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News Articles on Roger Troutman tribute album
Roger Troutman's Final Recording On Tribute Album (15/5/2002)
The final recording from late R&B legend Roger Troutman is featured on the tribute album An Evening Of Still More Bounce: The Celebration released Tuesday (May 14) on Wolfpac Records.
The song "Throw It Up," produced by Tony G, features raps from Snoop Dogg and Tray Deee, and Troutman on the talkbox.
DJ Quik, who credits Troutman for helping West Coast rappers to establish a sound, spoke to LAUNCH about the impact Troutman has had on his career. "Roger taught me how to work that little toy, and it irks me when people call it a vocoder 'cause if he was here he's correct people, and let them know it's a talkbox. It's hard not to get emotional, man, talking about dude," he said. "You know. If you knew dude, then you'll know why this was so important, you know. The Battlecats, and the Alkaholiks, and Ras Kass, and Kurupt, and everybody. It's like, and Jayo Felony. It's like dude is kinda like the reason that we're here."
The album, An Evening Of Still More Bounce, additionally includes collaborations with Tha Alkaholiks, Xzibit, Daz Dillinger, Defari, Chico De Barge, James De Barge, Merciless Stylz, Dirty Rat, and J Wells. The video for the first single "Still More Bounce" features a guest appearances from George Clinton.
In April 1999, Troutman and his brother Larry were killed in an apparent murder/suicide. Troutman's surviving brother Lester is honored that the hip-hop community has recorded a tribute to his brother, including songs such as "Computer Love," "I Wanna Be Your Man," and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine."
"It's the greatest feeling in the world to have the artists come together and make a statement like this," Lester said via statement.
Wolfpac Records is a partnership between Alkaholiks member J Ro and Harlan "Wolf" Morgan.
Author: Billy Johnson Jr., Los Angeles
Stars Come Together For Tribute To Roger Troutman
By: Ian Wyght
Wed, Dec 26, 2001 03:46 PM
J-Ro of Tha Liks is looking to release a project dedicated to the late Roger Troutman. The project, which has been given the working title of "A Tribute To Roger", is currently in the works and will feature appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Tha Liks, Kurupt, DPG, Chico DeBarge and introduces Wolfpac Records (J-Ro's label) artists, Shae Fiol and Merciless Styles. Watch out for the LP to drop sometime next year. More news on this project as I receive it.
Tha Liks' J-Ro Tributing Roger Troutman With Snoop, Kurupt
'Just about every rapper on the West Coast' has contributed, J-Ro said.
by Shaheem Reid
Kurupt (Artemis Records)
Although Tha Liks are focused on duplicating their homie Xzibit's fan base expansion with the June 26 release of the X.O. Experience, they've already been developing new projects that will keep them busy at least through the end of the year.
The group's J-Ro is executive producing a tribute album to murdered funk pioneer Roger Troutman. Troutman, the leader of his family's band Zapp, has had endless influence on the hip-hop community — artists such as Heavy D, EPMD, Dr. Dre, Tupac and DJ Quik have all sampled his records for their songs. Troutman was shot to death in April of 1999 by his brother Larry in a murder/suicide (see "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide").
One of those deeply affected was J-Ro, who said he was inspired to start the compilation two days after he heard about the tragedy. He got on the phone to his peers, who also felt the loss. Ro said that "just about every rapper on the West Coast" has already contributed tracks, with Snoop Dogg and Kurupt among them. Ro also said Erick Sermon has reached out to him to be down with the project. The LP, tentatively tiled A Tribute to Roger, will feature the MCs doing their renditions of Troutman's songs. Ro wants to release it independently before the end of the year. Meanwhile, DJ E-Swift is spearheading a project that will bring together hip-hop producers, who, like himself, also rock the mic. "Everybody's down," said Swift, who's reached out to the likes of Pete Rock, Diamond and Prince Paul. "We're hoping to start on that real soon." E-Swift isn't sure whether the album will be a supergroup project or a compilation. He plans to put it out on his label, Street Soul Music.
Tash, the only member of the group who has dropped a solo project, has lately been moonlighting as the group's PR man. He dismissed the industry rumor that Tha Liks and their Likwit Crew clique member Xzibit have been having a jealousy-fueled beef. One person who has been fanning those flames of innuendo a bit is LL Cool J. On his new song "Put Your Hands Up" from the Violator the Album: V2.0 LP, LL raps "I split like Xzibit from Tha Liks." "Yeah, I heard that song," Tash said. "I don't know what he was smoking when he wrote that. X is still down. He's always going to be down. We're working on Tha Likwit Crew album right now. When people don't see you hangin' around a person you always been with, they try to start stuff."
