C-Bo

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title: "C-Bo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1971-births", "living-people", "21st-century-american-male-musicians", "21st-century-american-rappers", "21st-century-african-american-rappers", "african-american-male-rappers", "20th-century-american-male-rappers", "20th-century-american-rappers", "cashville-records-artists", "crips", "gangsta-rappers", "rappers-from-sacramento,-california", "rbc-records-artists", "virgin-records-artists"] description: "American rapper (born 1972)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-Bo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American rapper (born 1972) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	C-Bo
image	Rapper C-Bo.jpg
caption	C-Bo in 2011
birth_name	Shawn Thomas
birth_date	January 14, 1972 (age 53)
birth_place	Waco, Texas, US
origin	Meadowview, Sacramento, California, US
genre	Gangsta rap
occupation
years_active	1991–present
label
::

| name = C-Bo | image = Rapper C-Bo.jpg | caption = C-Bo in 2011 | birth_name = Shawn Thomas | birth_date = January 14, 1972 (age 53) | birth_place = Waco, Texas, US | origin = Meadowview, Sacramento, California, US | genre = Gangsta rap | occupation = | years_active = 1991–present | label =

Shawn Thomas (born January 14, 1972), better known by his stage name C-Bo, is an American rapper from Sacramento, California. Known for his extensive legal troubles, he was the first notable rapper to be jailed due to his lyrical content in 1998. His 1995 song, "Deadly Game" (with X-Raided) earned this distinction, as its lyrics were a scathing critique of political officials, including governor Pete Wilson, and California's Prop. 184 three-strikes law. He ineffectively argued for appeal three times.

Although some charges were dropped as it was viewed as a violation of his First Amendment rights, he was arrested in California in 1998, under the suspicion that his violent rap lyrics violated his parole. He rapped his court statement to the presiding judge, in Ohio, who gave C-Bo probation on the condition that he also rap in a Public Service Announcement. Also known for his frequent collaborations with fellow California-based rappers, he appeared in numerous videos for Tupac Shakur.

Early life

Thomas was raised in a single family home with three brothers and five sisters. During that time he became a member of the Garden Blocc Crips.

Legal issues

Since the age of 10 Thomas spent nearly half of his life in and out of incarceration, entering the criminal justice system at age 14, being arrested 40-50 times spending time at Soledad State Prison, Folsom State Prison, and Deuel Vocational Institution.

During a 1993 music video shoot, Thomas fired a shot in the air to get people's attention and stop a potential gang situation. Instead it made matters worse, confusing the crowd and causing more shots to ring off. His friend King Miller was killed at age 23 during the act.

In a 1996 incident Thomas was sentenced to 15 months in jail. A firearm used by him caused a death of one man during a rival gang confrontation.

In March 1998, he was sentenced to two more months in prison in Sacramento, after testing positive for marijuana which violated the terms of his probation.

In August 2017, during the filming of a music video, a shootout occurred leaving 1 dead and 4 injured. This came after rapper Mozzy and Thomas had exchanged diss tracks during the same month.

Personal life

Thomas is married with 3 children, he enjoys skiing, camping and fishing.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Release | Peak chart positions | US | US R&B | Gas Chamber | Tales from the Crypt | One Life 2 Live | Til My Casket Drops | The Final Chapter | Enemy of the State | Life as a Rider | Desert Eagle | The Mobfather | Money to Burn | Cali Connection | Orca | The Mobfather II | The Problem | Animal | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1993 | — | 53 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1995 | 99 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1997 | 65 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1998 | 41 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1999 | 81 | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2000 | 91 | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2002 | — | 41 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2003 | 199 | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006 | — | 71 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2012 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2015 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2017 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2019 | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Collaborative albums

• Blocc Movement (with Brotha Lynch Hung) (2001)
• Gang Affiliated (with West Coast Mafia Gang) (2004)
• In Thugz We Trust (with Thug Lordz) (2004)
• 100 Racks In My Backpack (with San Quinn) (2006)
• Thug Lordz Trilogy (with Thug Lordz) (2006)
• The Moment of Truth (with Killa Tay) (2006)
• Tradin' War Stories (with Omar "Big-O" Gooding) (2008)
• Thug Money (with Thug Lordz) (2010)

