Kxng Crooked
Kxng Crooked | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dominick Antron Wickliffe September 23, 1976 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Member of Slaughterhouse; founder of Dynasty Entertainment and C.O.B. Digital; Senior Vice President at Treacherous Records |
Dominick Antron Wickliffe (born September 23, 1976), professionally recognized as Kxng Crooked (stylized as KXNG Crooked, formerly known as Crooked I), is a rapper hailing from Long Beach, California. In 2008, he co-established the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse alongside Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce da 5'9". The group produced two albums: Slaughterhouse (2009) and Welcome to: Our House (2012). The latter was issued through Eminem's Shady Records, a subsidiary of Interscope Records, whereas Wickliffe’s solo work has been released independently.
Wickliffe is the founder of the record labels Dynasty Entertainment and C.O.B. Digital and holds the position of Senior Vice President at Treacherous Records. Earlier in his career, he was signed to Virgin Records and Death Row Records but did not release any projects via these labels. In 2022, he partnered with former Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz to form the rap duo Crook and Joell; together, they have released three studio albums.
Virgin Records era
At age seventeen, Crooked I established an independent label called Muscle Records with professional football players Chucky Miller and Leonard Russell. Although recordings from this time remain unreleased, this venture led to his initial record deal in 1995 with Noo Trybe/Virgin Records.
He first gained recognition by contributing to compilations on Big C-Style's 19th Street Records, such as 19th Street LBC Compilation and Straight Outta Cali, and appeared on soundtracks like Ride and Caught Up. During this period, he collaborated with artists including Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Eastsidaz, and The Luniz. Virgin Records handled distribution for 19th Street Records but later shut down its urban division, resulting in the termination of Crooked I's contract.
Big C-Style and Daz Dillinger invited Crooked I to become co-owner and the inaugural artist of DPG Records, initially intended as a sub-label under Death Row Records. However, after Daz left Death Row to independently operate DPG, Crooked I explored alternative opportunities.
Discussions also took place with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment; however, Dre focused on releasing Chronic 2001 and Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP before signing new West Coast talent. Other major labels expressed interest but awaited Dre’s album releases prior to advancing. During this timeframe, Crooked I renegotiated his initial agreement with DPG/Death Row into a solo artist contract exclusively with Death Row.
Death Row's second dynasty
While signed to Death Row, Crooked I appeared on compilations such as Dysfunktional Family and contributed to albums like Ja Rule's The Last Temptation and 2Pac's Nu-Mixx Klazzics. He recorded two albums—Untouchable and Say Hi To The Bad Guy—which remained unreleased due to complications with the label. Nevertheless, he issued a mixtape titled Westcoasanostra Vol. 1 in Spring 2003 in collaboration with Death Row producer Darren Vegas.
Start of a new Dynasty, and Digital Innovation
By 2004, with his album still unreleased and Suge Knight entangled in ongoing legal troubles, Crooked I’s contract with Death Row expired in November 2003. Having departed the label earlier that year, he launched his own imprint named Dynasty Entertainment. Soon after, he secured a distribution deal with Treacherous Records/Universal; however, legal disputes initiated by Death Row compelled him to suspend work on his debut album—originally entitled Mama's Boy, intended as his second release under Death Row—and later retitled Mama's Boy Got a Loaded Gun.
During this era, Crooked I developed a substantial online community through the Dynasty Online Community hosted at westcoastdynasty.com, which attracted over 15,000 members within its first year. Demonstrating pioneering digital marketing strategies, he introduced Dynasty TV—the internet’s first artist-centric video streaming service featuring music videos, interviews, and concert footage—predating platforms such as YouTube. His online mixtape Young Boss Vol. 1 was downloaded more than 20,000 times directly from his website within an hour, causing server overloads. The mixtape received widespread acclaim within underground Hip-Hop circles and earned an "XL" rating from XXL Magazine.
Following resolution of legal matters, Crooked I resumed recording activities and began production of the documentary Life After Death Row. His online presence expanded alongside contributions to compilations like Sway & King Tech's Back 2 Basics and appearances on Treacherous Records labelmate K. Young’s debut album Learn How To Love. In 2005, his debut album was rebranded as Boss Music.
Hip-Hop Weekly period
Crooked I initiated the Hip-Hop Weekly concept online, delivering a fresh track every seven days over various hip-hop instrumentals. These releases were accessible through his official forum, website, and a dedicated profile on Imeem, which quickly became the platform's most viewed rap music page. He interacted closely with fans by responding to beat requests and giving shout-outs on his MySpace page. This series ran continuously from April 4, 2007, until April 3, 2008.
The momentum generated by Hip-Hop Weekly earned Crooked I a spot on the December 2007 cover of XXL magazine as part of their Freshmen 10. Additionally, Vibe magazine recognized him in August 2008 as an "Internet Gorilla," emphasizing his groundbreaking online promotional strategy.
On February 14, 2008, Crooked I collaborated with DJ Felli Fel and DJ Nik Bean to release St. Valentine's Day Bossacre, a mixtape featuring entirely new tracks with guest appearances from Royce da 5'9" and Roscoe Umali. Production credits included DJ Felli Fel, Rick Rock, Komplex, and MG. Ozone West awarded the mixtape a rating of 4 out of 5 slaps.
In 2008, Crooked I followed up with another mixtape and an EP: The Block Obama: Hood Politics and Block Obama II. Initially planned to be hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Strong, The Block Obama: Hood Politics was ultimately released untagged and made available for free online. The EP Block Obama II was launched digitally on the day of the 2008 Presidential election through iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Rhapsody, and other digital retailers. Physical copies were subsequently sold via CDBaby. This EP featured artists from Dynasty Entertainment such as Horse Shoe G.A.N.G., Sauce The Boss, Knoc-turn'al, with production from Jim Gittum, Komplex, and Rick Rock.
