Everybody credits Will Smith and Ice Cube as pioneers of the rap-to-mainstream migration, but let's not forget about Tone Loc. The homie behind such classic Jock Jams rap hits as "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" parlayed his one standout talent'an unmistakable gravelly-ass voice'into a fairly prolific career in Hollywood. From all accounts, he's also a really cool dude, which always helps.
Today, Delicious Vinyl is releasing the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Tone's debut Loc-ed After Dark, with a digital-only version that includes six bonus tracks. To mark the occasion, we celebrate Tone Loc's coolest career moves below...
1. HE COINED THE TERM, "HASTA LA VISTA, BABY."
Scene from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
• In T2, a pre-druggie Ed Furlong teaches the Governator some slick new slang, including a memorable sign-off line. But where do you think Eddie learned it from? Tone Loc's "Wild Thing," that's where.
2. HE WAS IN SOME EARLY '90S CLASSIC FILMS.
Scene from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
• Back when Will Smith was just a sitcom star and Ice Cube was just playing his rap persona in movies, Tone Loc was carving out a diverse acting career. Sure, there were as many duds (Surf Ninjas, Blank Check) as hits (Poetic Justice, Heat), but you can't front on his imdb page. Maybe Loc's most memorable turn was in the first Ace Ventura, where he read Jim Carrey's ass cheeks.
3. HE WAS STEWIE BEFORE STEWIE.
"Straight Jackin' from Bebe's Kids (1992)
• In the absolute hood classic Bebe's Kids (1992), Loc was the memorable voice of the bad-ass baby Pee Wee. Peep the lyrics, son! He needs to battle Stewie, ASAP.
4. HE OUT RANDY-JACKSON'ED RANDY JACKSON.
The WB's Superstar USA
• Gone but not forgotten is this awesome American Idol spoof in which terrible singers were fooled into thinking they were good by a straight-faced panel that including Mr. Loc. We bet Randy thought he was the best nodding, clueless sycophant in the reality-music-show-celebrity-panel game. Guess again, Randy.
5. HIS MOST FAMOUS SONG WILL NEVER GO AWAY.
Peaches' remix of "Wild Thing"
• That's right, "Wild Thing." It'll always be there...to liven up minor-league baseball stadiums...to provide non-aggressive hip-hop for patrons of white bars...to give hipsters another ironic rap classic. A hit is a hit is a hit. Hasta la vista, baby.
julio gongato January 31st, 2009 at 05:04 AM
I have no idea what the name of the show was, but he also played a talking teddy bear in a short lived saturday morning cartoon in the 90s.
YOUTUBE.COM/BTRDAZE February 3rd, 2009 at 07:03 PM
C BEAR AND JAMAL