Funkdoobiest

Having trained under the guidance of Cypress Hill’s acclaimed producer DJ Muggs, Funkdoobiest cultivated a laid-back strain of Latin hip-hop that echoed the style of their instructors. The Los Angeles-based trio came together in 1989 when Puerto Rican MC Son Doobie, born Jason Vasquez, joined forces with Sioux MC Tomahawk Funk, born Tyrone Pachenco, and DJ Ralph M., born Ralph Medrano, who had earlier collaborated with Kid Frost. They soon joined the Soul Assassins collective alongside Cypress Hill and House of Pain, securing a recording contract with Epic in 1993.

DJ Muggs handled production duties on the group’s debut album, Which Doobie U B?, released later that same year; the project earned gold certification thanks to tracks such as “Bow Wow Wow,” “The Funkiest,” and “Freak Mode.” Building on their growing reputation as underground favorites, Funkdoobiest followed up in 1995 with Brothas Doobie, an effort that achieved more modest commercial results yet still yielded cult favorites “Rock On” and “Dedicated.” After that release, Tomahawk Funk stepped away to focus on raising his family.

Reassembling as a duo, the remaining members moved to the RCA imprint Buzz Tone and completed their third album, 1998’s The Troubleshooters, this time without Muggs at the controls. The updated approach blended soul elements with deeper Latin textures, producing the underground success “Papi Chulo.” By 2002, Son Doobie was said to be developing material for a solo project.