South Central Cartel: The Raw Voice of South Central Los Angeles

South Central Cartel (also known as S.C.C.) is an American West Coast hip hop and gangsta rap group from South Central Los Angeles, California. Formed in the early 1990s in the wake of N.W.A.’s breakthrough, they became one of the most authentic chroniclers of life in South Central during the height of the crack epidemic and gang wars. Known for their hard hitting production, unfiltered street narratives, and deep ties to the neighborhood, the group released a string of influential albums throughout the 1990s and remained active for decades. Core members have included Havoc (Havocc tha Mouthpiece), Prodeje (Big Prodeje), Havikk the Rhime Son, L.V., DJ Kaos, DJ Gripp, and later Young Prodeje.

Early Life and Environment

The members of South Central Cartel came of age in South Central Los Angeles in the 1970s and 1980s, a period when the area was ground zero for the crack epidemic, rising gang violence, and extreme poverty. South Central (later officially renamed South Los Angeles) was widely regarded as the gang capital of the world at the time, with Crips and Bloods sets controlling blocks and daily life shaped by survival, hustling, and constant tension with police.

Prodeje (Austin Patterson) has described growing up as the oldest boy in a large family of seven children raised by a single mother after his father was absent. He spent formative years on the West Side near 89th and Figueroa before moving to the East Side. Poverty was constant. He has spoken about selling drugs as young as nine years old. Havoc (Cary Calvin) came from a musical bloodline. His father was Robert “Squirrel” Lester, a founding member of the legendary soul group The Chi-Lites, but he still navigated the same streets, including time in jail and a halfway house upon release. L.V. was known in the neighborhood for singing on corners. Long before joining the group, L.V. survived a near fatal shooting in which he was hit nine times. He has recounted that as he lay on the ground his body was still smoking. The crew’s original members were heavily tied to the 87 Gangsta Crips and Hoover area sets.

These experiences of watching older homies, dealing with the daily reality of bangin’ and slingin’, and trying to stay alive became the foundation of their music. They were not outsiders describing the streets. They were products of them.

Formation and Beginnings (Late 1980s to 1992)

The group began forming in the late 1980s as neighborhood friends and aspiring artists started making music together. Prodeje and DJ Kaos had already been experimenting with a drum machine in Kaos’s room. Havoc, known for his gift of gab (his father had been a smooth talker in The Chi-Lites), met Prodeje after spotting him writing rhymes on a porch. Havoc’s ability to talk and network proved crucial in getting the group opportunities. Havikk the Rhime Son (Prodeje’s cousin) and others were brought in. L.V. was recruited after DJ Kaos heard him singing on a street corner and invited him to join.

They initially operated under different names and did underground work before solidifying as South Central Cartel. Their first official album, South Central Madness, dropped in early 1992 on Pump Records / G.W.K. Records (distributed by Quality). The album captured the raw chaos of the neighborhood with tracks reflecting jail, retaliation, hustling, and street survival. It reached number 51 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and sold strongly through word of mouth and street promotion, establishing them as a serious force in the post N.W.A. wave of West Coast gangsta rap alongside groups like Compton’s Most Wanted and Above the Law.

Breakthrough and Peak Years (1994 to 1997)

The group’s commercial and cultural peak came with ’N Gatz We Truss in 1994. The album peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Standout tracks such as “Gang Stories” (featuring Mr. 3-2 and Big Mike), “Servin’ Em Heat,” and others delivered detailed, unflinching accounts of daily gang life, violence, and the code of the streets. The project generated significant attention in the underground and major label circles.

Around this same period the group experienced real street violence connected to their rising profile. During the filming of the video for “G’s On The Move” (sometimes referred to as Cheese on the Move), a shootout broke out on set. Five people were shot and one person was killed.

In 1995 the group expanded their reach with Murder Squad Nationwide (full title: S.C.C. Presents Murder Squad Nationwide). Released on G.W.K. Records and distributed by Def Jam, this project functioned as a large scale posse album bringing together South Central Cartel with a wide range of West Coast and national artists. Guests included Ice-T, Spice 1, Treach, Ant Banks, Big Mike, 187 Fac, Boss, Sh’Killa, Gripsta, and others. The album peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200, number 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number 1 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Key tracks included “It’s an S.C.C. Thang” (featuring The Chi-Lites), “No Peace,” “Gun Smoke,” “Knock On Wood,” and “Pass Da Dank.” Murder Squad Nationwide remains one of the strongest documents of mid 1990s West Coast collaboration and cemented the group’s status as a central force in the scene.

