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Born in Los Angeles but an Oakland resident by the age of 14, Too $hort was the first West Coast rap star, recording four albums on his own before he made his major-label debut with 1988's gold album Born to Mack; his next four all went platinum. Anticipating much of the later gangsta phenomenon, he restricted his lyrical themes to tales of sexual prowess and physical violence, with the occasional social-message track to mix things up. After the release of Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) in 1996, Too $hort decided to retire, his status assured as one of the most successful solo rappers of the 1980s and early '90s, although that decision would prove short-lived.

Born Todd Shaw on April 28, 1966, $hort grew up in L.A.'s South Central; soon after his family moved to Oakland in the early '80s, he began selling tapes out of the back of his car. Signed to the local label 75 Girls, he released his first proper album in 1983, Don't Stop Rappin'. Three albums followed in the next two years, after which Too $hort formed his own Dangerous Music label with friend Freddy B. He recorded Born to Mack in 1986, and sold over 50,000 copies just by riding around the region. New York's Jive Records picked up on the buzz from across the country, and provided a national deal for the album one year later. With virtually no radio airplay, Born to Mack went gold and its follow-up Life Is...Too $hort achieved platinum sales by 1989.

The immense success of Too $hort during 1988-89 made him much more viable for radio airplay, and "The Ghetto" — from 1990's Short Dog's in the House made number 12 on the R&B charts, even enjoying a brief stay just outside the pop Top 40. He continued his hit track-record with 1992's Shorty the Pimp and 1993's Get in Where You Fit In, both of which went platinum. By the time of 1995's Cocktails, however, Too $hort began to be drowned out by a glut of similar-sounding West Coasters, and though Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) became his fifth platinum album by late 1996, he decided to retire. Just three years later, he returned with the aptly titled Can't Stay Away. In 2000 Short released You Nasty and Chase The Cat followed in 2001. In 2002 Too Short released Whats My Favorite word. It featured Twista, Pimp C, B-Legit, Ant Banks, Devin, Petey Pablo, George Clinton and others