kid frost

Biography

Arturo R. Molina Jr., born May 31, 1964, in Windsor, California, was raised by his grandmother Lola Molina there before moving with his mother to Los Angeles; he occasionally lived on military bases in Guam and Germany due to family ties and is of Mexican descent. He began his music career in 1982 as Kid Frost, adopting the name as a tribute to his rival Ice-T, with whom he often battled; his early DJs were Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, and he became a breakdancer for Uncle Jamm's Army. In the mid-1980s, he released pre-gangsta 12" singles on Electrobeat and Baja Records, transitioning to Virgin Records in the late 1980s.[1][2][3]

Frost's breakthrough came with his 1990 debut album Hispanic Causing Panic, credited as the first Chicano rap and Latin hip-hop album, featuring the hit single 'La Raza,' which reached #6 on Billboard's Rap Songs chart and became an East L.A. anthem blending Spanglish, low-rider culture, and barrio pride. He formed the rap supergroup Latin Alliance, releasing their self-titled album in 1991, followed by solo albums like East Side Story (1992). Dropping 'Kid' in 1995, he signed with Ruthless Records (Eazy-E's label), releasing Smile Now, Die Later (1995) and When Hell.A. Freezes Over (1997), then continued with independent labels, producing albums like Welcome to Frost Angeles (2004, mostly with son Scoop DeVille) and others into the 2010s.[1][3][4]

Known for West Coast hip-hop, G-funk, gangster rap, Latin hip-hop, and Mexican hip-hop, Frost's style emphasized Chicano identity and East L.A. elements, paving the way for Latin rappers. He charted on the Billboard 200 multiple times, appeared in Snoop Dogg's 'Vato' video, collaborated widely, became vice president of Goldmark Industries' Music Division in 2006, and announced a gallbladder cancer diagnosis in 2016. Father to producer Scoop DeVille, his legacy endures as a pioneer of Chicano rap.[1][3][5]

Fun Facts

• Credited with releasing the first Chicano rap and Latin hip-hop album, Hispanic Causing Panic (1990), which brought mainstream attention to West Coast Latin rappers.[1]
• Featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with 'La Raza,' one of the first successful Latin hip-hop songs to reach #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]
• Made a cameo appearance in Snoop Dogg's 'Vato' music video and was named vice president of Goldmark Industries' Music Division in 2006.[1]
• Originally a breakdancer for the funk collective Uncle Jamm's Army in the early 1980s.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ice-T - rival whom he tributed by adopting the name Kid Frost and often battled in the music industry (early career inspiration) [1982 onward]
• Dr. Dre - early DJ (initial performances) [early 1980s]
• DJ Yella - early DJ (initial performances) [early 1980s]

Key Collaborators

• Scoop DeVille - son and frequent producer/co-producer (Welcome to Frost Angeles (2004), various tracks) [2000s]
• Above The Law - guest rappers (Smile Now, Die Later (1995)) [1995]
• A.L.T. - guest rapper (Smile Now, Die Later (1995), East Side Story (1992)) [1992-1995]
• Kurupt - guest rapper (This Was Then This Is Now Vol. I (1999)) [1999]
• Baby Bash - frequent guest rapper (This Was Then This Is Now Vol. I (1999), Till The Wheels Fall Off (2006)) [1999-2006]
• Jay Tee - frequent guest rapper (This Was Then This Is Now Vol. I (1999), Welcome to Frost Angeles (2004)) [1999-2004]

Artists Influenced

• Scoop DeVille - son who became a record producer, inheriting musical talents (production on Welcome to Frost Angeles (2004)) [2000s]
• Latin Alliance members - formed and led the supergroup, influencing Latin rap collective (Latin Alliance (1991)) [1991]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia