Too $hort, originally known as Todd Shaw, emerged as one of the pioneering West Coast rap icons, making his mark with independent releases before his major-label breakthrough in 1988 with the acclaimed Born to Mack album, which earned RIAA-certified gold status. His early work foreshadowed the gangsta rap movement, focusing on explicit narratives of sexual prowess and street life, occasionally intertwining social commentary. Renowned for collaborations with hip-hop legends like 2Pac, the Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z, who drew inspiration from his raw lyricism and minimalistic beats, Too $hort has maintained an influential presence in the genre over the years. Born on April 28, 1966, in South Central Los Angeles, he relocated to Oakland in the early ’80s, where he kickstarted his music career by selling tapes from his car. Signing with the local label 75 Girls in 1985, he released his debut album ‘Don’t Stop Rappin”, followed by self-establishment of Dangerous Music alongside friend Freddy B. The groundbreaking ‘Born to Mack’ dropped in 1987, reaching over 50,000 copies through grassroots promotion before catching the attention of Jive Records in New York, leading to a national re-release and subsequent gold certification.
As Too $hort’s underground success escalated, mainstream recognition followed suit, boosted by chart-topping tracks like ‘The Ghetto’ from the 1990 album ‘$hort Dog’s in the House’, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop chart. Subsequent releases such as ‘Shorty the Pimp’ (1992) and ‘Get in Where You Fit In’ (1993) achieved platinum sales, solidifying his position in the industry. Despite facing competition from a saturated West Coast rap scene by the mid-’90s, Too $hort continued his streak with hits like ‘Gettin’ It (Album Number Ten)’, marking his sixth platinum album. Although briefly retiring in late 1996, he made a triumphant comeback with ‘Can’t Stay Away’ in 1999, debuting in the Top Ten and earning gold status. Maintaining his momentum, he released a series of albums throughout the 2000s, culminating in the chart-topping ‘Blow the Whistle’ in 2006, produced by Lil Jon. Transitioning back to independence post-‘Get Off the Stage’ (2007), Too $hort remained a prolific artist in the 2010s, dropping albums such as ‘Still Blowin”, ‘No Trespassing’, ‘The Sex Tape Playlist’, and ‘The Pimp Tape’ on his imprint, Dangerous Music. In 2019, he unveiled his 21st studio album, ‘The Vault’, and continued the streak by teaming up with E-40 for the collaborative mixtape ‘Ain’t Gone Do It/Terms and Conditions’ in 2020, featuring a star-studded lineup of guest artists including Larry June, Freddie Gibbs, G-Eazy, Guapdad 4000, and more, cementing his enduring legacy in the Bay Area hip-hop scene.