Tone Loc
{{Short description|American rapper}}
{{For|the war dialing program|ToneLoc}}
{{Lead too short|date=November 2017}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Tone Lōc
| image =Houston Dash 90s Bash, 2023-10-08 (53256126868) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Tone Lōc performing in October 2023
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Anthony Terrell Smith
| alias = Tone Lōc
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|3|3}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
- Rapper
- actor
- record producer
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 1987–present
| label = {{Flatlist|
}}
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), best known by his stage name Tone Lōc ({{IPAc-en|t|oʊ|n|_|l|oʊ|k}}), is an American rapper{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005159/|title=Tone Loc|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-08-15}} and actor. He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina", for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award, and for being featured in "We're All in the Same Gang", a collaborative single by the West Coast Rap All-Stars.
Early life
Anthony Terrell Smith was born March 3, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Margaret, who managed a retirement home, and James Smith who died in 1972.{{cite web| url= http://www.filmreference.com/film/0/Tone-Loc.html| title= Tone-Loc Biography (1966?-)| website= FilmReference.com}} As a result of his father's premature death, Tone Lōc and his three older brothers were raised by his mother. He was educated at the Hollywood Professional School.{{cite book|title=Contemporary Musicians|volume=3|chapter=Tone Loc|page=234|publisher=Gale Research Inc|year=1989|isbn=9780810322134 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQw8AQAAIAAJ}} As a teenager, he performed with the rap group Triple A.
Career
= 1989–1991: mainstream success =
Tone Lōc's debut album, Lōc-ed After Dark, was released in January 1989. The video for the first single, "Wild Thing," became a staple on MTV in the US. The song rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the top twenty in Australia. The second single, "Funky Cold Medina," also became a hit. It reached the top 5 in the US, peaking at No. 3; the top ten in Australia; and the top twenty in the UK.{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 561}}
Lōc-ed After Dark reached No. 1 in the US. Since its release, it has been certified 2× platinum there.
Tone Lōc's second album Cool Hand Lōc was released in November 1991. The album's first single was "All Through the Night", which found moderate success, reaching No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It received frequent airplay on MTV and BET. He also contributed "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody" for 20th Century Fox's FernGully.
= 1994–2004: ''Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' franchise, and other endeavors =
Tone Lōc played the part of police Sergeant Emilio in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). Tone Lōc's song "Ace Is in the House", which samples the Beastie Boys song "No Sleep till Brooklyn", is featured in the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective (2009).
He provided vocals for Fefe Dobson for the track "Rock It Till You Drop It" on her self-titled debut album.
Tone Lōc also voiced Fūd Wrapper, the host of the animatronic show Food Rocks. This was played at Epcot from 1994 to 2004. In this latter role, he sang the song "Always Read the Wrapper", a parody of his second hit single "Funky Cold Medina".
He appeared as Albert in episode 8 of season 2 of Touched by an Angel, which aired November 11, 1995.
= 1992–2016: television, film and voice acting =
Tone Lōc has performed in several feature films, including Poetic Justice, Blank Check, Heat and Posse. As a voice actor, Tone Lōc has voiced characters in several animated television series such as King of the Hill and C Bear and Jamal, and was featured in the animated film Bebe's Kids, playing the wise-cracking baby Pee Wee.{{IMDb name|id=0005159|name=Tone Loc}} He voiced the character Lou the Goanna in the 1992 film FernGully: The Last Rainforest.{{cite web|title=Update: Ferngully: the Last Rainforest (1992) Acting Credits|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/17073/Ferngully-the-Last-Rainforest/cast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403223715/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/17073/Ferngully-the-Last-Rainforest/cast |url-status=dead |department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|date=2015|archive-date=April 3, 2015 }} He has also provided his signature voice for episodes of Chowder and Uncle Grandpa, both airing on Cartoon Network. In 2022, Tone Lōc was featured as the singing voice of Penny Proud in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Monique|url=https://www.shadowandact.com/the-proud-family-louder-and-prouder-exclusive-look-at-lizzo-and-tone-locs-episode-this-week|title='The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder' Exclusive Look At Lizzo And Tone Loc's Episode This Week|website=Shadow & Act|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316210418/https://www.shadowandact.com/the-proud-family-louder-and-prouder-exclusive-look-at-lizzo-and-tone-locs-episode-this-week|archive-date=March 16, 2022|url-status=live}}
= 2016–present: I Love the 90s Tour =
Tone Lōc was among the list of performers on the I Love the 90s Tour, which has performed worldwide since April 2016,{{cite magazine| title= Salt-N-Pepa, Vanilla Ice to Headline 'I Love the '90s' Tour| url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/salt-n-pepa-vanilla-ice-to-headline-i-love-the-90s-tour-20160329| first= Brittany| last= Spanos |date= March 29, 2016| magazine= Rolling Stone| access-date= January 24, 2017}} as well as having featured appearances on the I Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tour from July to September 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://ilovethe90stour.com/|title=I Love The 90s|website=ilovethe90stour.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-15}}
Personal life
=Legal issues=
In December 2010, Tone Lōc was arrested for an alleged DUI. He was released on bail claiming a medical condition had caused a seizure.{{cite web|title=Tone Loc Pleads Not Guilty To Domestic Violence Charges| url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667315/tone-loc-pleads-not-guilty-weapons-domestic-violence-charge.jhtml| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716101736/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667315/tone-loc-pleads-not-guilty-weapons-domestic-violence-charge.jhtml| url-status= dead| archive-date= July 16, 2011| website= MTV.com| first= Gil |last= Kaufman| date= July 15, 2011| access-date= January 24, 2017}}
