2013 fans
Da Lench Mob, an American hip‑hop group formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, comprised rappers J‑Dee, Shorty, T‑Bone, and later Maulkie; the collective emerged from the early 1990s West Coast scene. Their breakthrough came with the 1992 single "Guerillas in tha Mist", which gained national attention and was featured on Ice Cube’s debut solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted; the track’s success prompted the release of the group’s debut album Guerillas in tha Mist under Atco Records in 1992, reaching the Billboard Top R&B/Hip‑Hop Albums chart. In 1994, Da Lench Mob followed with Planet of da Apes, adding Maulkie to the lineup after J‑Dee’s legal troubles; the album continued the group’s street‑rap aesthetic but did not replicate the commercial impact of its predecessor. The group disbanded shortly thereafter amid internal disputes and legal issues, including J‑Dee’s 1995 conviction and 29‑year sentence. Shorty released a compilation album Short Stories in 2001 before passing away on 16 June 2019. J‑Dee was paroled in 2021 and resumed recording under the name J‑Dee Lench Mob, contributing to the legacy of the original collective, though no further group releases followed. The group’s early work remains a reference point in 1990s gangsta rap, with "Guerillas in tha Mist" frequently cited in retrospectives of the era.