Compilation albums

• The Best of C-Bo (1995)
• C-Bo's Best Appearances '91-'99 (2001)
• West Coast Mafia (2002)
• West Side Ryders (2003)
• C-Bo's Lost Sessions (2004)
• West Side Ryders II (2005)
• Best of the Girth (2005)
• The Greatest Hits (2005)
• West Side Ryders III (2007)
• West Coast Classics (2007)
• C-Bo's Bulletproof (2007)
• West Side Ryders IV: World Wide Mob (2008)
• West Side Ryders V (2011)
• C-Bo Trilogy (2012)
• OG Chronicles (2014)
• Mobfather: The John Gotti Pack (2018)

Mixtapes

• Underground & Unreleased with West Coast Mafia Gang (2004)
• West Coast Durty with Lil' Flip (2004)
• The Money to Burn Mixtape (2006)
• Cashville Takeover with Cashville Records (2009)
• West Coast Mafia Music (2010)
• I Am Gangsta Rap (2013)

Extended plays

::data[format=table] | Title | Release | Peak chart positions | US | US R&B | The Autopsy | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1994 | — | 22 | | | | ::

Singles

::data[format=table] | Title

| Year | Featured artist(s) | Producer | Album | "OT Trips" | "The Hustler" | "Mo Money" | "Let's Ride" | "Trapped" | "I Am American" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2022 | — | Brit on the Beat | non-album single | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | Kafeeno | | | | | | | | | | | | 2023 | — | | | | | | | | | | | 2025 | — | | | | | | | | | | ::

Guest appearances

::data[format=table]

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album	"Smokin' Da Bomb"	"Can't Stand the Heat"	"Hard Core"	"That's How We Break Bread"	"Tradin' War Stories"	"Ain't Hard 2 Find"	"Code Red"	"See the Light"	"Gotta Buy Your Dope from Us"	"Niggaz Get They Wig Split"	"Major Factorz"	"The Funk Is On"	"It's on, on Sight"	"Ride"	"Deadly Weapon"	"Mafia Niggaz"	"Over Drive"	"Big Dawgs"	"Thug Money"	"Mob"	"Armaggedon"	"Fastlane"	"Mafioso Type"	"No Money"	"Prepare to Die"	"Thug World"	"Cause I Can"	"Flossed Out"	"Kaviealstars"	"Thug Disease"	"The World Keeps Turnin'"	"Straight G'z"	"Hard Ball?"	"The Murda Show"	"Whoo Ride"	"One Luv"	"Ride 4 Me"	"Block Monsters"	"Do It Right"	"Smile"	"Paper Made"	"I'm a Boss"	"Crippin'"	"Blaze Up the City"	"What!"	"Fuck You"	"Smack Yo Self"	"Deadly Game"	"Thug Lordz"	"Nothing Over My G'z"	"Countin' Money"	"Can We Ball?"	"Can U Deal With This?"	"Sav Boyz"	"American Me"	"The Slide Show"	"United Ghettos of America part 2"	"Big Boy"	"Leave the Ridin' to Us"	"Ghetto Slums"	"Gangstas' & Ballas"	"West Side"	"Thuggin Till I Die"	"Grown Ass Man"	"Stay on It"	"Fast Quarter"	"On My Side"	"Like Us"	"Hittin' a Lick"	"Blowin on Jamaica"	"Put Da Clip In"	"Salute the West"	"Real 1's"	"Choppa on Deck"	"Real Life"	"Life of a Rider"	"Bomb First"	"Made a Man of Me"
1994	Marvaless, Rup Dog	Ghetto Blues
Marvaless
1995	Marvaless, Pizzo	Just Marvaless
TRU	True
1996	2Pac, Outlawz	All Eyez on Me
2Pac, B-Legit, D-Shot, E-40, Richie Rich
Marv Mitch & LeMay	Livin In Tha Strange
Marvaless	Wiccked
B-Legit, Little Bruce	The Hemp Museum
B-Legit, Celly Cel
1997	JT the Bigga Figga, Young Meek	Game Tight
Lunasicc, Marvaless	Mr. Lunasicc
1998	E-40	The Element of Surprise
Celly Cel	The G Filez
Marvaless	Fearless
Marvaless, Steady Mobb'n
Lunasicc, 151, Killa Tay, Mob Figaz	A Million Words, a Million Dollars
Killa Tay, J-Dubb, O-Fed	Mr. Mafioso
Guce	If It Ain't Real, It Ain't Official
1999	Kokane	They Call Me Mr. Kane
Mob Figaz	C-Bo's Mob Figaz
Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Kaos
Mob Figaz, Huccabucc, Young Meek
Mob Figaz, Spice 1
E-40, Jayo Felony	Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
Mike Mosley, Emidy, Official London Breezy, Will	Platinum Plaques
3X Krazy, Otis & Shug	Immortalized
South Central Cartel, Spice 1	Concrete Jungle Vol. 1
Pizzo	Heater Calhoun
2000	Killa Tay	Snake Eyes
Thug Thisle
Spice 1	The Last Dance
Spice 1, Rod-Dee	The Playa Rich Project
Mac Mall, JT the Bigga Figga	Beware of Those
2001	Yukmouth, Phats Bossi	Thug Lord: The New Testament
Yukmouth, CJ Mac
Big Hollis	Knocks 2001
Daz Dillinger, JT the Bigga Figga, Yukmouth, Dru Down	Game for Sale
Daz Dillinger	Who Ride wit Us: Tha Compalation, Vol. 1
2002	10sion, I.V.A.N. The Terrible, Outlawz	10sion
Messy Marv	Turf Politics
Luniz	Silver & Black
Young Noble, Hellraza	Street Warz
X-Raided	Deadly Game
2003	Yukmouth	Godzilla
JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay	Game Tight Vol. 2
JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay, Mac Mall, Marvaless, Pizzo
JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay
2004	Big Lurch, Killa Tay	It's All Bad
San Quinn, Killa Tay	I Give You My Word
Yukmouth, Chino Nino, Young Noble	United Ghettos of America Vol. 2
Yukmouth, Nate, Richie Rich
Yukmouth, 151, Dru Down, Eastwood, Roscoe, Spice 1, Tha Realest
2005	J-Flo, Yukmouth	Sick Sick Em
Spice 1, Yukmouth	The Truth
JT the Bigga Figga, Phats Bossi	Neighborhood Supastarz
2007	Young Bleed	Once Upon a Time in Amedica
2008	Yukmouth, Glasses Malone	Million Dollar Mouthpiece
Outlawz	We Want In: The Street LP
2009	Tha Realest	Witness Tha Realest
Yukmouth	The West Coast Don
2011	E-40, Yukmouth	Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift
The Jacka, Smigg Dirtee	Flight Risk
Pimp C, Smoke D, Vicious	Still Pimping
2012	E-40, T-Nutty	The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2
Yukmouth, Young Noble	Half Baked
2013	Young Noble, Young Buck	Outlaw Nation Vol. 2
Westcoast Stone, Killa Tay, Kokane, Wratchet Wrico	Salute The West
Sean T, Meccah Dawn
2014	Yukmouth, Young Buck	GAS (Grow & Sale)
Philthy Rich, M Dot 80	A~1 Since Day One
2015	Lil Mo, Beast, Matt Black
2024	Matteocci Tha Don	Single
E.D.I. Mean	EDIDON, June Summers, Nutt-So	The Hope Dealer, Pt. 1
::

