A former Crip who grew up in Watts and Compton, the gangsta rapper known as Glasses Malone rejected the gang life and decided to pursue music. After displaying his rugged rhyme flow and controlled delivery on two street mixtapes, THE CRACK MIXTAPE (2003) and WHITE LIGHTNING (2005), Malone caught the attention of industry heavyweights who eyed him as the next The Game. Following a major label bidding war, he signed a million dollar-plus deal with Sony Urban Music in 2005 but the label went under before Malone’s intended debut LP came to fruition. One deal later (with Cash Money and Hoo Bangin’ Records), Glasses Malone’s debut single “Certified,” featuring Akon, hit the radio hard in 2007.