Darnell Price
OG Cuicide | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Darnell Price |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | July 30, 1969 Compton, California |
| Genres | Hip-Hop, West Coast Hip-Hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | www.ogcuicide.com |
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| 👶 Children | 4 |
Darnell Price (born July 30, 1969) is an American rapper and entrepreneur, better known by the stage name OG Cuicide. He has a history of activism in the field of suicide prevention, following a December 1991 suicide attempt at the age of 22.[1] This is also the incident from which he draws his moniker.
Early life[edit]
OG Cuicide was born at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles, California. A byproduct of the crack epidemic in the United States, his mother and father abandoned him and his older brother when he was 18 months old; despite his being born a "crack baby," a condition caused by prenatal cocaine exposure. According to a FOX 11 News interview with Christine Devine, police had to break into the apartment where the two children had been abandoned.[2] Although his brother was later retrieved by his mother, he was left behind in a foster care program and eventually adopted by "Ms. Price" (the subject of several songs throughout his catalog). He attended Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School, Enterprise Middle School, and Compton High School?—all within the Compton Unified School District?—however, he dropped out of high school shortly thereafter.
Music Career[edit]
Price got his start in the music industry in 1987, recording with underground West Coast legend Mixmaster Spade.[3] His first big feature came in 1991, during the recording session for "United We Stand Divided We Fall" from Toddy Tee's[4] 1992 project, Living on the Edge of Insanity (The Life Album).[5] However, before the song's official release, Darnell attempted to take his own life on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1991.
The tragedy of this event was met with a surprising turn-around, as Price would make a speedy recovery in the lead-up to a serendipitous meeting with singer-songwriter and record producer Leon Haywood,[6] perhaps best known for his 1975 hit single, "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You"[7] (which was sampled heavily by artists like Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Redman).[8] Mr. Haywood signed OG Cuicide to Evejim Records and began mentoring him as his newfound godfather. In 1994, he released a self-titled four-track EP.[9]
1995-1997[edit]
In 1995, Cuicide released his first full-length album, titled Final Exit.[10] At fifteen tracks in length, the success of the project spawned an international tour; covering London, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan.[11] His record deal with Evejim was set to expire in 1996. By this time, he had already entered into negotiations with Ruthless Records—just prior to the death of owner and founder Easy-E, in March 1995.[12] While he did not end up signing with Ruthless, he did collaborate briefly with fellow N.W.A member DJ Yella, during his sessions for the Easy-E tribute album One Mo Nigga ta Go. Price has an uncredited feature on the hook for track 16, titled "2Two Face."[13]
1998-2000[edit]
Executive Entertainment signed Cuicide to a three-year contract in 1998. He began recording out of their studio in Garden, CA, and these sessions produced 1999's Wonder Why.[14] Shortly thereafter, Cuicide was offered a $350,000 record deal with Priority Records, but he turned it down because he was loyal to Executive Entertainment. By this point, Cuicide was also being featured on an influential compilation, titled West Coast Never Dies, featuring such big names as Too Short, E-40, Kurupt, and many more.[15] Cuicide proceeded to tour behind Wonder Why heading into the year 2000, travelling across Europe and Japan.
2001-2005[edit]
OG Cuicide's exposure continued to grow heading into the new millennium, with features in Wheels Magazine, Lowrider Magazine and Larry Flynt’s now-discontinued 'Rap Pages' publication.[6] In 2002, he earned an opportunity to collaborate with Joe Jackson and various members of The Jackson Family on the documentary film Diamonds from the Bantus, which debuted in 2003. Cuicide contributed the film's title track.
Cuicide followed up this venture by launching his own label in 2004, called Cidal Gang Records.[16] They promptly released two compilation mixtapes: Go Hard or Go Home, Volume One & Two.[17] In 2005, he took time away from his own music career to focus on managing and mentoring other artists.
2016-present[edit]
In 2016, OG Cuicide saw a resurgence in his music career, starting with a show at Club Bleu in Westminster, California, performing alongside AD, WestCoast Cizzle, Kova, Blood Shott, OTG Black, and C Sharp.[18] He began recording new tracks at Chef Music Recording Studio[19] in Victorville, California, for what would become his third studio album, OGs Are Forever. Cuicide would refer to this release as his "masterpiece," since it comprises a culmination of all his work in the field of suicide prevention, as well as combining sounds from his past and present. In July 2019, he was featured in OC Weekly for the second time.[20] The article touched on his role as an activist and family man, as well as the diversity of his 2019 release.
Activism[edit]
Price has dedicated his life to the field of suicide prevention and awareness, following a failed suicide attempt on December 31, 1991.[21] As of 2019, he estimates that he's talked close to 50 individuals down from committing suicide. In March 2017, he was recognized by Fox News journalist Christine Devine for his activism in and around South Central, and beyond.[22]
Personal Life[edit]
In February 2014, Price launched an online and print publication called One West Magazine.[23] They also have a broadcasting division, called One West Radio.[24]
Discography[edit]
| Album information |
|---|
Final Exit[25]
|
Wonder Why[26]
|
OGs Are Forever[27]
|
References[edit]
- ↑ Paul, Bryson (May 17, 2018). "OG Cuicide Talks Suicide, Social Media, and 20 Years of Hip-Hop". OC Weekly.
- ↑ "OG Cuicide x AD Interview w/ Christine Devine of Fox News11 (Facebook Live)". March 20, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Mixmaster Spade". Discogs.
- ↑ "Toddy Tee". Discogs.
- ↑ "Toddy Tee - Living On The Edge Of Insanity (The Life Album)". Discogs.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Biography".
- ↑ "Leon Haywood - I Want' A Do Something Freaky To You". Discogs.
- ↑ "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You by Leon Haywood on WhoSampled". WhoSampled.
- ↑ "Cuicide - Cuicide". Discogs.
- ↑ "Cuicide - Final Exit". Discogs.
- ↑ http://spotlightcapitalholdings.com/pdfs/investor/projectSummary/oneWestBrandSummary.pdf
- ↑ Video, Rive (May 2, 2019). "OG Cuicide | Know My Pain | ft. Danny Atoms".
- ↑ "2Two Face". Discogs.
- ↑ "Cuicide - Wonder Why". Discogs.
- ↑ "Various - The West Coast Never Dies". Discogs.
- ↑ "Cidal Gang Records". Discogs.
- ↑ "OG Cuicide* Presents The Cidal Gang - Go Hard or Go Home Mixtape Vol. 2". Discogs.
- ↑ "OG Cuicide @ Club Bleu". Bandsintown.
- ↑ "Chef Music Recording Studio". Foursquare.
- ↑ "OG Cuicide Pulls From His Roles as Family Man, Former Gangbanger and Suicide Preventionist for OGs Are Forever". OC Weekly. July 18, 2019.
- ↑ http://www.spotlightcapitalholdings.com/pdfs/investor/projectSummary/oneWestBrandSummary.pdf
- ↑ "OG Cuicide x AD Interview w/ Christine Devine of Fox News11 (Facebook Live)". March 20, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "HOME". One West Magazine.
- ↑ "One West Radio| Los Angeles, CA". www.onewestradio.com.
- ↑ "Final Exit". Discogs.
- ↑ "Wonder Why". Discogs.
- ↑ "OGs Are Forever". Discogs.
External links[edit]
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Darnell Price a.k.a. OG Cuicide[edit]
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