C-Bo
{{Short description|American rapper (born January 14, 1972)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = C-Bo
| image = Rapper C-Bo.jpg
| caption = C-Bo in 2011
| birth_name = Shawn Thomas
| birth_date = January 14, 1972
| birth_place = Waco, Texas, US
| origin = Meadowview, Sacramento, California, US{{cite web | last=Jam | first=Billy | title=FREE SPEECH FREES RAPPER / About to be released, jailed C-BO says he's got a lot to say | website=SFGATE | date=2012-02-03 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/FREE-SPEECH-FREES-RAPPER-About-to-be-released-3011863.php | access-date=2022-08-24}}{{cite web | last=Weekly | first=L.A. | title=Jailhouse Rap | website=LA Weekly | date=1998-03-11 | url=https://www.laweekly.com/jailhouse-rap/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}
| genre = Gangsta rap
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|record producer}}
| years_active = 1991–present
| label = {{hlist|Noo Trybe|Warlock|Virgin|EMI|West Coast Mafia|Ca$hville}}
}}
Shawn Thomas (born January 14, 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.{{cite web | last=Palmer | first=Tamara | title=5 'Criminal' Songs That Were Used As Evidence In Court | website=Oxygen Official Site | date=2018-06-13 | url=https://www.oxygen.com/very-real/5-criminal-songs-used-in-evidence-c-bo-lil-boosie-exodus | access-date=2022-08-24}} He ineffectively argued for appeal three times.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426820/rapper-c-bo-jailed-lyrics.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426820/rapper-c-bo-jailed-lyrics.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |title=Rapper C-BO Jailed For Lyrics |website=MTV.com |date=1998-03-04 |access-date=2020-04-03}}
Although some charges were dropped as it was viewed as a violation of his First Amendment rights,{{cite web | title=Charges Against Rapper Over Lyrics Dropped | website=Los Angeles Times | date=1998-03-07 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-07-mn-26412-story.html | access-date=2022-08-24}} he was arrested in California in 1998, under the suspicion that his violent rap lyrics violated his parole.[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] Retrieved 28 April 2021 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426817/c-bo-raps-his-way-out-legal-trouble.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104015905/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426817/c-bo-raps-his-way-out-legal-trouble.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |title=C-BO Raps His Way Out Of Legal Trouble |website=MTV.com |date=1998-07-31 |access-date=2020-04-03}} 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 with three brothers and five sisters. During that time he became a member of the Garden Blocc Crips.{{cite web | last=Drake | first=David | title=The 30 Biggest Criminal Trials in Rap History | website=Complex | date=2012-10-19 | url=https://www.complex.com/music/2012/10/the-30-biggest-criminal-trials-in-rap-history/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}
Legal issues
Since the age of 10 Thomas spent nearly half of his life in and out of incarceration,{{cite web | last=Palmer | first=Tamara | title=C-Bo - Music - Miami - The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida | website=Miami New Times | date=2005-01-20 | url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/c-bo-6342061 | access-date=2022-08-24}} 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.{{cite web | last=Arnold | first=Eric K. | title=On Lockdown | website=East Bay Express | date=2005-04-13 | url=https://eastbayexpress.com/on-lockdown-2-1/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}{{cite web | last=Jam | first=Billy | title=Jailed Rapper Has 90 Days Added to Term | website=SFGATE | date=2012-02-03 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Jailed-Rapper-Has-90-Days-Added-to-Term-3011141.php | access-date=2022-08-24}}
