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Tone Loc

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For the war dialing program, see ToneLoc.

Tone Lōc
Tone Lōc performing in October 2023
Tone Lōc performing in October 2023
Background information
Birth nameAnthony Terrell Smith
Also known asTone Lōc
Born (1966-03-03) March 3, 1966 (age 58)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • actor
  • record producer
InstrumentVocals
Years active1987–present
Labels

Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), best known by his stage name Tone Lōc (/toʊn loʊk/), 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 a Grammy Award, and for being featured in "We're All in the Same Gang", a collaborative single by the West Coast Rap All-Stars.

Early life

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Anthony Terrell Smith was born March 3, 1966, in Los 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 the Hollywood Professional School.[3] As a teenager, he performed with the rap group Triple A.[3]

Career

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1989–1991: mainstream success

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Tone Lōc's debut album, Lōc-ed After Dark, was released in January 1989. The video for the first single, "Wild Thing," became a staple on MTV in the US. The song rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 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 Dark reached No. 1 in the US. Since its release, it has been certified 2× platinum there.

Tone Lōc's second album Cool Hand Lōc was released in November 1991. The album's first single was "All Through the Night", which found moderate success, reaching No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It received frequent airplay on MTV and BET. He also contributed "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody" for 20th Century Fox's FernGully.

1994–2004: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective franchise, and other endeavors

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Tone Lōc played the part of police Sergeant Emilio in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). Tone Lōc's song "Ace Is in the House", which samples the Beastie Boys song "No Sleep till Brooklyn", is featured in the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) and Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective (2009).

He provided vocals for Fefe Dobson for the track "Rock It Till You Drop It" on her self-titled debut album.

Tone Lōc also voiced Fūd Wrapper, the host of the animatronic show Food Rocks. This was played at Epcot from 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 of Touched by an Angel, which aired November 11, 1995.

1992–2016: television, film and voice acting

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Tone Lōc has performed in several feature films, including Poetic Justice, Blank Check, Heat and Posse.[5] As a voice actor, Tone Lōc has voiced characters in several animated television series such as King of the Hill and C Bear and Jamal,[5] and was featured in the animated film Bebe's Kids, playing the wise-cracking baby Pee Wee.[6] He voiced the character Lou the Goanna in the 1992 film FernGully: The Last Rainforest.[7] He has also provided his signature voice for episodes of Chowder and Uncle Grandpa, both airing on Cartoon Network. In 2022, Tone Lōc was featured as the singing voice of Penny Proud in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.[8]

2016–present: I Love the 90s Tour

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Tone 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 the I Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tour from July to September 2017.[10]

Personal life

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[edit]

In December 2010, Tone Lōc was arrested for an alleged DUI. He was released on bail claiming a medical condition had caused a seizure.[5]

On June 18, 2011, Tone Lōc was arrested for felony domestic violence and felony possession of a Colt AR-15 Sporter 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 in Midland, Texas.[16] It was later revealed that the reason for the detention was a heated argument caused when Lōc confronted someone who was wearing a Confederate battle flag baseball cap. After the two arguing parties agreed to separate, Lōc was released and no charges were filed.[17]

Health issues

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Tone Lōc has collapsed onstage multiple times since 1995; some if not all of these collapses have been due to seizures, according to at least one report.[18] On May 29, 2009, he was rushed to a hospital[19] after collapsing during a concert in Pensacola, 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 in Atlanta, 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 in Des Moines, Iowa,[21] but he refused hospital care.[18] Lōc collapsed onstage on December 6, 2013, during a performance in San Francisco, California, and collapsed again on November 26, 2016, during a performance in Sioux 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

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Studio albums

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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
  • Release date: November 19, 1991
  • Label: Delicious Vinyl
 — 46 129 — 39 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

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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"
(featuring El DeBarge) 		1991 80 — 16 — 106 — — — — — Cool Hand Lōc
"Cool Hand Loc"[49] 1992 — — — — — — — — — —
"Posse Love"[50] 1993 — — — — — — — — — — Posse soundtrack
"Ace Is in the House"[51]
(featuring Jim Carrey) 		1994 — — — — — — — — — — Ace Ventura soundtrack
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes

