The
World Class Wreckin' Cru was a 1980s
Electro-hop group from
Compton,
California formed by the Eve After Dark nightclub owner and established DJ Alonzo Williams. Other members of the fluctuating line-up included
DJ Yella,
Dr. Dre, Shakespeare,
Cli-N-Tel, and Mona Lisa Young (Dre's sister). Dr. Dre and DJ Yella would go on to achieve fame as members of
N.W.A..
Fila Fresh Crew's
Dr. Rock was also an early member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru.
History
The group were originally known as The Wreckin' Cru and used that name when the groups first song was produced called "Slice" performed by DJ Yella and Cli-N-Tel. Although when the World Olympics were coming to Los Angeles during 1984, Lonzo decided to change the groups name to the World Class Wreckin' Cru.
They were managed by
Jerry Heller, who also managed
Egyptian Lover and
LA Dream Team. Heller would later become part of the gangsta rap scene on the west coast, forming
Ruthless Records with Eazy-E, and helping launch the careers of several rap artists. Jerry Heller and Eazy-E were introduced through Lonzo Williams in the Eve After Dark nightclub.
World Class Wreckin' Cru singles such as "Surgery" and "Juice" were marked by a blend of
old school rap and a rip of the new
electro sound, best exemplified by
Kraftwerk's single, "Tour de France".
The group released two albums;
World Class (1985) and
Rapped In Romance (1986). The group were part of the
Kru-Cut record label established by Lonzo Williams.
In 1987, the group hit the national charts with "Turn Off the Lights", featuring vocals by
Michel'le. However, by this time Dr. Dre and DJ Yella had left to join
Eazy-E and
Ice Cube in
N.W.A. Alonzo Williams went on to briefly front a new group with a similar name, World Class Wreckin'
Kru.
The album
World Class contains pictures of
Dr. Dre wearing flashy clothing and
cosmetics, for which
Eazy-E dissed him in the song "
Real Muthaphuckkin G's", showing pictures of him from this album.
Singles
- Bust It Up 2 + 1 (12") (1985)
- He's Bionic/The Fly (12") (1986)
- Mission Possible (7") (1986)
- Mission Possible/World Class Freak (12") (1986)
- Turn Off The Lights (12") (1987)
- Lay Your Body Down (12") (1988)
- World Class Mega Mix 89 (12") (1989)
- I'll Be Around (12") (1991)
Studio albums
- The Best Of The World Class Wreckin Cru (1987)
- Turn Off The Lights (1991)
- The World Class Wreckin' Cru Greatest Hits Plus (2000)