This report is from MTV News.
Ice-T, Snoop Give Up the Funk
Hip-hoppers get together for Roger Troutman tribute album
When J-Ro of Tha Liks heard that Zapp frontman Roger Troutman had been killed in 1999 in a murder/suicide by his brother and band mate Larry Troutman, he planned to write a song in homage. A few phone calls later and J-Ro realized he had the beginnings of what became the tribute album Still More Bounce. Due out April 16th on J-Ro's own Wolf Pac imprint, the LP features high-profile pals like Snoop Dogg, B-Real, Ice-T, Xzibit, Kurupt and Chico DeBarge.
"He put the funk in me," says J-Ro of Troutman's impact. "Him along with James Brown, George Clinton. It's that funk element that I love in my own music. 'More Bounce to the Ounce' has been my favorite song since the first time I heard it. If you ask any kind of producer, it's almost impossible to duplicate the sound that he makes in that song. And he's pretty much an unrecognized artist, and, being from Tha Liks, I appreciate that."
In his role as executive producer, J-Ro picked a West Coast-leaning lineup, appropriate considering Troutman helped define the sound of West Coast hip-hop in the Nineties, even working with Tupac Shakur on "California Love."
Rather than tread the well-worn tribute album path and release an LP of all covers, Still More Bounce features two remakes ("I Wanna Be Your Man" and "Slow and Easy") and instead employs Troutman's trademark techniques such as handclaps and the talk box to write originals under his influence.
"The talk box is kind of difficult to play," says J-Ro. "It's a keyboard and there's a plastic tube that goes from the keyboard into your mouth, and you play the same thing that you're singing. He made it sound effortless."
The decision to go with mostly new songs stemmed in part from the unique style of Troutman's play. "All of his bass lines and grooves are really hard to duplicate," says J-Ro of his choice to let the album's myriad producers write new tracks. "I just said, 'Go ahead and do your own thing.' They were telling me stuff about Roger that I didn't know. I learned a lot about him."
Still More Bounce's partial tracklisting:
"Party Started," J Ro and Dazz
"I Wanna Be Your Man," Chico DeBarge featuring Shae Fiol
"Throw It Up," Snoop, Tray D, 4-Tay, Roger Troutman
"Let Me C' Ya," Lil Bo & Salim
"Still Mo' Bounce," Rass Kass, Kam, Tash, B-Real, Spice1
"Bad Days," Defari, Phil Da Agony, Merciless Stylz
"Slow & Easy," Mirror featuring Tasha Scott
"Sweat," J-Ro
"Crushed Grapes," J Wells, Merciless Stylz, K Boogs
"Just for You," Merciless Stylz and G Blacc
"Get On Down," Ice-T, Xzibit, Kurupt, Mac Mall
"Brokenhearted," Myeasha Meks and Wally Ali
COLIN DEVENISH
(January 3, 2002)
Kool Keith Mourns Loss Of Roger Troutman 04.30.1999
Some of Roger Troutman's last recorded work will turn up on Kool Keith's forthcoming album, "Black Elvis/Lost in Space," as the slain Zapp frontman appears on the track "Master of the Game."
As we previously reported (see "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide"), Troutman was fatally shot outside of a studio in Dayton, Ohio in the early hours of April 25. During a recent interview with the MTV Radio Network, Kool Keith talked about working with Troutman, a man Keith says he feels honored to have had a chance to work with.
"I'd rather not see anybody go out that way," Keith explained. "That's another original person gone. I mean, I get off to hear another [talkbox on a] record. Some people don't like it because they're doing what they think is funky. I feel that's a big loss. What can you say?"
Kool Keith's new record, "Black Elvis/Lost in Space," is due in stores on July 13, and the first single will be for the track "The Girls Don't Like the Job." Keith says he is also preparing to regroup with the other members of the Ultramagnetic MCs.
Roger Troutman Remembered By Dre, EPMD On "Tribute" 04.25.2000
Zapp frontman and talk box aficionado Roger Troutman will be remembered on a new album, "Tribute To Roger Troutman," featuring some of his best known hip-hop collaborations, including tracks with Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, EPMD, Blackstreet, and Donell Jones.
In addition to such talk box-laced cuts as "California Love," "You Gots To Chill," and "Booty Call," the "Tribute To Roger Troutman" record also includes songs from S.W.V., Jodeci, and H-Town, as well as three all-new tracks including "True Love" from Chantay Nelson and "Cali4yey" by TWDY with Ant Banks, Too Short, and Dolla Will.
"Players City," a new song from A.L.T. and JV, will be issued as the first single from the "Tribute" album, due in stores on May 23.
