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==Early life==
==Early life==
Andre Wicker was born and raised in Nutty Blocc in [[Compton, California]].<ref name="rappages">[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3122496690_a1a553945c_b.jpg BG Knocc Out & Dresta]{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Rap Pages''. Retrieved on 2009-07-27</ref> He and his brother Arlandis Hinton, also known as B.G. Knocc Out, became Nutty Blocc Compton [[Crips]].<ref name="raptalk">[http://raptalk.net/website/content/view/352/54/ Interview: West Coast Legend Dre'sta!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204050840/http://raptalk.net/website/content/view/352/54/ |date=December 4, 2008 }} (HTML) Raptalk.net. Retrieved on 2008-10-19</ref> He was convicted of [[assault]]ing another gang member in Compton in 1988, and was incarcerated at the [[California Division of Juvenile Justice|California Youth Authority]] in [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]] until 1993.<ref name="dreams">{{cite news |first=Mack |last=Reed |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61055527.html?dids=61055527:61055527&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+13%2C+1992&author=MACK+REED&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Shooting+Straight+in+Jail+Juvenile+corrections%3A+A+videotape+production+course+at+a+California+Youth+Authority+facility+in+Camarillo+offers+job+skills+and+a+reason+to+avoid+crime.&pqatl=google |title=Shooting Straight in Jail Juvenile corrections: A videotape production course at a California Youth Authority facility in Camarillo offers job skills and a reason to avoid crime. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=[[Los Angeles]] |date=January 13, 1992 |format=Fee required |accessdate=July 27, 2009 }}</ref>
Andre Wicker was born and raised in Nutty Blocc in [[Compton, California]].<ref name="rappages">[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3122496690_a1a553945c_b.jpg BG Knocc Out & Dresta]{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Rap Pages''. Retrieved on 2009-07-27</ref> He and his brother Arlandis Hinton, also known as B.G. Knocc Out, became Nutty Blocc Compton [[Crips]].<ref name="raptalk">[http://raptalk.net/website/content/view/352/54/ Interview: West Coast Legend Dre'sta!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204050840/http://raptalk.net/website/content/view/352/54/ |date=December 4, 2008 }} (HTML) Raptalk.net. Retrieved on 2008-10-19</ref> He was convicted of [[assault]]ing another gang member in Compton in 1988, and was incarcerated at the [[California Division of Juvenile Justice|California Youth Authority]] in [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]] until 1993.<ref name="dreams">{{cite news |first=Mack |last=Reed |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61055527.html?dids=61055527:61055527&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+13%2C+1992&author=MACK+REED&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Shooting+Straight+in+Jail+Juvenile+corrections%3A+A+videotape+production+course+at+a+California+Youth+Authority+facility+in+Camarillo+offers+job+skills+and+a+reason+to+avoid+crime.&pqatl=google |title=Shooting Straight in Jail Juvenile corrections: A videotape production course at a California Youth Authority facility in Camarillo offers job skills and a reason to avoid crime. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=[[Los Angeles]] |date=January 13, 1992 |format=Fee required |access-date=July 27, 2009 }}</ref>


