Westside Connection

{{Short description|American hip hop supergroup}}

{{For|the song|Westside Connection (song)}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Westside Connection

| image = Westside Connection.jpg

| caption = From left to right: WC, Ice Cube, Mack 10 in 2003

| image_size =

| alias =

| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| instrument =

| genre = {{hlist|West Coast hip-hop|gangsta rap|G-funk}}

| occupations =

| years_active = 1995–2005{{cite web|author=John Bush|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/westside-connection-mn0000818200/discography|title=Westside Connection|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2019-10-10}}{{cite web|author=Jake Paine|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2019/04/mack-10-new-album-redprint-westside-connection/|title=Mack 10 Is Releasing His 1st Album In 10 Years & It Has His Old Sound (Video)|publisher=Ambrosia For Heads|date=2019-04-23|access-date=2019-10-10}}

| label = {{hlist|Lench Mob|Priority|Hoo-Bangin'|Capitol}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Allfrumtha I|Butch Cassidy|Fredwreck}}

| website =

| past_members = Ice Cube
Mack 10
WC

}}

Westside Connection was an American hip-hop supergroup formed by Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC. The group's debut album, Bow Down, reached the number two position on the Billboard 200 in 1996 and was certified platinum that same year.

{{TOC limit|3}}

Biography

Westside Connection began performing together in 1995, appearing on Mack 10's self-titled debut album, Mack 10, on the track "Westside Slaughterhouse". A few months later, the group reunited on WC's album, Curb Servin', with the song "West Up!". Around this time, they began working on their debut album, Bow Down, which was released on October 22, 1996.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|page=365}}

Individually, Mack 10, WC, and Ice Cube continued to work on solo projects between group albums. As Westside Connection, they contributed several tracks to film soundtracks and compilations, including "Bangin'" (from West Coast Bad Boyz II), "Let It Reign" (from Thicker than Water), and "It's the Holidaze" (from Friday After Next).

On December 9, 2003, the group released their second album, Terrorist Threats, led by the single "Gangsta Nation", produced by Fredwreck and featuring Nate Dogg.

Mack 10 left the group in 2005 following a dispute with Ice Cube, leading to Westside Connection's disbandment.{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2005/11/10/18133369.aspx|title=Mack 10 interview|website=AllHipHop.com|date=November 10, 2005|access-date=2007-10-23}} Despite the breakup, Ice Cube and WC continued collaborating, frequently appearing on each other's albums.

In 2008, HipHopDX reported that Ice Cube and WC were considering reviving the Westside Connection project, with The Game proposed as Mack 10's replacement. This plan followed The Game's appearance with WC on Ice Cube's album Raw Footage that same year. However, the rumored revival never materialized.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.7316/title.dx-clusive-the-game-to-replace-mack-10-in-westside-connection-comeback|title=DX-clusive: The Game To Replace Mack 10 In Westside Connection Comeback|date=15 July 2008|website=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=June 30, 2021}}

In a 2020 interview with VladTV, Mack 10 reflected that any reunion without his involvement would still require compensation, as he owns the trademark on the group's name. This ownership stems from their second album being released through his record label.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVbbd6ovxxU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/EVbbd6ovxxU |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Mack 10 on Ice Cube, Westside Connection, Common & Cypress Hill Beef, T-Boz (Full Interview)|access-date=June 30, 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2023, Ice Cube dismissed the possibility of a reunion, citing unresolved issues with Mack 10. He described their conflict as "a violation that can't be overlooked."{{cite web | url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/ice-cube-mack-10-beef-over-violation-cant-be-overlooked-1234775917/ | title=Ice Cube Says Mack 10 Beef is over "A Violation That Can't be Overlooked" | date=28 July 2023 }}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US
{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/westside-connection|title=Westside Connection Chart History|website=Billboard.com|access-date=December 22, 2019}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US R&B

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS
{{cite Ryan|page=299}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | CAN
Chart peaks in Canada:

  • "Bow Down": {{Cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9804&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-12-15 |archive-date=2015-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207003834/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9804&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 |url-status=dead }}
  • "Terrorist Threats": {{cite web|url= http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_012204_ALBUMS.html|title=Albums : Top 100|website=Jam!|date=January 22, 2004|access-date=April 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210205726/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_012204_ALBUMS.html|archive-date=December 10, 2004}}
scope="row" | Bow Down

|

| 2 || 1 || — || 45

|

  • RIAA: Platinum{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Westside+Connection |title=Gold & Platinum: Westside Connection |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=February 22, 2017|date=January 10, 1997}}
  • MC: Gold{{cite certification | region=Canada | artist=Westside Connection | access-date=September 30, 2017|date=March 31, 1997}}
scope="row" | Terrorist Threats

|

| 16 || 3 || 62 || 40

|

  • RIAA: Gold{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Westside+Connection |title=Gold & Platinum: Westside Connection |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=February 22, 2017|date=January 12, 2004}}
  • MC: Gold