On June 18, 2011, Tone Lōc was arrested for felony domestic violence and felony possession of a Colt AR-15 Sporter rifle,{{cite news|title=Rapper Tone Loc pleads no contest to domestic violence charge |url-status=dead |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-03/entertainment/showbiz_california-tone-loc_1_rapper-tone-loc-funky-cold-medina-domestic-violence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010080639/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-03/entertainment/showbiz_california-tone-loc_1_rapper-tone-loc-funky-cold-medina-domestic-violence?_s=PM%3ASHOWBIZ |archive-date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |work=CNN|date=October 4, 2011 }} which is heavily restricted by California law.{{cite web| url= http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf| title= California Firearms Laws| website= ag.ca.gov| publisher= Office of the Attorney General, California Dept. of Justice| date= 2007| access-date= January 24, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141019063000/http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf| archive-date= October 19, 2014| url-status= dead}} The weapon was not involved in the domestic incident, an altercation with the mother of one of his children.{{cite news|title=Police: Tone Loc arrested after fight with his child's mother|access-date=June 19, 2011|first=Alan|last=Duke|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-19/entertainment/tone.loc.arrest_1_wild-thing-rapper-tone-loc-mother?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ|work=CNN|date=June 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728102501/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-19/entertainment/tone.loc.arrest_1_wild-thing-rapper-tone-loc-mother?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ|archive-date=July 28, 2011}} Tone Lōc was released less than three hours later after posting $50,000 bail.{{cite web|title=Tone Loc arrested in domestic violence case| url= https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43459637 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110623012645/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43459637/ns/today-entertainment/t/tone-loc-arrested-domestic-violence-case/ | url-status= live | archive-date= June 23, 2011 | agency= Associated Press; TMZ.com; TODAY news services| website= MSN.com| date= June 19, 2011 | access-date= January 24, 2017 }}{{cite news| title= Rapper Tone Loc arrested on domestic violence charge |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rapper-tone-loc-arrested-on-domestic-violence-charge/ |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110825223551/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20072500-504083.html |archive-date= August 25, 2011 | website= CBSnews.com| date= June 20, 2011| first= Edecio| last= Martinez| access-date= January 24, 2017}} On October 3, 2011, he entered a plea of no contest to both charges, and was sentenced to one day in county jail, three years of probation, 52 weeks of anger management counseling and 30 days of community service.
On March 23, 2019, Tone Loc was detained by the Midland Police Department in Texas.{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Haley |title=FIRST ON CBS7: Rapper Tone Loc detained by Midland Police |url=https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/Rapper-Tone-Loc-detained-by-Midland-Police-507579501.html |website=www.cbs7.com |date=March 24, 2019 |access-date=24 March 2019 |language=en}} It was later revealed that the reason for the detention was a heated argument caused when Lōc confronted someone who was wearing a Confederate battle flag baseball cap. After the two arguing parties agreed to separate, Lōc was released and no charges were filed.{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/fnr-tigg/tone-loc-detained-at-texas-airport-for-fighting-with-couple-about-sons-confederate-hat | title=Tone Loc Detained at Texas Airport for Arguing with Couple About Son's Confederate Hat | website=Complex Networks }}
=Health issues=
Tone Lōc has collapsed onstage multiple times since 1995; some if not all of these collapses have been due to seizures, according to at least one report.{{cite news| url= http://guardianlv.com/2013/03/lil-wayne-tone-loc-and-morrissey-all-under-the-doctors-watch/| website= Guardian Liberty Voice| date= March 17, 2013 | title= Lil Wayne, Tone Loc and Morrissey all under the doctor's watch| first= Kelly| last= Newson | access-date= January 24, 2017}} On May 29, 2009, he was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during a concert in Pensacola, Florida. The rapper cut his elbow when he fell and was released the same day.{{cite web| title= Update: Tone Loc Recovering After Concert Seizure, Released From Hospital| first= Cyrus| last= Langhorne| date= May 29, 2009| website= sohh.com| url= http://www.sohh.com/2009/05/breaking_tone_loc_collaps.html| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131212045936/http://www.sohh.com/2009/05/breaking_tone_loc_collaps.html| archive-date= December 12, 2013}}
On October 15, 2011, Lōc was hospitalized for exhaustion after collapsing onstage during a concert in Atlanta, Georgia. He was taken to a local hospital and intravenously rehydrated.{{cite web|title=Tone Loc collapses after playing 'Funky Cold Medina'| first= Josh |last= Grossberg|date=October 17, 2011|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna44932025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020202819/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44932025/ns/today-entertainment/t/tone-loc-collapses-after-playing-funky-cold-medina/ |url-status=live |archive-date=October 20, 2011 | website= MSN.com}} Another similar incident occurred in 2012. On March 16, 2013, he collapsed onstage at a performance at the Bridge Bash in Des Moines, Iowa,{{cite news|title=Tone Loc collapses onstage at Bridge Bash| url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/03/17/tone-loc-rap-iowa/1993935/ |work= Des Moines Register; USA Today|access-date=17 March 2013|date=March 17, 2013}} but refused hospital care. Lōc collapsed onstage on December 6, 2013, during a performance in San Francisco, California, and collapsed again on November 26, 2016, during a performance in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but he later returned to the stage.{{cite news| url= http://www.argusleader.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/11/26/tone-loc-collapses-stage-premier-center/94494872/| title= Tone Loc collapses on stage at Premier Center, later returns | first1= Christopher | last1= Dexter | first2= Danielle| last2= Ferguson | work= Argus Leader | date= November 26, 2016| access-date= January 24, 2017}} Lōc wears his signature sunglasses at every performance to help reduce the likelihood of a seizure.