==Music career==
==Music career==
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===1994 shooting===
===1994 shooting===
On January 14, 1994, Tyrone Thomas (also known as Tony Bogard), Andre Wicker and Rodney Compton were involved in a gang confrontation in [[Imperial Courts]] housing projects.<ref name="gangwar">{{cite news |first=Lucille |last=Renwick |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59283469.xml?dids=59283469:59283469&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=LUCILLE+RENWICK%3B+JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Veteran+of+Gangs%27+War+and+Peace+Dies+by+Gunfire+Violence%3A+Tony+Thomas+is+killed+by+suspected+drug+dealers.+He+may+have+been+trying+to+counsel+them.&pqatl=google |title=Veteran of Gangs' War and Peace Dies by Gunfire Violence |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=July 27, 2009 }}</ref> Thomas and Compton were former [[Grape Street Watts Crips (gang)|PeeJay Watts Crips]]<ref name="shooting">{{cite news |first=Shante |last=Morgan |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/1242060111.html?dids=1242060111:1242060111&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=SHANTE+MORGAN&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&desc=L.A.+grieves+at+killing+of+Crip-Blood+peacemaker&pqatl=googlem |title=L.A. grieves at killing of Crip-Blood peacemaker |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |location=[[San Diego]] |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> and Thomas had helped to organize a [[Watts truce|truce between Crips and Bloods]] in [[Watts, Los Angeles]] in 1992.<ref name="organizer">{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66A686A9C13DC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Gang Truce Organizer Fatally Shot On Street |newspaper=Daily News of Los Angeles |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref>
On January 14, 1994, Tyrone Thomas (also known as Tony Bogard), Andre Wicker and Rodney Compton were involved in a gang confrontation in [[Imperial Courts]] housing projects.<ref name="gangwar">{{cite news |first=Lucille |last=Renwick |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59283469.xml?dids=59283469:59283469&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=LUCILLE+RENWICK%3B+JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Veteran+of+Gangs%27+War+and+Peace+Dies+by+Gunfire+Violence%3A+Tony+Thomas+is+killed+by+suspected+drug+dealers.+He+may+have+been+trying+to+counsel+them.&pqatl=google |title=Veteran of Gangs' War and Peace Dies by Gunfire Violence |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=July 27, 2009 }}</ref> Thomas and Compton were former [[Grape Street Watts Crips (gang)|PeeJay Watts Crips]]<ref name="shooting">{{cite news |first=Shante |last=Morgan |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/1242060111.html?dids=1242060111:1242060111&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=SHANTE+MORGAN&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&desc=L.A.+grieves+at+killing+of+Crip-Blood+peacemaker&pqatl=googlem |title=L.A. grieves at killing of Crip-Blood peacemaker |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |location=[[San Diego]] |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> and Thomas had helped to organize a [[Watts truce|truce between Crips and Bloods]] in [[Watts, Los Angeles]] in 1992.<ref name="organizer">{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LA&p_theme=la&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EF66A686A9C13DC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Gang Truce Organizer Fatally Shot On Street |newspaper=Daily News of Los Angeles |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref>


At around 6:30&nbsp;p.m., a shooting began in a parking lot in the 2200 block of East 114th Street.<ref name="shooting"/> 25 shots were fired, six of which hit Thomas,<ref name="compton">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59481274.html?dids=59481274:59481274&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+01%2C+1994&author=JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Man+Freed+in+Death+of+Gang+Leader+Courts%3A+Rodney+Compton+is+to+get+one+year+probation+in+the+slaying+of+Tony+Bogard%2C+who+helped+reach+a+truce+between+the+Crips+and+Bloods.&pqatl=google |title=Man Freed in Death of Gang Leader Courts: Rodney Compton is to get one year probation in the slaying of Tony Bogard, who helped reach a truce between the Crips and Bloods. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=June 1, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> who was said to be the prime target of the shooting.<ref name="organizer"/> According to witnesses, Thomas was carrying a pistol and he shot back at the assailants, possibly wounding two of them.<ref name="gangwar"/>
At around 6:30&nbsp;p.m., a shooting began in a parking lot in the 2200 block of East 114th Street.<ref name="shooting"/> 25 shots were fired, six of which hit Thomas,<ref name="compton">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59481274.html?dids=59481274:59481274&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+01%2C+1994&author=JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Man+Freed+in+Death+of+Gang+Leader+Courts%3A+Rodney+Compton+is+to+get+one+year+probation+in+the+slaying+of+Tony+Bogard%2C+who+helped+reach+a+truce+between+the+Crips+and+Bloods.&pqatl=google |title=Man Freed in Death of Gang Leader Courts: Rodney Compton is to get one year probation in the slaying of Tony Bogard, who helped reach a truce between the Crips and Bloods. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=June 1, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> who was said to be the prime target of the shooting.<ref name="organizer"/> According to witnesses, Thomas was carrying a pistol and he shot back at the assailants, possibly wounding two of them.<ref name="gangwar"/>