Troutman was gunned down by his brother and Zapp bandmate, Larry Troutman, outside of a studio in Dayton, Ohio last April (see "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide").
At the time of his death, it was estimated that his work for Zapp, the Ohio Players, and Parliament-Funkadelic had been sampled in over 500 different songs.
The tracks slated for inclusion on "Tribute To Roger Troutman:"
Tupac Shakur featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman - "California Love"
S.W.V. - "Weak (Bam Jams Jeep Mix)"
Jodeci - "What About Us"
Ronnie Hudson - "West Coast Poplock"
Paperboy - "Ditty"
Mokenstef - "He's Mine"
H-Town - "Knockin' Da Boots"
MC Breed - "Ain't No Future In Yo' Frontin'"
EPMD - "You Gots To Chill"
Blackstreet - "Booty Call"
Donell Jones - "In The Hood (Remix)"
Chantay Nelson - "True Love"
TWDY with Ant Banks, Too Short, and Dolla Will - "Cali4yey"
A.L.T. and JV - "Players City"
By David Basham
Snoop, Xzibit, B-Real, Ice-T To Show Up On Roger Troutman Tribute
01.02.2002
It took two years, but Tha Liks' J-Ro finally learned how to say "Enough is enough." Ro, who's spearheading the West Coast rapper-heavy tribute to late funk legend Roger Troutman (see "Tha Liks' J-Ro Tributing Roger Troutman With Snoop, Kurupt"), Still More Bounce, said a couple of months ago he followed a self imposed cut-off deadline for adding songs to the LP, which is now slated to drop on his Wolfpac label April 16.
"It's done. Right now we're in the mastering stage, we been mixing all weekend," Ro said Wednesday (January 2) from his Los Angeles office. "Right after Roger died I was thinking of doing a song and getting rappers out here to get on it and give it to the radio. So many people started hearing about it and wanted to get involved, I was like 'We should make a whole album.' The whole process took a while because we'll be thinking we're done and more people would pop up, 'Hey I wanna get on this album.' "
"Roger's music is a part of the backbone of hip-hop, along with James Brown and George Clinton, so I didn't have to think twice about being part of this tribute album," Ice-T said in a statement released to the press. He performs on "Get On Down" along with Kurupt, Mac Mall and Xzibit.
"Here in the West it's kinda cliqued up, certain people only work with certain people," Ro said. "I wanted to mix that up a little bit. Put people you wouldn't think would be on the same track together, put them on the same song, to kind of freak people out."
Other combo punches include Ras Kass, Kam, Tash, B-Real and Spice-1 on the title track, J-Ro and Daz Dillinger on "Party Started" and Snoop Dogg, Tray D, Rappin 4-Tay and Roger himself on "Throw It Up," which is a cut off of 4-Tay's last LP, 1999's Introduction to Mackin'.
With the exception of the aforementioned tune, Chico DeBarge's cover of "I Wanna Be Your Man" and Mirror's remake of "Slow & Easy," all of the album's songs are new, with producers such as Battle Cat and J-Ro's Liks groupmate E-Swift showcasing Troutman's funk influence in their beats.
Ro said he would not be shooting videos and submitting them to TV; instead, he plans to film "low-budget" clips for some of the LP's songs and include them on a DVD, which will also feature behind-the-scenes footage of how the album came together.
Troutman, the leader of his family's band Zapp, has had endless influence on the hip-hop community — artists such as Heavy D, EPMD, Dr. Dre, Tupac and DJ Quik have all sampled his records for their songs. Troutman was shot to death in April of 1999 by his brother Larry in a murder/suicide (see "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide").
"Roger's music is a part of the backbone of hip-hop, along with James Brown and George Clinton, so I didn't have to think twice about being part of this tribute album." — Ice-T
By Shaheem Reid
Tha Liks' J Ro Spearheads Roger Troutman Tribute Album
By Mark Allwood, BETi Music News
The music world mourned when influential artist Roger Troutman was killed in a bizarre murder/suicide at the hands of his brother and Zapp bandmate Larry in April of 1999, but arguably no one felt the loss more than hip-hop.
Known for his use of the vocoder (also known as the talk box), Troutman's music was among the most heavily sampled in hip-hop, providing the blueprint for such hits as EPMD's "You Gots to Chill" and Tupac Shakur's "California Love," as well as tracks by Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, DJ Quik and the Notorious B.I.G., among others.
Troutman's other hits include "Computer Love," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "More Bounce to the Ounce" and "So Ruff So Tuff." In what has been two years in the making, Tha Liks member J Ro is finally putting the finishing touches on a forthcoming Troutman tribute album.