=Compilation albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Album details

scope="row" | The Best of Westside Connection: The Gangsta, The Killa & The Dope Dealer

|

  • Released: November 30, 2007
  • Label: Priority
  • Format: CD, digital download

=Singles=

==As lead artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:0.5em;"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Album

scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US
R&B

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US
Rap

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| AUS

scope="row"| "Bow Down"

| rowspan="2"|1996

| 21

| 19

| 1

| —

|rowspan="2"| Bow Down

scope="row"| "Gangstas Make the World Go Round"

| 40

| 30

| 10

| —

scope="row"| "It's the Holidaze"

| 2002

| —

| —

| —

| —

| Friday After Next soundtrack

scope="row"| "Gangsta Nation"

| 2003

| 33

| 22

| 9

| 66

|Terrorist Threats

scope="row"| "Concrete"

| 2022

| —

| —

| —

| —

| {{Non-album single}}

colspan="7" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

===Promotional singles===

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of promotional singles as featured artist, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:22em;" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Year

! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:15em;" | Album

scope="row"| "Whatcha Gonna Do (Remix)"{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/it/Jayo-Felony-Whatcha-Gonna-Do-Remix/release/3331450 |title=Whatcha Gonna Do (Remix) - Jayo Felony |publisher=Discogs |access-date=2020-02-23}}
(Jayo Felony featuring Redman, Mack 10 and WC)

| rowspan="1"| 1998

| {{n/a|Non-album single}}

=Guest appearances=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with all performing artists, showing year released and album name

! scope="col" style="width:19em;" | Title

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Other Performer(s)

! scope="col" | Group performers

! scope="col" | Album

scope="row"| "Bangin'"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/master-p-presentswest-coast-bad-boyz-ii-mw0000096744 |title=West Coast Bad Boyz II - Master P |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-04-26}}

| rowspan="2"| 1997

| Master P

| rowspan="2"| Ice Cube, Mack 10, WC

| West Coast Bad Boyz II

scope="row"| "Westside Connect OG's"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-comrads-mw0000410598 |title=The Comrads - The Comrads |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-04-26}}

| The Comrads, Allfrumtha I

| The Comrads

scope="row"| "Maniac in the Brainiac"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bulworth-original-soundtrack-mw0000595100 |title=Bulworth soundtrack |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-04-26}}

| rowspan="4” | 1998

| {{n/a|None}}

| rowspan="2"| Ice Cube, Mack 10

| Bulworth soundtrack

scope="row"| "Dopest on da Planet"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/allfrumtha-i-mw0000032792 |title=Allfrumtha I - Allfrumtha I |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2020-02-23}}

| Squeak Ru

| Allfrumtha I

scope="row"| "My Hoodlums & My Thugz"{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-element-of-surprise-mw0000598714 |title=The Element of Surprise - E-40 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-04-26}}

| E-40

| Mack 10, WC

| The Element of Surprise

scope="row"| "Freestyle"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-mix-tape-vol-3-60-minutes-of-funk-the-final-chapter-mw0000600082 |title=The Mix Tape, Vol. 3: 60 Minutes of Funk (The Final Chapter) - Funkmaster Flex| publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2020-06-30}}

| Funkmaster Flex

| rowspan="4"| Ice Cube, Mack 10

| The Mix Tape, Vol. 3: 60 Minutes of Funk (The Final Chapter)

scope="row"| "Murderfest '99"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-be-saprize-mw0000231248 |title=Don't Be Saprize - Road Dawgs |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-04-26}}

| rowspan="3"| 1999

| Road Dawgs, MC Eiht, Boo Kapone, Boobie

| rowspan="2"| Don't Be Saprize

scope="row"| "You Ain't Know"

| Road Dawgs, Young Pretty, Q.S. Bandit

scope="row"| "III tha Hood Way"{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/charmbracelet-mw0000226447/credits |title=Charmbracelet Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2019-08-30}}

| MC Eiht

| Section 8

scope="row"| "Callin' All Hogs"{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Boo-Kapone-Reflection-Of-Reality/release/7604189 |title=Reflection of Reality - Boo Kapone |publisher=Discogs |access-date=2020-10-22}}

| 2000

| Boo Kapone

| Mack 10, WC

| {{n/a|None}}

scope="row"| "Terrorist Threath"{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/true-crime-streets-of-la-the-soundtrack-mw0000322455 |title=True Crime: Streets of LA soundtrack |work=AllMusic |accessdate=2025-05-31}}

| rowspan="1"| 2003

| {{n/a|None}}

| Ice Cube, Mack 10, WC

| True Crime: Streets of LA soundtrack

References