Thomas and Wicker were subsequently hospitalized in [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center]], where Thomas was pronounced dead. Wicker was in critical condition while arriving to the hospital, but received a surgery for a gunshot to his left arm and was released the same week.<ref name="peacemaker">{{cite news |first=Lucille |last=Renwick |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59283285.html?dids=59283285:59283285&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=LUCILLE+RENWICK%3B+JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Peacemaker+Among+Gangs+Is+Cut+Down+by+Gunfire+Crime%3A+Tony+Thomas+helped+forge+truce.+He+walked+fine+line+between+hero+and+target+of+culture+he+tried+to+reform.&pqatl=google |title=Peacemaker Among Gangs Is Cut Down by Gunfire Crime: Tony Thomas helped forge truce. He walked fine line between hero and target of culture he tried to reform. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> Compton was wounded in the arm<ref name="compton"/> and treated at [[St. Francis Medical Center (Lynwood)|St. Francis Medical Center]] in [[Lynwood, California|Lynwood]].<ref name="shooting"/> He was later charged with the murder of Thomas,<ref name="charged">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59289246.html?dids=59289246:59289246&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+19%2C+1994&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Man+Wounded+in+Gang+Peacemaker%27s+Death+Is+Charged&pqatl=google |title=Man Wounded in Gang Peacemaker's Death Is Charged |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 19, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> but was released from jail after pleading [[Nolo contendere|no contest]] to one count of [[voluntary manslaughter]] on May 31, 1994. Wicker was sentenced to one year probation under terms of a plea bargain.<ref name="manslaughter">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/2184457.html?dids=2184457:2184457&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+01%2C+1994&author=Katz%2C+Jesse&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Man+freed+in+death+of+gang+leader&pqatl=google |title=Man freed in death of gang leader |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=June 1, 1994 |format=Fee required |accessdate=November 25, 2010 }}</ref>
Thomas and Wicker were subsequently hospitalized in [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center]], where Thomas was pronounced dead. Wicker was in critical condition while arriving to the hospital, but received a surgery for a gunshot to his left arm and was released the same week.<ref name="peacemaker">{{cite news |first=Lucille |last=Renwick |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59283285.html?dids=59283285:59283285&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+15%2C+1994&author=LUCILLE+RENWICK%3B+JESSE+KATZ&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Peacemaker+Among+Gangs+Is+Cut+Down+by+Gunfire+Crime%3A+Tony+Thomas+helped+forge+truce.+He+walked+fine+line+between+hero+and+target+of+culture+he+tried+to+reform.&pqatl=google |title=Peacemaker Among Gangs Is Cut Down by Gunfire Crime: Tony Thomas helped forge truce. He walked fine line between hero and target of culture he tried to reform. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 15, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> Compton was wounded in the arm<ref name="compton"/> and treated at [[St. Francis Medical Center (Lynwood)|St. Francis Medical Center]] in [[Lynwood, California|Lynwood]].<ref name="shooting"/> He was later charged with the murder of Thomas,<ref name="charged">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/59289246.html?dids=59289246:59289246&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+19%2C+1994&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Man+Wounded+in+Gang+Peacemaker%27s+Death+Is+Charged&pqatl=google |title=Man Wounded in Gang Peacemaker's Death Is Charged |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=January 19, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref> but was released from jail after pleading [[Nolo contendere|no contest]] to one count of [[voluntary manslaughter]] on May 31, 1994. Wicker was sentenced to one year probation under terms of a plea bargain.<ref name="manslaughter">{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Katz |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/2184457.html?dids=2184457:2184457&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+01%2C+1994&author=Katz%2C+Jesse&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Man+freed+in+death+of+gang+leader&pqatl=google |title=Man freed in death of gang leader |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |date=June 1, 1994 |format=Fee required |access-date=November 25, 2010 }}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==

Revision as of 06:33, 25 January 2021

Dresta
Birth nameAndre DeSean Wicker
Also known as
  • Gangsta Dresta
  • Big Dre
Born (1971-04-18) April 18, 1971 (age 53)
Compton, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Years active1993–present
Labels

Andre DeSean Wicker (born April 18, 1971), better known by his stage name Dresta, is an American rapper. He is best known for collaborating with Eazy-E on the 1993 single "Real Muthaphuckkin G's".

He is the older brother of rapper B.G. Knocc Out, who is also featured on the song. Together, they released their only studio album Real Brothas, in August 1995, which peaked at #128 on the Billboard 200. In 1996, the album Murder Squad Nationwide was released including Dresta and his brother B.G. Knocc Out along with other West Coast rap artists at the time.

