Veteran West Coast gangsta rapper MC Eiht has dedicated much of his life to music, beginning his career with Compton's Most Wanted (CMW) while only a teenager. Eiht catapulted his group to nationwide recognition at the dawn of the '90s and began his solo career in 1993 with "Streiht Up Menace" as his solo debut single. His debut solo album, We Come Strapped, subsequently topped Billboard's R&B albums chart a year later and was certified gold. Eiht's discography with and without CMW continued to grow, and in the 2010s his reputation was rock-solid, reflected in his work with both fellow veterans (DJ Quik, DJ Premier) and younger stars (Kendrick Lamar) who regarded him as an original master. ~ Andy Kellman