Proper Dos

Formed in California near the start of the 1990s, the street-style outfit Proper Dos brought together rapper and lyricist Frank Villareal, producer Ernie Gonzalez, mastering engineer “Big Bass” Brian, and multi-instrumentalist Stuart Wylen, whose contributions ranged across bass, guitar, conga, and keyboards. Additional recordings drew support from guests that included Big Shady, Lil Rob, Point Blank, Royal T, Knightowl, and several others.

The group completed its first album, Mexican Power, for Rhino Records in 1992; the set blended hip-hop and Latin rap on selections such as “One Summer Night,” “Life of a Gangster,” “No Turning Back,” and “Hard Time.” After issuing a series of singles, Proper Dos returned three years later with the Skanless Records release We’re at It Again. Three more years passed before Heat reached stores, followed a year afterward by Overdose, an album whose track list featured “Shake the Ground,” “We Run This Mutha,” and “Can You Rock Like This,” all delivered with explicit lyrics.

In 2000 the collective issued Brown Pride Riders, Vol. 2, a project realized in tandem with Lil Rob and Knightowl.