Keak da Sneak (aka the self-proclaimed “King of the Supa Dupa Hyphy”) actually started out in a fairly traditional gangsta rap group in the mid-’90s called 3X Krazy. After some nominal regional success, the raspy-voiced MC struck out solo, becoming a superstar in his hometown of Oakland with independent albums like SNEAKACYDAL and HI-TEK, and hit singles like “T-Shirt, Blue Jeans and Nikes.” After getting national attention for his verse-stealing cameo on E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go” in 2006, Keak signed a deal with KR Urban, and in 2008 released DEIFIED, his first nationally distributed solo LP.