Mack 10: The Story of the Inglewood Legend

Mack 10, born Dedrick D’Mon Rolison on August 9, 1971, in Inglewood, California, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. He emerged as one of the prominent voices of West Coast hip hop during the 1990s, particularly through his solo career, his collaborations with Ice Cube and WC, and his role in the group Westside Connection.

Early Life in Inglewood

Mack 10 grew up in Inglewood, California, during a particularly turbulent period in the city’s history. In a 2020 interview with VladTV, he recalled growing up on Queen Street during the 1980s, when the crack epidemic and gang activity were highly visible in his neighborhood.

He described the environment as extremely intense, recalling streets filled with cars and a strong presence of the Bloods. Mack 10 also made an important distinction about his own experience: he said he was not pressured to join a gang and explained that, in his environment, someone could become involved in certain situations without necessarily being formally affiliated with a gang. He also recalled losing friends while he was still young.

These experiences later became important influences on the street oriented perspective that characterized much of his music.

Early Rap Career and Eazy E

Before becoming known as Mack 10, Rolison was involved with a group called First Amendment. He was developing his writing skills and gradually becoming known in his neighborhood for his ability as a rapper and songwriter.

Mack 10 has said that he met Eazy E before he met Ice Cube. According to his own account, a female friend introduced him to Eazy E over the telephone as Mack 10 was beginning to gain attention for his writing. He later recalled writing for Eazy E and receiving payment for some of that work. Eazy would pay him cash by pulling the money straight out of his sock.

This should not be interpreted to mean that Eazy E was an inexperienced rapper at the time. Eazy E was already an established figure in Los Angeles hip hop. What Mack 10 specifically recalled was that he encountered Eazy E before Ice Cube and had an early connection with him through songwriting.

Ice Cube and His First Major Appearances

Mack 10’s professional relationship with Ice Cube became one of the defining elements of his career.

He appeared with Ice Cube on “What Can I Do? (Remix)”, associated with Ice Cube’s Bootlegs & B-Sides project in 1994. The collaboration was an early important appearance alongside an already established West Coast artist.

In 1995, Mack 10 appeared on the soundtrack to the film Friday with “Take a Hit.” The same year, he released his self titled debut album Mack 10 through Priority Records.

The album was commercially successful, reaching No. 33 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. It included tracks such as “Foe Life” and “On Them Thangs,” helping establish Mack 10 as an important new voice in West Coast rap. The album was eventually certified Gold by the RIAA.

Another important track on the album was “Westside Slaughterhouse,” featuring Ice Cube and WC. The song would become particularly significant because of its connection to the developing conflict between Ice Cube and Common.

The Common Controversy

The conflict began in the mid 1990s around Common’s song “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, released in 1994.

Ice Cube and members of the West Coast rap community interpreted elements of the song as criticism of the direction of West Coast and gangsta rap. Ice Cube responded on “Westside Slaughterhouse,” recorded with Mack 10 and WC.

Common subsequently responded with “The Bitch in Yoo” in 1996.

During this period there was a real run in with Common in Los Angeles. Fat Joe was present and stepped in to calm the situation. Fat Joe and Common have both described it as Fat Joe helping prevent things from getting worse.

The precise interpretation of Common’s original song has been debated. It is therefore more accurate to describe the West Coast interpretation as part of the dispute rather than stating as an established fact that Common had deliberately targeted Ice Cube or the entire West Coast scene.

Westside Connection

In 1996, Mack 10, Ice Cube, and WC officially formed Westside Connection.

The trio quickly became one of the most recognizable groups associated with 1990s West Coast hip hop. Their debut album Bow Down was released in 1996 and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It was later certified Platinum in the United States.

The album included the title track “Bow Down,” as well as songs such as “Gangstas Make the World Go Round” and “The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer.”

Westside Connection became an important representation of the Los Angeles and West Coast rap scene during the second half of the 1990s.

Based on a True Story

Mack 10 continued his solo career with Based on a True Story, released in 1997.

The album became his highest charting solo studio album, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

It featured “Backyard Boogie,” one of Mack 10’s best known songs. The single reached No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

The album was another commercial success and further established Mack 10 as a major solo artist during the late 1990s.

Hoo Bangin’ Records

Mack 10 also began expanding his activities beyond performing.

He founded Hoo Bangin’ Records in 1996, creating a label through which he could develop and release music connected to his West Coast circle. The label operated through Priority Records during part of its original run and became closely associated with Mack 10’s artistic identity.