"Troutman's musical influence totally changed the sound of West Coast hip-hop," said J Ro in a statement. "Every rapper and producer I know felt a loss from his sudden death, so it was no problem getting MCs, especially from the West Coast and Midwest, to contribute to this album."
The project, entitled Still More Bounce, is slated to be released on April 16 via J Ro and his partner Harlan "Wolf" Morgan's record label, Wolfpac Records. The LP's lead single will be Chico DeBarge and Shae Fiol's remake of "I Wanna Be Your Man," while J Ro and Kurupt's rendition of "Party Started" will be serviced to clubs.
Other artists on the album include rap veterans Ice T and Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Tha Liks' Tash, Rass Kass, Tray D, Mac Mall, Defari and B Real of Cypress Hill, among others.
"Roger's music is a part of the backbone of hip-hop, along with James Brown and George Clinton, so I didn't have to think twice about being part of this tribute album," said veteran rapper Ice T in a statement.
Troutman, a native of Ohio, first rose to prominence with Zapp, the funk band he formed with his brothers in the 1980's. He also recorded under a number of monikers and managed a successful solo career.
The following is the tentative track listing for Still More Bounce, according to Billboard:
"Party Started" - J Ro and Kurupt
"I Wanna Be Your Man" - Chico DeBarge featuring Shae Fiol
"Throw It Up" - Snoop Dogg, Tray D and 4-Tay
"Let Me C' Ya" - Lil' Beau and Salim
"Still More Bounce" - Rass Kass, Kam, Tash, B-Real and Spice 1
"Bad Days" - Defari, Phil Da Agony and Merciless Stylz
"Slow & Easy" - Mirror and Tasha Scott
"Sweat" - J Ro
"Crushed Grapes" - J Wells, Merciless Stylz and K Boogs
"Just For You" - Merciless Stylz and G Blac
"Get On Down - Ice T, Xzibit, Kurupt and Mac Mall
"Brokenhearted" - Myeasha Meks and Wally Ali
News Articles on Roger and Larry Troutman's Passing
Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide
Brothers Roger and Larry Troutman, two of the founding members of the early-'80s funk outfit Zapp, were shot dead Sunday morning outside a studio in Dayton, Ohio, in what local authorities are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.
According to the Associated Press, Roger Troutman was found by Dayton Police after being shot several times in the torso. He was rushed to nearby Good Samaritan Hospital, but died shortly thereafter. Authorities subsequently discovered the body of Larry Troutman in a car near the studio, dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.
MTV audiences probably best know Roger Troutman for his vocoder work on "California Love" [RealVideo], a Zapp tune which Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre reworked back in 1995 and which was recently included on Shakur's "Greatest Hits" album.
Zapp was formed in 1975 by Roger, Larry, Lester, and Terry Troutman, and the group enjoyed a string of R&B hits in the '80s, including "More Bounce to the Ounce," "Dance Floor (Part 1)," and "I Can Make You Dance."
Roger, the band's guitarist and vocalist, helped popularize the use of the vocoder, a device that makes the human voice sound electronic. He branched out into a solo career in the late '80s and the '90s, earning a Top 10 hit in 1987 with "I Wanna Be Your Man."
We'll have more on this story as details become available.
This report is provided by MTV News
Singer Roger Troutman And Brother Larry Troutman Die In Apparent Murder-Suicide
R&B singer Roger Troutman was recently shot to death along with his brother in what was believed to be a murder-suicide, police said in news reports.Troutman, who won fame with the family group Zapp, was found outside his northwest Dayton, OH, recording studio at around 7 a.m. on April 25.
The 47-year-old Dayton resident was shot several times in the torso and died while in surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital and Health Center, said police Sgt. Gary White.
His brother, Larry Troutman, 54, was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. A handgun, found inside the car, matched the description of a car leaving the scene of Roger Troutman's shooting, Sgt. White said.
Detectives are investigating it as an apparent murder-suicide, police said. But family members "can offer no reason or motive," Sgt. White said.
The brothers were part of the Troutman family of performers who formed the band Zapp and helped pioneer the rock-funk "Dayton sound" in the 1970s. Roger Troutman perfected music's the talkbox-a popular electronic voice-altering device.
The band, more recently known as Zapp & Roger, was known for the 1980 hit, More Bounce to the Ounce. Other hits include Dance Floor, Computer Love, I Can Make You Dance and Doo Wah Ditty (Blow That Thing).
Roger eventually went solo for a time. As Roger, he hit No. I on the R&B charts with I Want To Be Your Man. He also collaborated with hiphop superstars Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre on the tune California Love.
Larry Troutman stopped performing in the mid-'80s to manage the group full time and head the family business, Troutman Enterprises, which included recording studios, real estate venture and contracting.
Jet May 10 1999
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