C-Bo (original) (raw)

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American rapper (born January 14, 1972)

C-Bo
C-Bo in 2011
Background information
Born	Shawn ThomasJanuary 14, 1972[1]Waco, Texas, US
Origin	Meadowview, Sacramento, California, US[2][3]
Genres	Gangsta rap
Occupations	Rapperrecord producer
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Noo Trybe Warlock Virgin EMIWest Coast MafiaCa$hville

Musical artist

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.[4][5] He ineffectively argued for appeal three times.[6]

Although some charges were dropped as it was viewed as a violation of his First Amendment rights,[7] he was arrested in California in 1998, under the suspicion that his violent rap lyrics violated his parole.[8] 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.[9] Also known for his frequent collaborations with fellow California-based rappers, he appeared in numerous videos for Tupac Shakur.[1]

Thomas was raised in a single family home with three brothers and five sisters.[2] During that time he became a member of the Garden Blocc Crips.[10][11]

Since the age of 10 Thomas spent nearly half of his life in and out of incarceration,[12] 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.[1][13]

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.[2][4]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

Thomas is married with 3 children,[14][2] he enjoys skiing, camping and fishing.[11]

Collaborative albums

[edit]

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)
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)
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)

^ a b c Arnold, Eric K. (2005-04-13). "On Lockdown". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ a b c d Jam, Billy (2012-02-03). "FREE SPEECH FREES RAPPER / About to be released, jailed C-BO says he's got a lot to say". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ Weekly, L.A. (1998-03-11). "Jailhouse Rap". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ a b Soren Baker (1998-03-06). "PAROLED RAPPER'S FIGHTING WORDS LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ Palmer, Tamara (2018-06-13). "5 'Criminal' Songs That Were Used As Evidence In Court". Oxygen Official Site. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ "Rapper C-BO Jailed For Lyrics". MTV.com. 1998-03-04. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
^ "Charges Against Rapper Over Lyrics Dropped". Los Angeles Times. 1998-03-07. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ C-Bo jailed MTV Retrieved 28 April 2021
^ "C-BO Raps His Way Out Of Legal Trouble". MTV.com. 1998-07-31. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
^ Drake, David (2012-10-19). "The 30 Biggest Criminal Trials in Rap History". Complex. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ a b "Interview with C-Bo". The Santa Barbara Independent. 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ Palmer, Tamara (2005-01-20). "C-Bo - Music - Miami - The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ Jam, Billy (2012-02-03). "Jailed Rapper Has 90 Days Added to Term". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ a b "Rap Artist Is Jailed Over Anti-Police Lyrics". Los Angeles Times. 1998-03-04. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ International, United Press (2002-03-15). "Today In Music: A look back at pop music". UPI. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ Berry, Peter (2017-08-28). "One Dead, Four Injured After Shooting at C-Bo Music Video Shoot". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ a b "C-BO Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
^ a b "C-BO Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.