Anthony Terrell Smith(born March 3, 1966), best known by hisstage nameTone Lōc(/toʊnloʊk/), is an American rapper.[1]He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs "Wild Thing"and"Funky Cold Medina",for which he was nominated for aGrammy Award,and for being featured in "We're All in the Same Gang",a collaborative single by the West Coast Rap All-Stars.
Tone Lōc | |
|---|---|
 Tone Lōc performing in October 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony Terrell Smith |
| Also known as | Tone Lōc |
| Born | March 3, 1966 Los Angeles,California,U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
Early life
editAnthony Terrell Smith was born March 3, 1966, inLos Angeles,California,the son of Margaret, who managed a retirement home, and James Smith who passed away in 1972.[2]As a result of his father's premature death, Tone Lōc and his three older brothers were raised by his mother.[3]He was educated at theHollywood Professional School.[3]As a teenager, he performed with the rap group Triple A.[3]
Career
edit1989–1991: mainstream success
editTone Lōc's debut album,Lōc-ed After Dark,was released in January 1989. The video for the first single, "Wild Thing,"became a staple onMTVin the US. The song rose to No. 2 on theBillboardHot 100,and the top twenty in Australia. The second single, "Funky Cold Medina,"also became a hit. It reached the top 5 in the US, peaking at No. 3; the top ten in Australia; and the top twenty in the UK.[4]
Lōc-ed After Darkreached No. 1 in the US. Since its release, it has been certified 2× platinum there.
Tone Lōc's second albumCool Hand Lōcwas released in November 1991. The album's first single was "All Through the Night",which found moderate success, reaching No. 80 on theBillboardHot 100 and #16 on theHot Rap Songschart. It received frequent airplay on MTV andBET.He also contributed "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody" for20th Century Fox'sFernGully.
1994–2004:Ace Ventura: Pet Detectivefranchise, and other endeavors
editTone Lōc played the part of police Sergeant Emilio in the filmAce Ventura: Pet Detective(1994). Tone Lōc's song "Ace Is in the House", which samples theBeastie Boyssong "No Sleep till Brooklyn",is featured in the filmsAce Ventura: Pet Detective(1994) andAce Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective(2009).
He provided vocals forFefe Dobsonfor the track "Rock It Till You Drop It" on herself-titled debut album.
Tone Lōc also voiced Fūd Wrapper, the host of theanimatronicshowFood Rocks.This was played atEpcotfrom 1994 to 2004. In this latter role, he sang the song "Always Read the Wrapper", a parody of his second hit single "Funky Cold Medina".
He appeared as Albert in episode 8 of season 2 ofTouched by an Angel,which aired November 11, 1995.
1992–2016: television, film and voice acting
editTone Lōc has performed in several feature films, includingPoetic Justice,Blank Check,HeatandPosse.[5]As avoice actor,Tone Lōc has voiced characters in several animated television series such asKing of the HillandC Bear and Jamal,[5]and was featured in the animated filmBebe's Kids,playing the wise-cracking baby Pee Wee.[6]He voiced the character Lou the Goanna in the 1992 filmFernGully: The Last Rainforest.[7]He has also provided his signature voice for episodes ofChowderandUncle Grandpa,both airing onCartoon Network.In 2022, Tone Lōc was featured as the singing voice of Penny Proud inThe Proud Family: Louder and ProuderonDisney+.[8]
2016–present: I Love the 90s Tour
editTone Lōc was among the list of performers on the I Love the 90s Tour, which has performed worldwide since April 2016,[9]as well as having featured appearances on theI Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tourfrom July to September 2017.[10]
Personal life
editLegal issues
editIn December 2010, Tone Lōc was arrested for an allegedDUI.He was released on bail claiming a medical condition had caused aseizure.[5]
On June 18, 2011, Tone Lōc was arrested for felony domestic violence and felony possession of aColt AR-15Sporter rifle,[11]which is heavily restricted by California law.[12]The weapon was not involved in the domestic incident,[11]an altercation with the mother of one of his children.[13]Tone Lōc was released less than three hours later after posting $50,000 bail.[14][15]On October 3, 2011, he entered a plea of no contest to both charges, and was sentenced to one day in county jail, three years of probation, 52 weeks of anger management counseling and 30 days of community service.[11]
On March 23, 2019, Tone Loc was detained by the Midland Police Department inMidland, Texas.[16]It was later revealed that the reason for the detention was a heated argument caused when Lōc confronted someone who was wearing aConfederate battle flagbaseball cap. After the two arguing parties agreed to separate, Lōc was released and no charges were filed.[17]
Health issues
editTone Lōc has collapsed onstage multiple times since 1995; some if not all of these collapses have been due toseizures,according to at least one report.[18]On May 29, 2009, he was rushed to a hospital[19]after collapsing during a concert inPensacola, Florida.[18]The rapper cut his elbow when he fell and was released the same day.[19]