It was also during these peak years that South Central Cartel had a well known run-in with Mobb Deep over the shared names Havoc and Prodeje/Prodigy. The two groups crossed paths at the Jack the Rapper convention in Atlanta. The young Mobb Deep members, shirtless and carrying Hennessy, approached them accusing South Central Cartel of stealing their names. The situation nearly turned physical. Guru of Gang Starr and Premier stepped in to calm things down. The confrontation was eventually squashed and the artists became cool. Havoc the Mouthpiece has stated that they were never “shook” because they came from South Central.

Def Jam then signed the group fully. In 1997 they released All Day Everyday. While it did not match the chart peak of ’N Gatz We Truss (reaching number 178 on the Billboard 200 and number 35 on the R&B chart), it remains one of their most polished and well regarded projects. During this same period, Havoc and Prodeje also released material as a duo, including Livin’ in a Crime Wave (1993) and Kickin’ Game (1994) on Pump/G.W.K., further expanding their catalog and cult following.

Later Career and Longevity

After the Def Jam period, South Central Cartel continued independently, releasing a steady stream of albums including Concrete Jungle Vol. 1 (1999), Gangsta Conversation (2001), We Have the Right to Remain Violent (2002), South Central Hella (2003), Random Violence (2004), Westurrection (2005), Tha Hoodz In Us (2006), and later projects. They maintained a loyal underground following and remained active on the West Coast circuit.

Internal lineup changes and occasional tensions occurred over the years (including periods of reduced involvement from certain members), but core figures like Prodeje (often performing as Big Prodeje), Havikk, L.V., and others kept the Cartel name alive. Young Prodeje (also known as Cali Pitts) became a more prominent member starting in the mid 1990s. The group has continued performing and releasing music into the 2020s, with recent activity including new projects and interviews reflecting on their legacy.

L.V. achieved mainstream recognition outside the group as the featured vocalist on Coolio’s massive hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” while Havoc and Prodeje’s dual work helped solidify their individual reputations within hardcore West Coast circles.

Style and Legacy

South Central Cartel’s sound is classic early to mid 1990s West Coast gangsta rap with strong G funk undertones: heavy bass, funk influenced production, and dense, narrative driven lyrics delivered with urgency and authenticity. Their music focused on the day to day realities of South Central (gang politics, police pressure, hustling, loss, and the cycle of violence) without heavy commercialization or cartoonish exaggeration. They stood shoulder to shoulder with N.W.A., Compton’s Most Wanted, Above the Law, and Da Lench Mob as part of the foundational wave of Los Angeles street rap.

Though they never reached the global superstardom of some of their peers, South Central Cartel earned deep respect for staying true to their roots and for the sheer volume and consistency of their catalog. Their influence is felt among fans of pure, unfiltered West Coast gangsta rap, and their early albums remain essential listening for anyone studying the sound of South Central in the 1990s. Members have also spoken about community involvement and the importance of giving back to the neighborhoods that shaped them.

Selected Discography

Studio albums
South Central Madness (1992)
’N Gatz We Truss (1994)
Murder Squad Nationwide (1995)
All Day Everyday (1997)

Related / duo projects
Havoc & Prodeje – Livin’ in a Crime Wave (1993)
Havoc & Prodeje – Kickin’ Game (1994)
Havoc & Prodeje – Truez Neva Stop (1997)

Notable singles and tracks
“U Gotta Deal Wit Dis”
“Pops Was a Rolla”
“Ya Getz Clowned”
“Gang Stories”
“Servin’ Em Heat”
“It’s an S.C.C. Thang” (feat. The Chi-Lites)
“No Peace”
“All Day Everyday”

South Central Cartel remains one of the most genuine documents of South Central Los Angeles street life in the golden era of West Coast hip hop: raw, consistent, and deeply rooted in the blocks that raised them.