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.{{cite web | author=Soren Baker | title=PAROLED RAPPER'S FIGHTING WORDS LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL | website=Chicago Tribune | date=1998-03-06 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-03-06-9803060265-story.html | access-date=2022-08-24}}
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.{{cite web | title=Rap Artist Is Jailed Over Anti-Police Lyrics | website=Los Angeles Times | date=1998-03-04 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-04-mn-25431-story.html | access-date=2022-08-24}}
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.{{cite web | last=International | first=United Press | title=Today In Music: A look back at pop music | website=UPI | date=2002-03-15 | url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/03/15/Today-In-Music-A-look-back-at-pop-music/14521016192700/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}
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.{{cite web | last=Berry | first=Peter | title=One Dead, Four Injured After Shooting at C-Bo Music Video Shoot | website=XXL Mag | date=2017-08-28 | url=https://www.xxlmag.com/one-dead-four-injured-after-shooting-at-c-bo-music-video-shoot/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}
Personal life
Thomas is married with 3 children, he enjoys skiing, camping and fishing.{{cite web | title=Interview with C-Bo | website=The Santa Barbara Independent | date=2015-05-14 | url=https://www.independent.com/2015/05/14/interview-c-bo/ | access-date=2022-08-24}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Release ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| US {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/c-bo/chart-history/billboard-200|title=C-BO Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 19, 2019|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819232822/https://www.billboard.com/music/c-bo/chart-history/billboard-200|url-status=dead}} ! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"| US |
| scope="row"| Gas Chamber
| style="text-align:center;"|1993 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|53 |
| scope="row"|Tales from the Crypt
| style="text-align:center;"|1995 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|99 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|4 |
| scope="row"|One Life 2 Live
| style="text-align:center;"|1997 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|65 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|12 |
| scope="row"|Til My Casket Drops
| style="text-align:center;"|1998 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|41 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|4 |
| scope="row"|The Final Chapter
| style="text-align:center;"|1999 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|81 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|20 |
| scope="row"|Enemy of the State
| style="text-align:center;"|2000 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|91 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|24 |
| scope="row"|Life as a Rider
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2002 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|41 |
| scope="row"|Desert Eagle
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
| scope="row"|The Mobfather
| style="text-align:center;"|2003 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|199 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|37 |
| scope="row"|Money to Burn
| style="text-align:center;"|2006 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|71 |
| scope="row"|Cali Connection
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2012 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
| scope="row"|Orca
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
| scope="row"|The Mobfather II
| style="text-align:center;"|2015 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
| scope="row"|The Problem
| style="text-align:center;"|2017 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
| scope="row"|Animal
| style="text-align:center;"|2019 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— |
