Richie Rich

Acknowledged by Snoop Doggy Dogg himself as a stylistic influence, Richie Rich launched his recording career in the late '80s alongside the Oakland-based collective 415. Teaming with D-Loc, DJ Darryl, and JED, he shaped the regional staple 41Fivin', a project that moved strongly throughout the Bay Area and directly led to his own debut solo release, Don't Do It. Just as the outfit prepared to ink a deal with Priority in 1990, Richie Rich was taken into custody on cocaine possession charges. While 415 issued a follow-up album and soon slipped from view, Rich remained incarcerated; freed twelve months afterward, he began guesting on recordings by the Luniz and 2Pac, established the Oakland Hills 41510 imprint, and issued 1/2 Thang. In 1995 he became the first Bay Area rapper to secure a contract with New York's Def Jam Records, after which his major-label solo debut, Seasoned Veteran, arrived in late 1996. Four years later came his long-anticipated second album, The Game.