The label’s creation marked an important step in his development as both an artist and a businessman.

The Recipe

In 1998, Mack 10 released his third solo album The Recipe.

The album reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and was certified Gold.

The project featured a large number of high profile collaborations, including appearances from artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Master P, MC Eiht, Foxy Brown, Mystikal, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

By this point, Mack 10 had established himself not only as a solo artist but also as a central figure within the West Coast independent rap scene.

The Cypress Hill Conflict

Mack 10 also became involved in the dispute between Ice Cube and Cypress Hill.

The conflict involved accusations surrounding material associated with the Friday soundtrack and disagreements involving members of the two camps.

In his own account, Mack 10 said that he became heavily involved in the dispute in support of Ice Cube. He later acknowledged that, at the time, he did not fully understand what the original disagreement was about.

The dispute eventually cooled, and Mack 10 and B Real of Cypress Hill later spoke positively about their relationship.

Thicker Than Water

In 1999, Mack 10 expanded his career into film with Thicker Than Water, in which he played the character DJ.

The movie also featured several figures from hip hop, including Ice Cube, Fat Joe, MC Eiht, Big Pun, B Real, and WC.

Mack 10 was also credited as an executive producer of the film’s soundtrack, which was released by Hoo Bangin’/Priority in October 1999.

It is more accurate to describe Mack 10 as an actor and participant in the film’s production rather than simply claiming that he personally financed the movie.

The Paper Route and Cash Money Records

Mack 10 released The Paper Route in 2000.

The album reached No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

In 2001, Mack 10 signed with Cash Money Records, marking a significant change in his career. He released Bang or Ball on December 4, 2001.

The album reached No. 48 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

It featured collaborations with artists including Ice Cube, WC, Lil Wayne, B.G., Scarface, E 40, Xzibit, and the Big Tymers.

Mack 10 Presents Da Hood and Later Work

In 2002, Mack 10 released Mack 10 Presents Da Hood, a project that also served to showcase artists connected to Hoo Bangin’ Records.

In 2003, he released Ghetto, Gutter & Gangsta.

That same year, Westside Connection returned with their second and final studio album Terrorist Threats.

The album reached No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and included the single “Gangsta Nation,” featuring Nate Dogg.

Terrorist Threats would become the final major studio album released by Westside Connection.

The Breakup with Ice Cube

Westside Connection eventually ceased operating as a group in the mid 2000s, while the relationship between Mack 10 and Ice Cube also deteriorated.

Mack 10 has publicly explained that the dispute involved a situation concerning Ice Cube’s brother in law and a disagreement that Mack 10 felt should have been resolved privately.

According to Mack 10’s own account, he had brought the issue to Ice Cube several times (four or five times) before the situation escalated, trying to handle it diplomatically. He described having a verbal argument and said that he believed the disagreement was not serious enough to justify the end of Westside Connection.

It is important not to turn Mack 10’s version into an uncontested account of what happened. The two artists have provided different perspectives on the breakdown of their relationship.

In a 2023 interview, Mack 10 said that he had not spoken with Ice Cube in approximately 20 years, although he did not completely rule out the possibility of a future Westside Connection reunion under the right circumstances.

Marriage to T Boz

Mack 10 married Tionne “T Boz” Watkins, a member of the R&B group TLC, in 2000.

The couple had one daughter, Chase Anela Rolison, born in the same year.

Their marriage ended in divorce in 2004.

Mack 10 has discussed both the relationship and the divorce publicly in interviews.

Business Activities

As his music career evolved, Mack 10 increasingly focused on business ventures outside recording.

In a 2020 interview with VladTV, he discussed his involvement in real estate and described building what he characterized as a substantial real estate portfolio. He also spoke about developing a business related to concerts and live events.

Because these statements concern his own business activities, they are best presented as Mack 10’s description of his post rap business career rather than as independently verified measurements of his wealth or business holdings.

Legacy

Mack 10 remains closely associated with the rise of 1990s West Coast hip hop.

His most influential period commercially came during the second half of the 1990s, when he released a series of successful projects including Mack 10, Based on a True Story, and The Recipe, while simultaneously becoming one third of Westside Connection alongside Ice Cube and WC.

His career also reflects several different sides of the West Coast rap industry: he was a recording artist, a member of a major rap group, a label founder, a collaborator with artists from different regions, an actor, and an entrepreneur.

Rather than being defined solely by his association with Ice Cube and Westside Connection, Mack 10 developed a substantial solo catalog and built Hoo Bangin’ Records into an important part of his career.