On October 15, 2011, Lōc was hospitalized for exhaustion after collapsing onstage during a concert inAtlanta,Georgia.He was taken to a local hospital where he was intravenously rehydrated.[20]Another similar incident occurred in 2012.[21]On March 16, 2013, he collapsed onstage, at a performance at the Bridge Bash inDes Moines, Iowa,[21]but he refused hospital care.[18]Lōc collapsed onstage on December 6, 2013, during a performance inSan Francisco, California,and collapsed again on November 26, 2016, during a performance inSioux Falls, South Dakota,but he later returned to the stage.[22]Lōc wears his signature sunglasses at every performance to help reduce the likelihood of a seizure.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [23] |
US R&B [24] |
AUS [25][26] |
CAN [27] |
AUT [28] |
NZ [29] |
SWE [30] |
SWI [31] |
UK [32] | ||||||
| Lōc-ed After Dark |
|
1 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 31 | 30 | 22 | ||||
| Cool Hand Lōc |
|
— | 46 | 129 | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||||
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [34] |
US Rap [35] |
US R&B [36] |
US Dan [37] |
AUS [38][39][26] |
AUT [40] |
CAN [41] |
NZ [42] |
SWI [43] |
UK [32] | |||||
| "On Fire"[44][45] | 1987 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single[A] | ||
| "Wild Thing" | 1988 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 15 | — | 7 | 1 | 23 | 21 | Lōc-ed After Dark | ||
| "Funky Cold Medina" | 1989 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 13 | |||
| "I Got It Goin' On" | — | 18 | 59 | — | 52 | — | 9 | 27 | — | 55 | ||||
| "All Through the Night" (featuringEl DeBarge) |
1991 | 80 | — | 16 | — | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | Cool Hand Lōc | ||
| "Cool Hand Loc"[49] | 1992 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Posse Love"[50] | 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Possesoundtrack | ||
| "Ace Is in the House"[51] (featuringJim Carrey) |
1994 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ace Venturasoundtrack | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||||
Notes
- ^A remix of this song was later included onLōc-ed After Dark.
Featured singles
edit| Title | Year | Artist | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||
| "We're All in the Same Gang" | 1990 | West Coast Rap All-Stars | 35 | 10 | Non-album single |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Rap Video | "Wild Thing" | Nominated |
| 1990 | Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| Best Rap Solo Performance | "Funky Cold Medina" | Nominated | ||
| American Music Awards | Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist | Himself | Nominated | |
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album | Lōc-ed After Dark | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist | Himself | Nominated | ||
| Favorite Dance New Artist | Won | |||
| 1991 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | "We're All in the Same Gang" | Nominated |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Adventures of Ford Fairlane | Slam | |
| The Return of Superfly | Unknown | Uncredited | |
| 1992 | FernGully: The Last Rainforest | Goanna[52] | Voice |
| Bebe's Kids | Pee-Wee[52] | Voice | |
| 1993 | Posse | Angel | |
| Poetic Justice | James Paul | ||
| Surf Ninjas | Lieutenant Spence | ||
| A Cool Like That Christmas | Marvin | Television film | |
| 1994 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Handsome Cab Driver | |
| Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | Emilio | ||
| Blank Check | Juice | ||
| 1995 | Heat | Richard Torena | |
| Crosstown Traffic | Keiser | Television film | |
| 1996 | Spy Hard | Gangster #1 | |
| 1997 | Fakin' da Funk | "Frog" | |
| 1998 | Freedom Strike | Tyler Haynes | |
| 1999 | Jack and the Beanstalk | The Giant | Voice |
| 2000 | Whispers: An Elephant's Tale | Macho Bull[52] | |
| Titan A.E. | Tek[52] | Voice | |
| Space Cowboys | The Photographer | Uncredited | |
| 2001 | Deadly Rhapsody | Jelly's Cousin | |
| They Crawl | Clarence | ||
| 2002 | Storm Watch | Ray | |
| 2006 | Totally Awesome | Himself | Television film |
| Dreamweaver | Sandman | Television film | |
| 2011 | White T | Jerry | Voice |
| 2014 | Not Cool | Pedestrian #2 | Uncredited |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Himself | |
| 1992–1994 | Roc | Ronnie Paxton | 7 episodes |
| 1994 | Aladdin | Magma | Voice, episode: "Smolder and Wiser" |
| 1995 | Touched by an Angel | Albert Turner | Episode: "Operation Smile" |
| NewsRadio | Security Guard, Lorenzo | 2 episodes | |
| 1996–1997 | C Bear and Jamal | C-Bear[52] | Lead role |
| 1996 | Living Single | Lester Tate | Episode: "School's Out Forever" |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | The Giant / Desmond Bear | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Martin | Himself | Episode: "Ain't That About a Ditch" | |
| Dangerous Minds | Mr. Summers | Episode: "To'e Me Up, To'e Me Down" | |
| 1999 | Early Edition | Derek "D.J." Johnson | Episode: "Number One with a Bullet" |
| 2000–2001 | Rude Awakening | Lenny | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Thieves | Special Agent Al Trundall | |
| 2002 | The District | J.T. Betancourt | Episode: "Twist of Hate" |
| Static Shock | Hyde[52] | Voice, episode: "Static Shaq" | |
| 2004 | Superstar USA | Panelist | |
| 2005 | King of the Hill | Bouncer | Voice, episode: "Smoking and the Bandit" |
| Yes, Dear | Dave | Episode: "Barbecue" | |
| 2008 | Chowder | Chestnut[52] | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Uncle Grandpa | Moon Man | Voice, episode: "Bezt Frends" |
| 2022 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Penny Proud (singing voice) | Episode: "Snackland" |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Tone Loc".IMDb.RetrievedAugust 15,2018.