=Collaborative albums=
- Blocc Movement (with Brotha Lynch Hung) (2001)
- Gang Affiliated (with West Coast Mafia Gang) (2004)
- In Thugz We Trust (with Thug Lordz) (2004)
- 100 Racks In My Backpack (with San Quinn) (2006)
- Thug Lordz Trilogy (with Thug Lordz) (2006)
- The Moment of Truth (with Killa Tay) (2006)
- Tradin' War Stories (with Omar "Big-O" Gooding) (2008)
- Thug Money (with Thug Lordz) (2010)
=Compilation albums=
- The Best of C-Bo (1995)
- C-Bo's Best Appearances '91-'99 (2001)
- West Coast Mafia (2002)
- West Side Ryders (2003)
- C-Bo's Lost Sessions (2004)
- West Side Ryders II (2005)
- Best of the Girth (2005)
- The Greatest Hits (2005)
- West Side Ryders III (2007)
- West Coast Classics (2007)
- C-Bo's Bulletproof (2007)
- West Side Ryders IV: World Wide Mob (2008)
- West Side Ryders V (2011)
- C-Bo Trilogy (2012)
- OG Chronicles (2014)
- Mobfather: The John Gotti Pack (2018)
=Mixtapes=
- Underground & Unreleased with West Coast Mafia Gang (2004)
- West Coast Durty with Lil' Flip (2004)
- The Money to Burn Mixtape (2006)
- Cashville Takeover with Cashville Records (2009)
- West Coast Mafia Music (2010)
- I Am Gangsta Rap (2013)
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Release !colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"|US ! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;"|US |
| scope="row"| The Autopsy
| style="text-align:center;"|1994 | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|— | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top;"|22 |
=Singles=
- "Trapped" with Brit on the Beat (2023)
- "OT Trips" with Brit on the Beat (2022)
- "The Hustler" (2022)
- "Mo Money" (2022)
- "Lets' Ride" with Kafeeno (2022)
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:19em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Other artist(s) ! scope="col" | Album |
| scope="row"| "Smokin' Da Bomb"
| rowspan="2"| 1994 | Marvaless, Rup Dog | rowspan="2"|Ghetto Blues |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Can't Stand the Heat"
| Marvaless |
| scope="row"| "Hard Core"
| rowspan="2"| 1995 | Marvaless, Pizzo |
| scope="row"| "That's How We Break Bread"
|TRU | True |
| scope="row"| "Tradin' War Stories"
| rowspan="6"| 1996 | rowspan="2"|All Eyez on Me |
| scope="row"| "Ain't Hard 2 Find"
| 2Pac, B-Legit, D-Shot, E-40, Richie Rich |
| scope="row"| "Code Red"
| Marv Mitch & LeMay | Livin In Tha Strange |
| scope="row"| "See the Light"
| Marvaless | Wiccked |
| scope="row"| "Gotta Buy Your Dope from Us"
| B-Legit, Little Bruce | rowspan="2"|The Hemp Museum |
| scope="row"| "Niggaz Get They Wig Split"
| B-Legit, Celly Cel |
| scope="row"| "Major Factorz"
| rowspan="2"| 1997 | JT the Bigga Figga, Young Meek | Game Tight |
| scope="row"| "The Funk Is On"
| Lunasicc, Marvaless |
| scope="row"| "It's on, on Sight"
| rowspan="7"| 1998 | E-40 |
| scope="row"| "Ride"
| Celly Cel |
| scope="row"| "Deadly Weapon"
| Marvaless | rowspan="2"|Fearless |
| scope="row"| "Mafia Niggaz"
| Marvaless, Steady Mobb'n |
| scope="row"| "Over Drive"
| Lunasicc, 151, Killa Tay, Mob Figaz |
| scope="row"| "Big Dawgs"
| Killa Tay, J-Dubb, O-Fed | Mr. Mafioso |
| scope="row"| "Thug Money"
| Guce | If It Ain't Real, It Ain't Official |
| scope="row"| "Mob"
| rowspan="13"| 1999 | Kokane |
| scope="row"| "Armaggedon"
| rowspan="3"| Mob Figaz | rowspan="6"|C-Bo's Mob Figaz |
| scope="row"| "Fastlane" |
| scope="row"| "Mafioso Type" |
| scope="row"| "No Money"
| Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Kaos |
| scope="row"| "Prepare to Die"
| Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Young Meek |
| scope="row"| "Thug World"
| Mob Figaz, Spice 1 |
| scope="row"| "Cause I Can"
| E-40, Jayo Felony |
| scope="row"| "Flossed Out"
| Mike Mosley, Emidy, Official London Breezy, Will | Platinum Plaques |
| scope="row"| "Kaviealstars" |
| scope="row"| "Thug Disease"
| South Central Cartel, Spice 1 |
| scope="row"| "The World Keeps Turnin'"
| rowspan="2"|Pizzo | rowspan="2"| Heater Calhoun |
| scope="row"| "Straight G'z" |
| scope="row"| "Hard Ball?"
