A Lighter Shade of Brown

A Lighter Shade of Brown

Company type	Hip hop duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1987
Founder	Robert Gutierrez, Robert Ramirez
Headquarters	Riverside, California , United States
Products	Hip hop music

A Lighter Shade of Brown (abbreviated as LSOB) is a hip hop duo originating from Riverside, California, United States. The group was composed of two rappers: Robert "Don't Try To Xerox (DTTX)" Ramirez (September 26, 1969 – July 13, 2016) and Robert "One Dope Mexican (ODM)" Gutierrez (born August 22, 1969). Their most notable track is the 1990 single "On a Sunday Afternoon," which gained popularity in both the American and New Zealand music markets.

History

Formed in 1987 by Robert Gutierrez ("One Dope Mexican") alongside Robert Ramirez ("Don't Try To Xerox"), LSOB initially recorded demo tracks before signing with the independent label Pump. Their first album, Brown and Proud, released in 1990, featured their sole U.S. Top 40 hit, "On A Sunday Afternoon." This song incorporated samples from The Young Rascals' "Groovin'" and Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crystal Blue Persuasion" and reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, it held the number one position on the New Zealand charts for two consecutive weeks.

Following their sophomore release Hip Hop Locos in 1992, which did not chart, LSOB contributed songs to soundtracks targeting Latino audiences, including films such as Mi Vida Loca and I Like It Like That. The success of "Sunday Afternoon" facilitated a recording contract with Mercury Records, under which they issued their third album, Layin' in the Cut, in 1994; this album attained a peak position of 184 on the Billboard 200.

After a period of inactivity, LSOB resurfaced in 1997 with a self-titled fourth album released through the independent label Greenside Records. This project featured collaborations with artists such as Rappin' 4-Tay and Dwayne Wiggins from Tony! Toni! Toné!.

In 1999, the duo issued a greatest hits compilation along with the single "Sunny Day," which did not chart. That same year, Gutierrez took on a DJ role at San Bernardino’s radio station KGGI, while Ramirez continued performing as LSOB and working on new material. In 2011, LSOB teamed up with Serio for the track "I'll Never Forget," featuring MC Magic, included in the album Gansterism Part 3. Later that year, they released It's A Wrap via Illuminated Entertainment Group. Produced by Playalitical, this album showcased Ramirez as the only rapper representing LSOB. The lead single "Call Me Over," produced by Fingazz and featuring Playalitical alongside Zig Zag of the NB Ridaz, was promoted with an accompanying music video.

Robert Ramirez passed away on July 18, 2016, in Las Vegas after an eleven-day coma caused by complications linked to alcohol abuse and heatstroke.

Studio albums

Title	Release	Peak chart positions
		US	US R&B	AUS
Brown & Proud	Released: 1990 Label: Quality, Mercury	184	—	—
Hip Hop Locos	Released: 1992 Label: Quality, Mercury	—	87	200
Layin' in the Cut	Released: 1994 Label: Mercury	169	54	109
A Lighter Shade of Brown	Released: 1997 Label: Thump	—	—	—
If You Could See Inside Me	Released: 1999 Label: Thump	—	—	—
It's a Wrap	Released: 2011 Label: Illuminated	—	—	—

Compilation albums

• Greatest Hits (released in 1999)

Singles

Single Title	Year Issued	Highest Chart Positions								Corresponding Album
		US	US R&B	US Rap	US Dance	AUS	NZ	NED	UK
"T.J. Nights" (exclusive to US)	1990	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Brown & Proud
"Latin Active"	1991	59	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"On a Sunday Afternoon" (featuring Shiro and Huggy Boy)	1991	39	—	—	—	162	1	49	—
"T.J. Nights" (exclusive to NZ)	1992	—	—	—	—	—	36	—	—
"Spill the Rhyme"	1992	—	—	—	—	90	47	—	—
"Homies"	1992	57	54	13	—	115	—	—	—
"Check It Out / Latin Active"	1993	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Hey DJ"	1994	43	67	18	32	12	33	—	33
"If You Wanna Groove" (featuring Aulsondro Emcee N.I.C.E. Hamilton)	1994	107	—	45	—	110	—	—	—
"Dip Into My Ride"	1994	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Call Me Over" (feat Playalitical & Zig Zag of NB Ridaz)  |'2011'  |'—'  |'61'  |'—'  |'20'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'It's a Wrap'
"Sunsets"  |'2023'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'—'  |'Sunsets'

"–" indicates tracks that did not enter the charts or were not distributed in that region.