Formed in South Gate, California, in 1988 by DJ Muggs, Sen Dog, and B-Real (later joined by Eric Bobo), the group quickly became a pioneering force in West Coast hip hop with their self-titled debut album (1991) and its dark, sample-driven production. Their sophomore release, Black Sunday (1993), reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured the crossover hit “Insane in the Brain,” cementing their reputation for blending hard-hitting beats with socially conscious and pro-cannabis lyrics. Over the following decades, they released multiple gold and platinum records—including III: Temples of Boom and Skull & Bones—while influencing a generation of rappers with their fusion of Latin rhythms, rock elements, and street-wise storytelling. Still active today, they have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and remain celebrated for expanding the sounds and subjects of mainstream hip hop.