C-Bo Explained

C-Bo
Birth Name:Shawn Thomas
Birth Date:1971/1972
Birth Place:Waco, Texas, US
Origin:Meadowview, Sacramento, California, US[1] [2]
Genre:Gangsta rap
Years Active:1991–present

Shawn Thomas (born 1971/1972), better known by his stage name C-Bo, is an American rapper from Sacramento, California. Known for his extensive legal troubles, he was the first notable rapper to be jailed due to his lyrical content in 1998. His 1995 song, "Deadly Game" (with X-Raided) earned this distinction, as its lyrics were a scathing critique of political officials, including governor Pete Wilson, and California's Prop. 184 three-strikes law.[3] He ineffectively argued for appeal three times.[4]

Although some charges were dropped as it was viewed as a violation of his First Amendment rights,[5] he was arrested in California in 1998, under the suspicion that his violent rap lyrics violated his parole.[6] He rapped his court statement to the presiding judge, in Ohio, who gave C-Bo probation on the condition that he also rap in a Public Service Announcement.[7] Also known for his frequent collaborations with fellow California-based rappers, he appeared in numerous videos for Tupac Shakur.

Early life

Thomas was raised in a single family home amongst three brothers and five sisters, during that time he became a member in the Garden Blocc Crips.[8]

Legal issues

Since the age of 10 Thomas spent nearly half of his life in and out of incarceration,[9] entering the criminal justice system at age 14, being arrested 40-50 times spending time at Soledad State Prison, Folsom State Prison, and Deuel Vocational Institution.[10] [11]

During a 1993 music video shoot, Thomas fired a shot in the air to get people's attention and stop a potential gang situation. Instead it made matters worse, confusing the crowd and causing more shots to ring off. His friend King Miller was killed at age 23 during the act.[12]

In a 1996 incident Thomas was sentenced to 15 months in jail. A firearm used by him caused a death of one man during a rival gang confrontation.[13]

In March 1998, he was sentenced to two more months in prison in Sacramento, after testing positive for marijuana which violated the terms of his probation.[14]

In August 2017, during the filming of a music video, a shootout occurred leaving 1 dead and 4 injured. This came after rapper Mozzy and Thomas had exchanged diss tracks during the same month.[15]

Personal life

Thomas is married with 3 children, he enjoys skiing, camping and fishing.[16]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleReleasePeak chart positions
US
[17]
US
R&B
[18]
Gas Chamber199353
Tales from the Crypt1995994
One Life 2 Live19976512
Til My Casket Drops1998414
The Final Chapter19998120
Enemy of the State20009124
Life as a Rider200241
Desert Eagle
The Mobfather200319937
Money to Burn200671
Cali Connection2012
Orca
The Mobfather II2015
The Problem2017
Animal2019

