The 213 is a hip hop supergroup from Long Beach, California, which began the careers of Nate Dogg, Warren G (stepbrother of superstar producer Dr. Dre), and Snoop Dogg (Nate Dogg's cousin); in the early stages Nate's cousin Lil' 1/2 Dead was also part of the group. At formation, Warren G generally took up the production duties with Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg primarily serving as MCs. The band name comes from the 213 area code, which had been the area code for Long Beach, California but is now the area code for downtown Los Angeles. Their first song was called "Long Beach Is A Muthafucka" a 14 second long snippet of the song was leaked on the internet.
Utilizing Warren G's connections, a tape made its way to Dr. Dre who was especially impressed by Snoop Dogg's style and delivery, leading to Snoop's breakthrough with an appearance on Dre's The Chronic, launching his rap career and simultaneously bringing West Coast rap to fame.
The members of the 213s' careers skyrocketed before they could release an album together, but they went on to collectively sell more than 25 million albums as solo artists.
The first song ever to refer to the band by mentioning the word "213" is Warren G and Nate Dogg's Regulate from the Above the Rim soundtrack, which peaked #2 on the Billboard charts in 1994, being the first 213 affiliated single.
In 2000, they were featured as 213 in the remix of Tamia's chart breaking hit Can't go for that in collaboration with DJ-Producer Missy Elliott.
In 2004, they reunited to release the album The Hard Way, which reached #4 in the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart. It featured the singles, "Groupie Luv" and "So Fly".
In 2005, they appeared in Snoop Dogg's music video Ups & Downs.
Discography
Albums
Singles
Songs where 213 members contributed together as solo artists
- 1992 - "Deeez Nuuuts" : The Chronic by Dr. Dre
- 1993 - "Ain't no Fun" : Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
- 1996 - "Groupie" : Tha Doggfather by Snoop Dogg
- 1998 - "Friends" : G Funk Classics vol.2. by Nate Dogg
- 1999 - "Don't Tell" : No Limit Top Dogg by Snoop Dogg
- 1999 - "Game Don't Wait" : I Want it all by Warren G
- 1999 - "Neva Gonna Give it up" : Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha by Kurupt
- 2001 - "Yo' Sassy Ways" : The Return of the Regulator by Warren G (as 213)
- 2002 - "From Long Beach 2 Brick City" : Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$ by Snoop Dogg
- 2003 - "Family Reunion" : DPG - The Unreleased Collection by DPG (Japan only)
- 2005 - "PYT" : In the Mid-Nite Hour by Warren G
- 2005 - "Rollin Down The Highway" : Welcome 2 tha chuuch mixtape IX. by Snoop Dogg
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