References

References

1. Jam, Billy. (2012-02-03). "FREE SPEECH FREES RAPPER / About to be released, jailed C-BO says he's got a lot to say".
2. Weekly, L.A.. (1998-03-11). "Jailhouse Rap".
3. Palmer, Tamara. (2018-06-13). "5 'Criminal' Songs That Were Used As Evidence In Court".
4. (1998-03-04). "Rapper C-BO Jailed For Lyrics".
5. (1998-03-07). "Charges Against Rapper Over Lyrics Dropped".
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160529054147/http://www.mtv.com/news/3480/gangsta-rapper-c-bo-jailed-for-lyrics-on-new-lp/ C-Bo jailed MTV] Retrieved 28 April 2021
7. (1998-07-31). "C-BO Raps His Way Out Of Legal Trouble".
8. Drake, David. (2012-10-19). "The 30 Biggest Criminal Trials in Rap History".
9. Palmer, Tamara. (2005-01-20). "C-Bo - Music - Miami - The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida".
10. Arnold, Eric K.. (2005-04-13). "On Lockdown".
11. Jam, Billy. (2012-02-03). "Jailed Rapper Has 90 Days Added to Term".
12. Soren Baker. (1998-03-06). "PAROLED RAPPER'S FIGHTING WORDS LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL".
13. (1998-03-04). "Rap Artist Is Jailed Over Anti-Police Lyrics".
14. International, United Press. (2002-03-15). "Today In Music: A look back at pop music".
15. Berry, Peter. (2017-08-28). "One Dead, Four Injured After Shooting at C-Bo Music Video Shoot".
16. (2015-05-14). "Interview with C-Bo".
17. "C-BO Chart History".
18. "C-BO Chart History".

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