bun B has kept UGK's legacy alive though, dropping guest verses on dozens of other artist's songs.   (Photo: John Ricard / Retna Ltd.)

DJ Quik - Repping the DJs of Hip Hop, DJ Quik makes a red carpet entrance.(Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage for BET Network)

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DJ Quik - Legendary Compton rapper-producer DJ Quik collabed with KK (from 2nd II None) and JFN for "Can't F--k With a N---a," which dissed House of Pain (we have no clue why). Quik is still widely acknowledged as a gangsta-rap godfather, and has worked closely with Dr. Dre and Snoop. He released a solo album, The Book of David, two years ago. (Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage for BET Network)