Oakland, CA

March 2, 1968

San Francisco-based Rappin' 4-Tay (aka Anthony Forté) was fresh out of high school when he debuted on record on Too Short's "Don't Fight the Feelin'" (from Life Is...Too Short). A conviction for selling marijuana landed him in prison for ten months, but he returned in 1991, forming Rag Top Records with friends Franky J and Fly. In January 1992, they released his debut, Rappin' 4-Tay Is Back!!!. His second album, Don't Fight the Feelin', made him a local favorite, due to his hardcore style, which didn't romanticize the ghetto. After 1995's I'll Be Around, 4-Tay returned a year later with the celebratory Off Parole. 4 tha Hard Way followed in 1997, and he resurfaced two years later with Introduction to Mackin'. ~ John Bush