Collaboration albums

Compilation albums

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Smokin' Da Bomb" 1994Marvaless, Rup DogGhetto Blues
"Can't Stand the Heat" Marvaless
"Hard Core" 1995Marvaless, PizzoJust Marvaless
"That's How We Break Bread" TRUTrue
"Tradin' War Stories" 19962Pac, OutlawzAll Eyez on Me
"Ain't Hard 2 Find" 2Pac, B-Legit, D-Shot, E-40, Richie Rich
"Code Red" Marv Mitch & LeMayLivin In Tha Strange
"See the Light" MarvalessWiccked
"Gotta Buy Your Dope from Us" B-Legit, Little BruceThe Hemp Museum
"Niggaz Get They Wig Split" B-Legit, Celly Cel
"Major Factorz" 1997JT the Bigga Figga, Young MeekGame Tight
"The Funk Is On" Lunasicc, MarvalessMr. Lunasicc
"It's on, on Sight" 1998E-40The Element of Surprise
"Ride" Celly CelThe G Filez
"Deadly Weapon" MarvalessFearless
"Mafia Niggaz" Marvaless, Steady Mobb'n
"Over Drive" Lunasicc, 151, Killa Tay, Mob FigazA Million Words, a Million Dollars
"Big Dawgs" Killa Tay, J-Dubb, O-FedMr. Mafioso
"Thug Money" GuceIf It Ain't Real, It Ain't Official
"Mob" 1999KokaneThey Call Me Mr. Kane
"Armaggedon" Mob FigazC-Bo's Mob Figaz
"Fastlane"
"Mafioso Type"
"No Money" Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Kaos
"Prepare to Die" Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Young Meek
"Thug World" Mob Figaz, Spice 1
"Cause I Can" E-40, Jayo Felony
"Flossed Out" Mike Mosley, Emidy, Official London Breezy, Will Platinum Plaques
"Kaviealstars" 3X Krazy, Otis & ShugImmortalized
"Thug Disease" South Central Cartel, Spice 1Concrete Jungle Vol. 1
"The World Keeps Turnin'" Pizzo Heater Calhoun
"Straight G'z"
"Hard Ball?" 2000Killa TaySnake Eyes
"The Murda Show"
"Whoo Ride" Thug Thisle
"One Luv"Spice 1The Last Dance
"Ride 4 Me"Spice 1, Rod-DeeThe Playa Rich Project
"Block Monsters"Mac Mall, JT the Bigga FiggaBeware of Those
"Do It Right" 2001Yukmouth, Phats Bossi
"Smile"Yukmouth, CJ Mac
"Paper Made"Big HollisKnocks 2001
"I'm a Boss"Daz Dillinger, JT the Bigga Figga, Yukmouth, Dru DownGame for Sale
"Crippin'"Daz Dillinger
"Blaze Up the City"200210sion, I.V.A.N. The Terrible, Outlawz10sion
"What"Messy MarvTurf Politics
"Fuck You"LunizSilver & Black
"Smack Yo Self"Young Noble, HellrazaStreet Warz
"Deadly Game"X-RaidedDeadly Game
"Thug Lordz" 2003YukmouthGodzilla
"Nothing Over My G'z"JT the Bigga Figga, Killa TayGame Tight Vol. 2
"Countin' Money"JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay, Mac Mall, Marvaless, Pizzo
"Can We Ball?"JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay
"Can U Deal With This?" 2004Big Lurch, Killa TayIt's All Bad
"Sav Boyz" San Quinn, Killa TayI Give You My Word
"American Me"Yukmouth, Chino Nino, Young NobleUnited Ghettos of America Vol. 2
"The Slide Show"Yukmouth, Nate, Richie Rich
"United Ghettos of America part 2"Yukmouth, 151, Dru Down, Eastwood, Roscoe, Spice 1, Tha Realest
"Big Boy"2005J-Flo, YukmouthSick Sick Em
"Leave the Ridin' to Us"Spice 1, YukmouthThe Truth
"Ghetto Slums"JT the Bigga Figga, Phats BossiNeighborhood Supastarz
"Gangstas' & Ballas" 2007Young BleedOnce Upon a Time in Amedica
"West Side" 2008Yukmouth, Glasses MaloneMillion Dollar Mouthpiece
"Thuggin Till I Die"Outlawz
"Grown Ass Man"2009Tha RealestWitness Tha Realest
"Stay on It"YukmouthThe West Coast Don
"Fast Quarter" 2011E-40, Yukmouth
"On My Side" The Jacka, Smigg DirteeFlight Risk
"Like Us" Pimp C, Smoke D, ViciousStill Pimping
"Hittin' a Lick" 2012E-40, T-Nutty
"Blowin on Jamaica"Yukmouth, Young NobleHalf Baked
"Put Da Clip In"2013Young Noble, Young BuckOutlaw Nation Vol. 2
"Salute the West"Westcoast Stone, Killa Tay, Kokane, Wratchet WricoSalute The West
"Real 1's"Sean T, Meccah Dawn
"Choppa on Deck"2014Yukmouth, Young BuckGAS (Grow & Sale)
"Real Life"Philthy Rich, M Dot 80A~1 Since Day One
"Life of a Rider"2015Lil Mo, Beast, Matt Black
"Bomb First"2024Matteocci Tha DonSingle
"Made a Man of Me"E.D.I. MeanEDIDON, June Summers, Nutt-SoThe Hope Dealer, Pt. 1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jam . Billy . FREE SPEECH FREES RAPPER / About to be released, jailed C-BO says he's got a lot to say . SFGATE . 2012-02-03 . 2022-08-24.
  2. Web site: Weekly . L.A. . Jailhouse Rap . LA Weekly . 1998-03-11 . 2022-08-24.
  3. Web site: Palmer . Tamara . 5 'Criminal' Songs That Were Used As Evidence In Court . Oxygen Official Site . 2018-06-13 . 2022-08-24.
  4. Web site: Rapper C-BO Jailed For Lyrics . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426820/rapper-c-bo-jailed-lyrics.jhtml . dead . November 4, 2013 . MTV.com . 1998-03-04 . 2020-04-03.
  5. Web site: Charges Against Rapper Over Lyrics Dropped . Los Angeles Times . 1998-03-07 . 2022-08-24.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20160529054147/http://www.mtv.com/news/3480/gangsta-rapper-c-bo-jailed-for-lyrics-on-new-lp/ C-Bo jailed MTV
  7. Web site: C-BO Raps His Way Out Of Legal Trouble . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015905/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426817/c-bo-raps-his-way-out-legal-trouble.jhtml . dead . November 4, 2013 . MTV.com . 1998-07-31 . 2020-04-03.
  8. Web site: Drake . David . The 30 Biggest Criminal Trials in Rap History . Complex . 2012-10-19 . 2022-08-24.
  9. Web site: Palmer . Tamara . C-Bo - Music - Miami - The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida . Miami New Times . 2005-01-20 . 2022-08-24.
  10. Web site: Arnold . Eric K. . On Lockdown . East Bay Express . 2005-04-13 . 2022-08-24.
  11. Web site: Jam . Billy . Jailed Rapper Has 90 Days Added to Term . SFGATE . 2012-02-03 . 2022-08-24.
  12. Web site: Tribune . Soren Baker. Special to the . PAROLED RAPPER'S FIGHTING WORDS LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL . Chicago Tribune . 1998-03-06 . 2022-08-24.
  13. Web site: Rap Artist Is Jailed Over Anti-Police Lyrics . Los Angeles Times . 1998-03-04 . 2022-08-24.
  14. Web site: International . United Press . Today In Music: A look back at pop music . UPI . 2002-03-15 . 2022-08-24.
  15. Web site: Berry . Peter . One Dead, Four Injured After Shooting at C-Bo Music Video Shoot . XXL Mag . 2017-08-28 . 2022-08-24.
  16. Web site: Interview with C-Bo . The Santa Barbara Independent . 2015-05-14 . 2022-08-24.
  17. C-BO Chart History. Billboard. August 19, 2019. August 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190819232822/https://www.billboard.com/music/c-bo/chart-history/billboard-200. dead.
  18. C-BO Chart History. Billboard. August 19, 2019. August 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190819232810/https://www.billboard.com/music/c-bo/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums. dead.