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Singles=
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
=Featured singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Title
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Artist ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| US ! style="width:40px;"| US R&B |
| scope="row"| "We're All in the Same Gang"
| 1990 | West Coast Rap All-Stars | 35 | 10 | style="text-align:left;"| Non-album single |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |
|---|
| 1989
| "Wild Thing" | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="6"| 1990
| rowspan="2"| Grammy Awards | Himself | {{nom}} |
| Best Rap Solo Performance
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="4"| American Music Awards
| Himself | {{nom}} |
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
| {{nom}} |
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist
| rowspan="2"| Himself | {{nom}} |
| Favorite Dance New Artist
| {{won}} |
| 1991
| Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | "We're All in the Same Gang" | {{nom}} |
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 1990
| The Adventures of Ford Fairlane | Slam | |
| The Return of Superfly
| Unknown | Uncredited |
| rowspan="2" | 1992
| FernGully: The Last Rainforest | Voice |
| Bebe's Kids
| Voice |
| rowspan="4" | 1993
| Posse | Angel | |
| Poetic Justice
| James Paul | |
| Surf Ninjas
| Lieutenant Spence | |
| A Cool Like That Christmas
| Marvin | Television film |
| rowspan="3" | 1994
| Handsome Cab Driver | |
| Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
| Emilio | |
| Blank Check
| Juice | |
| rowspan="2" |1995
| Heat | Richard Torena | |
| Crosstown Traffic
| Keiser | Television film |
| 1996
| Spy Hard | Gangster #1 | |
| 1997
| "Frog" | |
| 1998
| Freedom Strike | Tyler Haynes | |
| 1999
| Jack and the Beanstalk | Voice |
| rowspan="3" | 2000
| Whispers: An Elephant's Tale | |
| Titan A.E.
| Voice |
| Space Cowboys
| The Photographer | Uncredited |
| rowspan="2" | 2001
| Deadly Rhapsody | Jelly's Cousin | |
| They Crawl
| Clarence | |
| 2002
| Ray | |
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| Himself | Television film |
| Dreamweaver
| Sandman | Television film |
| 2011
| White T | Jerry | Voice |
| 2014
| Not Cool | Pedestrian #2 | Uncredited |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
|---|
| 1990
| Himself | |
| 1992–1994
| Roc | Ronnie Paxton | 7 episodes |
| 1994
| Aladdin | Magma | Voice, episode: "Smolder and Wiser" |
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| Albert Turner | Episode: "Operation Smile" |
| NewsRadio
| Security Guard, Lorenzo | 2 episodes |
| 1996–1997
| Lead role |
| 1996
| Lester Tate | Episode: "School's Out Forever" |
| rowspan="3" | 1997
| Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | The Giant / Desmond Bear | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Martin
| Himself | Episode: "Ain't That About a Ditch" |
| Dangerous Minds
| Mr. Summers | Episode: "To'e Me Up, To'e Me Down" |
| 1999
| Derek "D.J." Johnson | Episode: "Number One with a Bullet" |
| 2000–2001
| Lenny | 2 episodes |
| 2001
| Thieves | Special Agent Al Trundall | |
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| J.T. Betancourt | Episode: "Twist of Hate" |
| Static Shock
| Voice, episode: "Static Shaq" |
| 2004
| Panelist | |
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| Bouncer | Voice, episode: "Smoking and the Bandit" |
| Yes, Dear
| Dave | Episode: "Barbecue" |
| 2008
| Chowder | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2014
| Moon Man | Voice, episode: "Bezt Frends" |
| 2022
| The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Penny Proud (singing voice) | Episode: "Snackland" |
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0005159|name=Tone Loc}}
{{Tone Lōc}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tone Loc}}
Category:African-American male actors
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Delicious Vinyl artists
Category:Male actors from Los Angeles
Category:Rappers from Los Angeles
Category:West Coast hip-hop musicians
Category:University High School (Los Angeles) alumni
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male musicians