Slaughterhouse period
Joe Budden enlisted Crooked I, Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Nino Bless for the track "Slaughterhouse," which appeared on Budden’s digital release Halfway House. The positive reception to this collaboration led to the formation of the supergroup Slaughterhouse, excluding Nino Bless. Early in 2009 they released several songs that built anticipation for their self-titled album, which dropped on August 11, 2009 via E1 Music. The album featured production by The Alchemist, DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter, Streetrunner and included guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, K. Young, and The New Royales.
On February 27, 2009, Crooked I was reportedly involved in a shooting incident in Long Beach, California. Despite initial media confusion surrounding the event, he later confirmed he was unharmed but chose not to provide further details out of respect for street protocol.
Crooked I issued a solo digital EP titled Mr. Pig Face Weapon Waist on November 10, 2009. This project included contributions from Snoop Dogg, K. Young, M.O.P., Horseshoe G.A.N.G., as well as fellow Slaughterhouse members Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce da 5'9". Production was handled by Komplex, Scram Jones, Streetrunner, Frequency, and P. Silva.
While initially planning a full-length Mr. Pig Face Weapon Waist album for January 2010 release, Crooked I shifted focus toward the Million Dollar Story project slated for release later that year with production from DJ Khalil, The Alchemist, Quest and potential collaborations with DJ Premier.
On June 15, 2010 WIDEawake Entertainment released Hood Star, a compilation featuring Crooked I's early recordings from the Death Row era in the early 2000s alongside artists such as Juvenile, Too Short, Kurupt, Danny Boy, Ray J and Sisqo.
August 17, 2010 saw the release of Crooked I’s EP Planet C.O.B. Vol. 1, featuring production by Rick Rock and Komplex. The lead single from his official debut solo album Million Dollar Story, titled "Villain" featuring Sally Anthony debuted on December 1 of that year.
Slaughterhouse officially signed with Shady Records on January 12, 2011.
To build anticipation ahead of the album launch, Crooked I released the Million Dollar Story EP on March 21, 2011 via iTunes; it included two new tracks alongside previously released material.
The compilation Planet C.O.B. Vol. 2 was digitally released on July 12, 2011 and briefly offered on CD through Crooked I’s website. Unlike its predecessor which focused solely on Crooked I’s work, this volume showcased songs by C.O.B affiliates including Horseshoe G.A.N.G., Sauce Tha Boss and Coniyac. At the same time Crooked I launched an official clothing line online to promote the C.O.B brand.
On December 13, 2011 Crooked I planned to drop the digital EP In None We Trust - The Prelude, featuring artists such as Jay Rock, Glasses Malone, Mistah F.A.B., Horseshoe G.A.N.G., Coniyac and K. Young; its lead single "No Competition" was released earlier on November 22.
Under the moniker KXNG Crooked he released Sex, Money and Hip-Hop on December 16, 2014 featuring appearances by Slaughterhouse members along with others; production credits included J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Rick Rock among several producers. In May of the following year he appeared on four tracks from Jonathan Hay and Mike Smith's collaborative album When Music Worlds Collide.
In January 2016 Crooked I partnered with Lazarus for "Fearless," a politically charged single targeting Donald Trump. That year he also contributed to multiple tracks on both The Urban Hitchcock LP and Jonathan Hay’s Mountain Biking Through Louisville.
KXNG Crooked appeared on the opening track of his brother’s Horseshoe Gang album Anti-Trap Music, which was released April 29. In November he unveiled his album Good vs. Evil, followed by its sequel Good vs. Evil II: The Red Empire in December of the next year.
In April 2018 Crooked I announced his exit from Slaughterhouse to concentrate fully on his solo career.
Beginning in early 2019 he resumed issuing weekly hip-hop singles including "96 GS," "Halfway Me," "Pistol Grip," and "Once Upon A Time in the LBC." He also collaborated with Joell Ortiz on Cryptik Soul’s track "Revenge" from their album Killer's Blood.
Throughout that year Crooked I compiled these weekly freestyle releases into mixtapes under the title The Weeklys.
In January 2020 he appeared alongside former Slaughterhouse members Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9" on Eminem’s eleventh studio album Music to Be Murdered By (track "I Will") and also featured on Russ’s EP CHOMP (track "Stockholm Syndrome").
Discography
Solo studio albums
- Apex Predator (2013)
- Sex, Money and Hip-Hop (2014)
- Good vs. Evil (2016)
- Good vs. Evil II: The Red Empire (2017)
Albums in collaboration
- Slaughterhouse (with Slaughterhouse) (2009)
- Welcome to: Our House (with Slaughterhouse) (2012)
- Statik Kxng (with Statik Selektah) (2016)
- The Long Beach Crook Playlist (with Jonathan Hay) (2016)
- KXNGs Wear Gold (with Frost Gamble) (2018)
- Gravitas (with Bronze Nazareth) (2019)
- H.A.R.D. (with Joell Ortiz) (2020)
- Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse (with Joell Ortiz) (2022)
- Harbor City Season One (with Joell Ortiz) (2022)
- JFKLAX (with Joell Ortiz) (2023)
- Prosper (with Joell Ortiz) (2023)
- Tapestry (with Joell Ortiz) (2024)
Filmography
- 2004: Bank Brothers
- 2005: Slumber Party
- 2006: Life After Death Row
- 2009: Platinum Illusions
- 2016: One Shot