La Coka Nostra (hiphop Group)

La Coka Nostra (short LCN) is an American hip hop group composed of DJ Lethal, Danny Boy, Ill Bill and Slaine.

Biography

Founded in late 2004 with no intention to record an album, La Coka Nostra was more a loose collective of artists connected through Danny Boy than a group. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy took to working in video production and fashion as well as mentoring other artists. He met Slaine in Boston and, impressed with his writing, brought him to L.A. to record some tracks. Eventually it turned into more of a group effort including the former members of House of Pain and Ill Bill, as well as associates from Psycho Realm, Special Teamz and others.HHDX Interview
HipHopDX Interview with Danny Boy It was not until early 2006 that an actual line up solidified. Plans to release an album were first voiced later the same year.Urb Magazine Interview
, Urb Magazine Interview with Everlast.

In late 2008, the group signed to Suburban Noize Records and released the long delayed debut album ''A Brand You Can Trust'' on July 14, 2009. The album took so long to complete due to Danny Boy's refusal to have the members collaborate via e-mail; instead, he would gather everyone at the studio. This took time due to the recording of Ill Bill and Everlast's solo albums as well as various tours and other commitments. ''A Brand You Can Trust'' features fifteen tracks and guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Sick Jacken, B-Real, Sen Dog, Immortal Technique, Big Left and Q-Unique. Though similar stylistically to the group's prior online releases, it features songs grounded more in reality. Subjects touched upon include politics, death, drug addiction, raising a child and terrorism. ''AllMusic'' gave four out of five stars. Andrew Kameka of ''HipHopDX'' wrote that "the album is a mostly solid effort and exactly what someone would expect from a supergroup of like-minded members known for high-energy music". Adam Kennedy of the ''BBC'' while praising some the moments of the album said "it’s a tantalising parting taste of potential capabilities, yet until they improve a customer satisfaction hit rate that barely troubles one in three tunes here". Steve Juon of ''RapReviews'' gave it a seven out of ten. ''Sputnikmusic'' described it as "a disjointed effort, but still pretty decent in and of itself and gave it three point five out of five. Thomas Quinlan of ''Exclaim!'' said "La Coka Nostra are an interesting collection of collaborators that live up to the hype".

On March 2, 2012, it was announced that Everlast would be leaving La Coka Nostra due to his daughter's medical issues.

That same year, La Coka Nostra released their second album, ''Masters of the Dark Arts''. It reached 176 on ''Billboard'' Top Current Albums, 40 on Independent Albums, and 31 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Adam Fleischer of '' XXL'' magazine noted that "La Coka Nostra remain decidedly true to their core with their new album" and "that they are indeed masters of the dark arts". ''HipHopDX'' gave the album a positive review and noted that the album was a "sinister, happily violent detour from the pop-centric". Peter Marrack of ''Exclaim!'' also gave the album a positive review and noted that the album was "more or less a one-way ticket to hell". Nathan G. O'Brien of ''Scene Point Blank'' gave it four out five star and said "with Master of the Dark Arts La Coka Nostra’s pluperfect union of bombastic boom-bap, record scratching, and realism-based hardcore rhyming".

In 2016, La Coka Nostra released ''To Thine Own Self Be True''. The album reached 38 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Steve Juon of ''RapReviews'' gave eight point five out of ten and wrote "for a blissful 45 minutes it's an uncut dose of that nostalgia straight through the ear canals to the dopamine centers of my brain".

Members

* Ill Bill ( Non Phixion MC; current Heavy Metal Kings member) (2006-present)
* Slaine (current Special Teamz MC) (2006-present)
* DJ Lethal (House of Pain, Limp Bizkit) (2006-present)
* Danny Boy (House of Pain hype man) (2006-present)

;Past members
* Everlast (House of Pain) (2006-2012)
* Big Left (2006-2007)

Discography

Albums

*2009: ''A Brand You Can Trust''
*2012: ''Masters of the Dark Arts''
*2016: ''To Thine Own Self Be True''
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*

Mixtapes and EPs

*2009: ''100% Pure Coka'' (digital EP)
*2009: ''The Height of Power''
*2009: ''The Audacity of Coke''
*2012: ''The Maple Leaf Massacre''

Appearances on other albums

*2006: "Fuck Tony Montana" ( D.J. Mek Remix) featuring Big Left
*2006: "Get Outta My Way" ( D.J. Mek Remix) featuring B-Real of Cypress Hill & Sick Jacken of Psycho Realm
*2006: "This Is War" featuring Big Left '' Ill Bill Is The Future Vol. 2''
*2006: "It's a Beautiful Thing" '' Ill Bill Is The Future Vol. 2''
*2007: "Where Hope Goes to Die" ''Black Metal''
*2007: "Soldiers of Fortune" (produced by Sicknature) ''Black Metal''
*2007: "Get Outta My Way" featuring Big Left ''Black Metal''
*2007: "Broken Pieces" featuring Jeru the Damaja ''Black Metal''
*2009: "Do It" (produced by DJ Solo) '' Soul Assassins: Intermission''
*2009: "Hey Young World" featuring Heltah Skeltah ''The Trojan Horse''
*2010: "Skull & Guns" featuring Slaine & Everlast '' DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill: Kill Devil Hills''
*2012: "Geometry of Business": Vinnie Paz God of the Serengeti
*2015: "The Hard Way" ''House of Slaine''

References

External links

La Coka Nostra
at MySpace

lacokanostra.com

Suburban Noize Records page

''A Brand You Can Trust'' album details
* https://www.facebook.com/lacokanostramusic/posts/10157940434003425

{{Authority control

American hip hop groups
Hip hop supergroups
Underground hip hop groups
Musical groups established in 2006
Hardcore hip hop groups