- ^"Tone-Loc Biography (1966?-)".FilmReference.com.
- ^abcTone Loc.Gale Research Inc. 1989. p. 234.ISBN9780810322134.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 561.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^abcKaufman, Gil (July 15, 2011)."Tone Loc Pleads Not Guilty To Domestic Violence Charges".MTV.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^Tone LocatIMDb
- ^"Update: Ferngully: the Last Rainforest (1992) Acting Credits".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2015. Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2015.
- ^Jones, Monique (March 17, 2022)."'The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder' Exclusive Look At Lizzo And Tone Loc's Episode This Week ".Shadow & Act.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2022.RetrievedMarch 18,2022.
- ^Spanos, Brittany (March 29, 2016)."Salt-N-Pepa, Vanilla Ice to Headline 'I Love the '90s' Tour".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^"I Love The 90s".ilovethe90stour.com.RetrievedAugust 15,2018.
- ^abc"Rapper Tone Loc pleads no contest to domestic violence charge".CNN.October 4, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^"California Firearms Laws"(PDF).ag.ca.gov.Office of the Attorney General, California Dept. of Justice. 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 19, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^Duke, Alan (June 19, 2011)."Police: Tone Loc arrested after fight with his child's mother".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2011.RetrievedJune 19,2011.
- ^"Tone Loc arrested in domestic violence case".MSN.com.Associated Press; TMZ.com; TODAY news services. June 19, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on June 23, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^Martinez, Edecio (June 20, 2011)."Rapper Tone Loc arrested on domestic violence charge".CBSnews.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 25, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^Harrison, Haley (March 24, 2019)."FIRST ON CBS7: Rapper Tone Loc detained by Midland Police".www.cbs7.com.RetrievedMarch 24,2019.
- ^"Tone Loc Detained at Texas Airport for Arguing with Couple About Son's Confederate Hat".Complex Networks.
- ^abcNewson, Kelly (March 17, 2013)."Lil Wayne, Tone Loc and Morrissey all under the doctor's watch".Guardian Liberty Voice.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^abLanghorne, Cyrus (May 29, 2009)."Update: Tone Loc Recovering After Concert Seizure, Released From Hospital".sohh.com.Archived fromthe originalon December 12, 2013.
- ^Grossberg, Josh (October 17, 2011)."Tone Loc collapses after playing 'Funky Cold Medina'".MSN.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2011.
- ^ab"Tone Loc collapses onstage at Bridge Bash".Des Moines Register; USA Today.March 17, 2013.RetrievedMarch 17,2013.
- ^Dexter, Christopher; Ferguson, Danielle (November 26, 2016)."Tone Loc collapses on stage at Premier Center, later returns".Argus Leader.RetrievedJanuary 24,2017.
- ^"Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Australian charts portal".australian-charts.com.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^ab"Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing December 9, 1991".Bubbling Down Under.RetrievedDecember 11,2022.
- ^"RPM Top 100 Albums – May 29, 1989"(PDF).
- ^"Austria Top 40".austriancharts.at.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"New Zealand charts portal".charts.nz.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Swedish charts portal".swedishcharts.com.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community"[The Official Swiss Hit Parade and Music Community].hitparade.ch.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^ab"The Official Charts Company – Tone Loc".Official Charts Company.RetrievedFebruary 18,2021.
- ^"RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010: Tone-Loc certified albums".riaa.com.Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc: Allmusic: Billboard Singles".Allmusic.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Top 50 peaks: Tone Loc".australian-charts.com.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"25 Years Ago This Week: October 8, 1989".chartbeat.blogspot.com.au.RetrievedSeptember 16,2015.
I Got It Goin' On
- ^"Austria Top 40".austriancharts.at.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^Peaks in Canada:
- "Funky Cold Medina":"RPM Top 100 Singles – May 15, 1989"(PDF).
- "I Got It Goin' On":"RPM Top Dance/Urban – August 14, 1989"(PDF).
- ^"New Zealand charts portal".charts.nz.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community"[The Official Swiss Hit Parade and Music Community].hitparade.ch.Hung Medien.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc – On Fire / I Got It Goin' On".Discogs.
- ^"Tone-Loc – On Fire / Cheeba Cheeba".Discogs.
- ^"RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010:" Wild Thing "certified awards".riaa.com.Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^abRyan, Gavin (2011).Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010.Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^"RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010:" Funky Cold Medina "certified awards".riaa.com.Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 26,2010.
- ^"Tone-Loc – Cool Hand Loc".Discogs.
- ^"Tone-Loc – Posse Love".Discogs.
- ^"Tone-Loc – Ace Is In The House".Discogs.
- ^abcdefg"Tone Loc – 9 Character Images".