| rowspan="6"|2000 | rowspan="3"| Killa Tay | rowspan="2"| Snake Eyes |
| scope="row"| "The Murda Show" |
| scope="row"| "Whoo Ride"
| Thug Thisle |
| scope="row"| "One Luv"
| Spice 1 |
| scope="row"| "Ride 4 Me"
| Spice 1, Rod-Dee |
| scope="row"| "Block Monsters"
| Mac Mall, JT the Bigga Figga |
| scope="row"| "Do It Right"
| rowspan="5"| 2001 | rowspan="2"| Thug Lord: The New Testament |
| scope="row"| "Smile"
| Yukmouth, CJ Mac |
| scope="row"| "Paper Made"
| Big Hollis | Knocks 2001 |
| scope="row"| "I'm a Boss"
| Daz Dillinger, JT the Bigga Figga, Yukmouth, Dru Down |
| scope="row"| "Crippin'"
| Daz Dillinger |
| scope="row"| "Blaze Up the City"
| rowspan="5"| 2002 | 10sion, I.V.A.N. The Terrible, Outlawz | 10sion |
| scope="row"| "What!" |
| scope="row"| "Fuck You"
| Luniz |
| scope="row"| "Smack Yo Self"
| Young Noble, Hellraza |
| scope="row"| "Deadly Game"
| X-Raided |
| scope="row"| "Thug Lordz"
| rowspan="4"|2003 | Yukmouth | Godzilla |
| scope="row"| "Nothing Over My G'z"
| JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay | rowspan="3"| Game Tight Vol. 2 |
| scope="row"| "Countin' Money"
| JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay, Mac Mall, Marvaless, Pizzo |
| scope="row"| "Can We Ball?"
| JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay |
| scope="row"| "Can U Deal With This?"
| rowspan="5"|2004 | Big Lurch, Killa Tay |
| scope="row"| "Sav Boyz"
| San Quinn, Killa Tay |
| scope="row"| "American Me"
| Yukmouth, Chino Nino, Young Noble | rowspan="3"| United Ghettos of America Vol. 2 |
| scope="row"| "The Slide Show"
| Yukmouth, Nate, Richie Rich |
| scope="row"| "United Ghettos of America part 2"
| Yukmouth, 151, Dru Down, Eastwood, Roscoe, Spice 1, Tha Realest |
| scope="row"| "Big Boy"
| rowspan="3"|2005 | J-Flo, Yukmouth | Sick Sick Em |
| scope="row"| "Leave the Ridin' to Us"
| Spice 1, Yukmouth |
| scope="row"| "Ghetto Slums"
| JT the Bigga Figga, Phats Bossi |
| scope="row"| "Gangstas' & Ballas"
|2007 |
| scope="row"| "West Side"
| rowspan="2"|2008 | Yukmouth, Glasses Malone |
| scope="row"| "Thuggin Till I Die"
| Outlawz |
| scope="row"| "Grown Ass Man"
| rowspan="2"| 2009 | Tha Realest |
| scope="row"| "Stay on It"
| Yukmouth |
| scope="row"| "Fast Quarter"
| rowspan="3"| 2011 | E-40, Yukmouth |
| scope="row"| "On My Side"
| The Jacka, Smigg Dirtee |
| scope="row"| "Like Us"
| Pimp C, Smoke D, Vicious |
| scope="row"| "Hittin' a Lick"
| rowspan="2"| 2012 | E-40, T-Nutty |
| scope="row"| "Blowin on Jamaica"
| Yukmouth, Young Noble |
| scope="row"| "Put Da Clip In"
| rowspan="3"| 2013 | Young Noble, Young Buck | Outlaw Nation Vol. 2 |
| scope="row"| "Salute the West"
| Westcoast Stone, Killa Tay, Kokane, Wratchet Wrico | Salute The West |
| scope="row"| "Real 1's"
| Sean T, Meccah Dawn | {{n/a}} |
| scope="row"| "Choppa on Deck"
| rowspan="2"| 2014 | Yukmouth, Young Buck | GAS (Grow & Sale) |
| scope="row"| "Real Life"
| Philthy Rich, M Dot 80 | A~1 Since Day One |
| scope="row"| "Life of a Rider"
| rowspan="1"| 2015 | Lil Mo, Beast, Matt Black |
| scope="row"| "Bomb First"
| rowspan="2"| 2024 | Matteocci Tha Don | Single |
| scope="row"| "Made a Man of Me"
| E.D.I. Mean|EDIDON, June Summers, Nutt-So | The Hope Dealer, Pt. 1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{C-Bo}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:Cashville Records artists