Twinz: The Long Beach Duo Behind Conversation

Twinz are an American West Coast hip hop duo from Long Beach, California, made up of identical twin brothers Deon “Trip Locc” Williams and Dewayne “Wayniac” Williams. Born on June 1, 1970, they came up in the Eastside of Long Beach during the rise of G funk and became closely tied to Warren G, Snoop Dogg, and Nate Dogg. Their only full studio album, Conversation, released in 1995 on G Funk Entertainment and Def Jam, remains a cult classic of the era.

Early Life and Environment

Deon and Dewayne Williams grew up in the Poly Apartments on the Eastside of Long Beach with their mother and sister. The neighborhood was surrounded by the same gang culture and street life that shaped much of Long Beach rap in the early 1990s, but the twins have always described themselves as more focused on chilling and living life than being deep in the violence. They have said gang activity was around them, they had family and friends involved, and they had been shot at, but that was not their path.

They went to school and played sports with Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G. Trip Locc started rapping in junior high, writing his first rhyme at age eleven about being a mack. His early influences included Run DMC, Rakim, and the 1970s oldies his mother used to play. Wayniac also rapped from a young age. While Trip Locc served three years in the Navy, Wayniac stayed in Long Beach, worked at a Greyhound station, and performed with another group at spots like The Roxy. When Trip Locc returned from the service, the brothers linked back up and committed to music together.

Beginnings with Warren G and Foesum

Before becoming Twinz, the brothers recorded with the local Long Beach crew Foesum. Their big break came through their lifelong connection to Warren G. They appeared on multiple tracks on Warren G’s landmark 1994 debut Regulate… G Funk Era, including “Recognize,” “Runnin’ Wit No Breaks,” and “So Many Ways.” Those features put them squarely inside the G funk movement at its commercial peak and led to a deal with Warren G’s G Funk Entertainment, distributed by Def Jam.

Conversation (1995)

Conversation was released on August 22, 1995. Warren G produced nearly the entire album (thirteen of the fourteen tracks), with Soopafly handling the remaining cut “4 Eyes 2 Heads.” The project mixed smooth G funk production, laid back twin vocals, and everyday Long Beach storytelling. The twins described the album as literal conversation rather than traditional rap, reflecting how they actually talked and lived day to day.

The album peaked at number 36 on the Billboard 200 and number 8 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Two singles were released: “Round & Round” (featuring Nanci Fletcher), which reached number 84 on the Hot 100 and number 20 on the Rap chart, and “Eastside LB” (featuring Tracey Nelson and Warren G). Other standout tracks included “Jump ta This,” “Good Times,” “Sorry I Kept You,” and “Pass It On” with Foesum. The twins performed “Round & Round” on Nickelodeon’s All That and on Soul Train, giving them rare crossover television exposure during the height of the G funk era.

Despite solid chart numbers and strong production, the album did not produce a massive crossover hit on the level of “Regulate,” and the duo’s time at Def Jam proved short lived.

Later Career

After Conversation, Twinz continued to appear on projects within the Long Beach and broader West Coast circle. They returned on Warren G’s 1997 album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder for the track “We Brings Heat.” In 2000 they appeared on Tha Eastsidaz’ debut album on the song “Dogghouse” (sometimes credited under the name Tha Loccs). They also made appearances with Foesum, Da 5 Footaz, and other local artists over the years.

In 2009, with help from Snoop Dogg, they released a digital EP titled Tha Loccs (presented as Snoop Dogg Presentz Tha Twinz – Tha Loccs). The project featured Lil’ ½ Dead and Snoop on several tracks but received limited promotion and attention.

Style and Legacy

Twinz specialized in smooth, conversational G funk. Their twin voices created a natural chemistry over Warren G’s signature bass lines, synths, and samples. Unlike the harder gangsta narratives that dominated parts of the West Coast scene, their music often carried a more reflective and nostalgic tone about Long Beach life, friendship, and trying to move forward while still representing home. Conversation is frequently cited by G funk fans as an overlooked gem of 1995, a year packed with major West Coast releases.

Though they never became household names on the level of their Long Beach peers, Twinz remain a respected part of the G funk family tree. Their story is closely tied to Warren G’s rise and the tight knit circle of artists who came out of Eastside Long Beach in the mid 1990s.

Selected Discography

Studio album
Conversation (1995)

EP
Tha Loccs (2009)

Notable singles
“Round & Round”
“Eastside LB”
“Jump ta This”

Key appearances
Warren G – Regulate… G Funk Era (1994)
Warren G – Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (1997)
Tha Eastsidaz – “Dogghouse” (2000)

Twinz left behind one of the purest and most cohesive G funk albums of the era, a project that still holds up as a snapshot of Long Beach life during the peak of the G Funk Era.