Early life

Andre Wicker was born and raised in Nutty Blocc in Compton, California.[1] He and his brother Arlandis Hinton, also known as B.G. Knocc Out, became Nutty Blocc Compton Crips.[2] He was convicted of assaulting another gang member in Compton in 1988, and was incarcerated at the California Youth Authority in Camarillo until 1993.[3]

Music career

While Dresta was serving his five-year sentence, he started writing lyrics and rapping, gaining some notoriety.[1] Within months of Dresta's release, he and B.G. Knocc Out signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records and made their debut on Eazy's 1993 multi-platinum EP It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa on the single "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (which was censored to "Real Compton City G's" in order to garner MTV and radio airplay).[4] The song itself was a response to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's various 'diss' records towards Eazy-E on Dr. Dre's debut album, The Chronic.

In 1995, Dresta and B.G. Knocc Out released their debut studio album Real Brothas, which remains their only album to date. At the end of the same year, they made three guest appearances in Eazy-E's posthumous album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton.

After B.G. Knocc Out's incarceration in 1998, Dresta worked with Death Row Records and appeared on two tracks from Death Row's Too Gangsta for Radio compilation, but never actually signed to the record label.[2]

Dresta stated in an interview that he is currently working on Dirty West mixtape series and on upcoming solo album, hinting possibility of Real Brothas to get re-released. Dresta also wrote a song for Dr. Dre's album Detox, but Dre didn't want to collaborate with him. He criticized Dr. Dre for surrounding himself with mediocre artists and the numerous delays of his Detox album.[2]

Personal life

1994 shooting

On January 14, 1994, Tyrone Thomas (also known as Tony Bogard), Andre Wicker and Rodney Compton were involved in a gang confrontation in Imperial Courts housing projects.[5] Thomas and Compton were former PeeJay Watts Crips[6] and Thomas had helped to organize a truce between Crips and Bloods in Watts, Los Angeles in 1992.[7]

At around 6:30 p.m., a shooting began in a parking lot in the 2200 block of East 114th Street.[6] 25 shots were fired, six of which hit Thomas,[8] who was said to be the prime target of the shooting.[7] According to witnesses, Thomas was carrying a pistol and he shot back at the assailants, possibly wounding two of them.[5]

Thomas and Wicker were subsequently hospitalized in Martin Luther King, Jr. Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center, where Thomas was pronounced dead. Wicker was in critical condition while arriving to the hospital, but received a surgery for a gunshot to his left arm and was released the same week.[9] Compton was wounded in the arm[8] and treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood.[6] He was later charged with the murder of Thomas,[10] but was released from jail after pleading no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter on May 31, 1994. Wicker was sentenced to one year probation under terms of a plea bargain.[11]

Discography

Collaboration albums

References

  1. ^ a b BG Knocc Out & Dresta[permanent dead link‍] Rap Pages. Retrieved on 2009-07-27
  2. ^ a b c Interview: West Coast Legend Dre'sta! Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine (HTML) Raptalk.net. Retrieved on 2008-10-19
  3. ^ Reed, Mack (January 13, 1992). "Shooting Straight in Jail Juvenile corrections: A videotape production course at a California Youth Authority facility in Camarillo offers job skills and a reason to avoid crime" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  4. ^ B.G. Knocc Out Interview (HTML) Dubcnn. Retrieved on 2008-10-12
  5. ^ a b Renwick, Lucille (January 15, 1994). "Veteran of Gangs' War and Peace Dies by Gunfire Violence" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Morgan, Shante (January 15, 1994). "L.A. grieves at killing of Crip-Blood peacemaker" (Fee required). The San Diego Union-Tribune. San Diego. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Gang Truce Organizer Fatally Shot On Street" (Fee required). Daily News of Los Angeles. Los Angeles. January 15, 1994. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Katz, Jesse (June 1, 1994). "Man Freed in Death of Gang Leader Courts: Rodney Compton is to get one year probation in the slaying of Tony Bogard, who helped reach a truce between the Crips and Bloods" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  9. ^ Renwick, Lucille (January 15, 1994). "Peacemaker Among Gangs Is Cut Down by Gunfire Crime: Tony Thomas helped forge truce. He walked fine line between hero and target of culture he tried to reform" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  10. ^ Katz, Jesse (January 19, 1994). "Man Wounded in Gang Peacemaker's Death Is Charged" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  11. ^ Katz, Jesse (June 1, 1994). "Man freed in death of gang leader" (Fee required). Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
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