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Boo Ya Tribe
Biography
Originally composed of six Samoan-descended brothers from Los Angeles, the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. offered a distinctly authentic brand of gangsta rap. Sons of a Baptist minister, the brothers Devoux -- lead rapper Paul aka Ganxsta Ridd, bandleader Ted aka the Godfather, Donald aka Don L, Roscoe aka Rosco, Danny aka O.M.B., and David aka E.K.A. -- grew up in a rough neighborhood, and were drawn into gang culture as a survival tactic, joining up with the Mob Piru Bloods. They all served prison sentences at one time or another on drug and/or weapons charges, but it wasn't until brother Robert Devoux was killed in a shooting that they determined to leave the lifestyle. Quitting cold turkey, all six brothers left Los Angeles and moved to Japan to live with their cousin, a sumo wrestler. There they formed a rap and dance troupe dubbed the Blue City Crew, and performed regularly to enthusiastic response from Japanese audiences.

Encouraged by their success, they returned to Los Angeles in 1988 and began working on original material, issuing a 12" single called "Coming Hard to America" later that year. They re-christened themselves the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., with the first part of their name taken from a slang term that mimicked the sound of a shotgun (prior to becoming a more general shout of exuberance); the last part, meanwhile, stood for "Too Rough International Boo-Yaa Empire.
Selected Discography