Alonzo “Lonzo” Williams is the undisputed Godfather of West Coast Hip-Hop, with an entertainment career spanning over 40 years. Known to the hip-hop community as “Grand Master Lonzo,” he significantly developed West Coast Hip-Hop, dating back to the late 1970s. As a DJ, record producer, leader of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, and former owner of Kru-Cut Records, Lonzo helped launch the careers of some of the most notable names in hip-hop. His roster or protegees include N.W.A (Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, Eazy E.), Michel’le, DJ Battlecat, Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, The LA Dream Team, and Compton’s Most Wanted.
The Godfather Raised in Compton
Williams is a Compton, California native (the epicenter of West Coast Hip Hop) and has always kept his hand on the pulse of urban entertainment. He first hit the South Los Angeles party scene in the early 1970s, working as a mobile DJ and event promoter under Disco Construction, named after the funk group Brass Construction. Williams opened Eve After Dark nightclub in 1979, further cementing Lonzo as a driving force in the nightlife arena, with high-profile musicians, celebrities, and local DJs wanting to connect with the World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Over the next ten years, Lonzo added Skate Land USA, The Penthouse, DooTos, The Current Affair, and Club Hall of Fame to his extensive portfolio of entertainment venues.
The World Class Wreckin’ Cru
Williams established the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, an American electro group in Los Angeles during the 1980s, contributing to rap’s development. Two of its members, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, attained greater fame as members of N.W.A, which pioneered gangsta rap. A song by the Cru also featured R&B singer Michel’le. World Class Wreckin’ Cru debuted in the nightclub Eve After Dark, owned by Williams. As his songs gained popularity, Williams arranged nightclub performances. Initially directing its music program was Detroit-born Andre “Unknown DJ” Manuel (who would later join Comptons Most Wanted), who was influenced by East Coast sounds, like Soulsonic Force, Orbit, and Scorpio.
KDAY
As the 1980s opened, electronic funk arrived, sampling drum beats and borrowing from old-school rap. Disco Construction created the Wreckin’ Cru subgroup, which was the Lonzos’ roadies. Later, this honorific prefix, World Class, signified a recording group. Lonzo hired two local DJs—Antoine “Yella” Carraby and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young—who became the original “Mix Masters” for Los Angeles radio station KDAY. The Wreckin’ Cru performed in various shows in Los Angeles, including shows promoted by Lonzo and opening for New Edition.
Kru-Kut Records
Alonzo Williams created the label “Kru-cut,” which began releasing The Wreckin’ Cru music through the mid-1980s with minimal resources through Macola Records”, a local independent record manufacturing and distributing company. The Cru released the single “Slice,” followed by “Surgery” and a full-length album titled World Class. The success of their early releases led to a major record deal with CBS/Epic Records. After seeing Dre’s cousin Jinx’s group perform in a rap contest, a teenage group called CIA (Cru’ In Action) starring O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, Tony ‘Sir Jinx’ Wheaton, and Darrell ‘K-Dee’ Johnson, with Dre would record a demo tape called “She’s a Skag,” signed the group to a single deal with CBS. After being released from CBS, the WCWC had the group’s biggest hit, “Turn off The Lights.” WCWC, known as a dance and romance act, also had songs like “Surgery,” “Juice,” “Cabbage Patch,” and “Lovers.”
By 1985, Kru-Cut had produced World Class’ debut album, World Class, with Cli-N-Tel leaving to control his direction in life, leaving Shakespeare to become the prominent MC as they signed with Epic Records. With this, they released a string of singles and their second album, Rapped In Romance.
World Class succeeded in building an army of fans in the underground scene, and each member had a valued reputation. A reputation that far exceeds their humble roots.
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