Kurupt
A foundational voice of West Coast gangsta rap, his intricate, rapid-fire verses helped define the sound of Death Row Records in its prime.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American rapper and producer·Birthday: November 23·Generation X
Biography
Emerging from the fertile cross-country hip-hop pipeline between Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Kurupt, born Ricardo Brown, became one of the most technically skilled lyricists of his era. As one-half of Tha Dogg Pound with Daz Dillinger, he was central to the G-funk explosion, delivering complex, aggressive rhymes on seminal albums like Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic' and Snoop Dogg's 'Doggystyle'. His solo career and collaborations showcased a relentless work ethic, though they navigated the turbulent waters of the late-'90s rap industry. Kurupt's legacy is that of a pure emcee, a wordsmith whose dense, competitive style influenced a generation of West Coast artists.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kurupt was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kurupt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Kurupt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the double-disc solo album 'Kuruption!' in 1998, which debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200.
- As part of Tha Dogg Pound, released the platinum-selling album 'Dogg Food' in 1995.
- Provided iconic guest verses on landmark albums including Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic' and Snoop Dogg's 'Doggystyle'.
- Formed the group The Hrsmn (pronounced 'Horsemen') with fellow rappers Canibus, Ras Kass, and Killah Priest.
Did You Know?
He was originally known as 'Young Kurupt' when he first started rapping.
He voiced the character 'The Ghetto' in the video game 'Def Jam: Fight for NY'.
He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
He had a notable and highly publicized lyrical feud with rapper Tupac Shakur's group, The Outlawz, before later reconciling.
“I'm a microphone fiend, a lyrical linguist, a street scholar.”