  1. ^ A remix of this song was later included on Lōc-ed After Dark.
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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

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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

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Film

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Tone Loc". IMDb. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Tone-Loc Biography (1966?-)". FilmReference.com.
  3. ^ a b c Tone Loc. Gale Research Inc. 1989. p. 234. ISBN 9780810322134. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 561. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (July 15, 2011). "Tone Loc Pleads Not Guilty To Domestic Violence Charges". MTV.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  6. ^ Tone Loc at IMDb
  7. ^ "Update: Ferngully: the Last Rainforest (1992) Acting Credits". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015.
  8. ^ Jones, Monique (March 17, 2022). "'The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder' Exclusive Look At Lizzo And Tone Loc's Episode This Week". Shadow & Act. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Spanos, Brittany (March 29, 2016). "Salt-N-Pepa, Vanilla Ice to Headline 'I Love the '90s' Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "I Love The 90s". ilovethe90stour.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Rapper Tone Loc pleads no contest to domestic violence charge". CNN. October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  12. ^ "California Firearms Laws" (PDF). ag.ca.gov. Office of the Attorney General, California Dept. of Justice. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  13. ^ Duke, Alan (June 19, 2011). "Police: Tone Loc arrested after fight with his child's mother". CNN. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  14. ^ "Tone Loc arrested in domestic violence case". MSN.com. Associated Press; TMZ.com; TODAY news services. June 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  15. ^ Martinez, Edecio (June 20, 2011). "Rapper Tone Loc arrested on domestic violence charge". CBSnews.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  16. ^ Harrison, Haley (March 24, 2019). "FIRST ON CBS7: Rapper Tone Loc detained by Midland Police". www.cbs7.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  17. ^ "Tone Loc Detained at Texas Airport for Arguing with Couple About Son's Confederate Hat". Complex Networks.
  18. ^ a b c Newson, Kelly (March 17, 2013). "Lil Wayne, Tone Loc and Morrissey all under the doctor's watch". Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  19. ^ a b Langhorne, Cyrus (May 29, 2009). "Update: Tone Loc Recovering After Concert Seizure, Released From Hospital". sohh.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.
  20. ^ Grossberg, Josh (October 17, 2011). "Tone Loc collapses after playing 'Funky Cold Medina'". MSN.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Tone Loc collapses onstage at Bridge Bash". Des Moines Register; USA Today. March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  22. ^ Dexter, Christopher; Ferguson, Danielle (November 26, 2016). "Tone Loc collapses on stage at Premier Center, later returns". Argus Leader. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  23. ^ "Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  24. ^ "Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  25. ^ "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing December 9, 1991". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums – May 29, 1989" (PDF).
  28. ^ "Austria Top 40". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  29. ^ "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  30. ^ "Swedish charts portal". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  31. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community" [The Official Swiss Hit Parade and Music Community]. hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  32. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Tone Loc". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  33. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010: Tone-Loc certified albums". riaa.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  34. ^ "Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  35. ^ "Tone-Loc : Allmusic : Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  36. ^ "Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  37. ^ "Tone-Loc Album & Song Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  38. ^ "Top 50 peaks: Tone Loc". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  39. ^ "25 Years Ago This Week: October 8, 1989". chartbeat.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved September 16, 2015. I Got It Goin' On
  40. ^ "Austria Top 40". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  41. ^ Peaks in Canada:
  42. ^ "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  43. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community" [The Official Swiss Hit Parade and Music Community]. hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  44. ^ "Tone-Loc – On Fire / I Got It Goin' On". Discogs.
  45. ^ "Tone-Loc – On Fire / Cheeba Cheeba". Discogs.
  46. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010: "Wild Thing" certified awards". riaa.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  47. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  48. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum – December 26, 2010: "Funky Cold Medina" certified awards". riaa.com. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  49. ^ "Tone-Loc – Cool Hand Loc". Discogs.
  50. ^ "Tone-Loc – Posse Love". Discogs.
  51. ^ "Tone-Loc – Ace Is In The House". Discogs.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g "Tone Loc – 9 Character Images".
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