Shorty
Birth nameJerome Washington
Born(1967-09-14)September 14, 1967
Indianapolis, Indiana U.S.
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Died(2019-06-19)June 19, 2019 (aged 51)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, producer, activist
Years active1991-2019
LabelsStreet Knowledge, Bow Tie Entertainment, East West America, Universal Records

Jerome Muhammad (September 14, 1967 – June 19, 2019), born Jerome Washington, better known by his stage name Shorty, was an American rapper, producer, gang intervention activist, and member of Ice Cube's spin-off Platinum hip hop group Da Lench Mob.[1]

Early life

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Shorty's mother Mabel Washington moved him and his older brother Jeff to Los Angeles CA in 1968.[2][3] Jerome competed locally as a pop lock dancer with other friends in his neighborhood. The dance team put aside dancing in order to protect their neighborhood from rival groups and formed “Marvin Avenue Gangster Crips” in Los Angeles, CA of which Shorty an adolescent was a founding member of the street organization. The organization is named after Marvin Avenue, a street located West of Hauser Blvd, between Venice and Washington Blvd.[4]

The Lench Mob (Posse)

After being convicted and serving three years in Corcoran state prison for robbing a Los Angeles police officer, Shorty was released on parole and returned to his neighborhood of West Los Angeles.

The highly publicized acrimonious departure of Ice Cube from the group N.W.A. required him to recruit protection from threats from his former label. During this time Shorty's childhood friend and future bandmate, J-Dee (Dasean Cooper,) introduced Shorty to Ice Cube. Shorty's street reputation preceded him and Ice Cube hired Shorty the first day they met as a personal bodyguard and part of his existing growing entourage or posse called “The Lench Mob.” At this time The Lench Mob was not a recording group but included members such as Female Rapper Yo-Yo, Producer Dj Chilly Chill, Producer Sir Jinx, Rapper T-Bone, Del the Funky Homosapien, K-Dee, Maulkie and others.

In September 1990, Shorty and The Lench Mob posse clashed with Eazy E's hip hop act Above the Law during the annual New Music Seminar conference at the Times Square's Marriott Marquis hotel. The parties agreed to fight in a bathroom, away from cameras but instead squared off in front of the convention crowd. Shorty threw the first punch at Above the Law's Total K-Oss, and J-Dee took on KMG the Illustrator. Actor LaDell Preston plays Jerome “Shorty” Muhammad in the critically acclaimed 2015 film “Straight outta Compton,” directed by F. Gary Gray where this altercation was dramatized.[5]

Da Lench Mob (music recording group)

While on tour, members of rap group Public Enemy namely Professor Griff exposed Ice Cube, Shorty and The Lench Mob to Black history and social consciousness. In several interviews Shorty attributes his transformation from a life of crime to gang intervention by the teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad while on tour with Public Enemy. In 1991 Shorty joined the Nation of Islam in Los Angeles and changed his last name from Washington to Muhammad and married the same year.

In 1992 Shorty collaborated creatively with longtime friend J-Dee, T-Bone, and Ice Cube to form a recording group bearing the name "Da Lench Mob." The debut album entitled “Guerillas in tha Mist” was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 18, 1992, indicating US sales of over 1,000,000 units.[3]

After the breakup of the group Shorty appeared solo on multiple projects including Coolio's 2× platinum album Gangsta's Paradise(RIAA)[6]

Health problems and death

Jerome Shorty Muhammad died on June 19, 2019, in Los Angeles, California of kidney and liver failure. He was 51 years old. He is survived by 7 children, two grandchildren, his mother, one older brother and younger sister.

Legacy

A documentary film entitled “Comin’ up Short” produced by Ice Cube, Steve Muhammad-EL and directed by Queen Muhammad Ali and Hakeem Khaaliq details Shorty's life in and out of the music industry. The film received a grant from ISF Scholarship fund and will be released posthumously.[7]

Many hip hop celebrities paid homage to Shorty after he died in 2019.

  • DJ Premier "R.I.P. JEROME "SHORTY" MUHAMMAD of DA LENCH MOB)"[8]
  • Chuck D "While BET Awards is being broadcast A very touching Tribute to Shorty of The Lench Mob aka Bro Jerome Muhammad L I V E on HipHop 4 Justice radio show. Rest In Beats ..HipHop can do better by really acknowledging the contributors better".[9]
  • Ice Cube "Steady Mobbin'...RIP Shorty/Free JDee #AMWat30"[10]
  • Mack 10[11]
  • WC "From teenagers way back when to growing up becoming men. Luv you forever homie. Short Dog (Shorty) from Da Lench Mob. R.I.P."[12]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Chart positions Certifications
Billboard 200[13] Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14]
1992 Guerillas in tha Mist 24 4
1994 Planet of da Apes 81 14

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
Hot Rap Songs[16] UK Singles Chart[17]
1992 "Guerillas in tha Mist" (with Ice Cube) — — Guerillas in tha Mist
1993 "Freedom Got an A.K." (with Ice Cube) 7 51
"Ain't Got No Class" (with B-Real) — —
1994 "Chocolate City" — — Planet of da Apes
"Goin' Bananas / Cut Throats" — —

Filmography

Films

Year Film Functioned as Role
Director Producer Screenwriter Actor
1991 Boyz n the Hood No No No Yes Gang Banger
2000 Tha Eastsidaz No No No Yes Prisoner
2001 The Wash No No No Yes Thug 1
2011 Rhyme and Punishment No No No Yes Gang Member Documentary
2015 Straight Outta Compton No No No No Depicted
2022 Comin' Up Short No Yes No Yes Himself Documentary

References

  1. ↑ "Jerome Muhammad". IMDb. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Celebrating the life of Jerome 'Brother Shorty' Muhammad". www.finalcall.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Jerome Shorty Muhammad Obituary". app.box.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Marvin Gangster Crips". May 1, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ dkelsen. "The Truth Behind Ice Cube's Legendary Brawl With Above the Law – OC Weekly". Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  7. ↑ Media, Bionic. "COMIN' UP SHORT - Abacus". Abacus Media Rights. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ "DJ PREMIER – LIVE FROM HEADQCOURTERZ RADIO SHOW FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25th, 2019 (GUESTS: BENNY THE BUTCHER, CONWAY, DJ SHAY & RICKY HYDE) (R.I.P. JEROME "SHORTY" MUHAMMAD of DA LENCH MOB)". Premier Wuz Here. July 4, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  9. ↑ "While BET Awards is being broadcast A very touching Tribute to Shorty of The Lench Mob aka Bro Jerome Muhammad L I V E on HipHop 4 Justice radio show. Rest In Beats ..HipHop can do better by really acknowledging the contributors better". Twitter. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Steady Mobbin'...RIP Shorty/Free JDee #AMWat30". Twitter. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Mack 10 on Linking up with Ice Cube through Shorty from Da Lench Mob". www.vladtv.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  12. ↑ "WC The Shadiest One on Instagram: "From teenagers way back when to growing up becoming men. Luv you forever homie. Short Dog (Shorty) from Da Lench Mob. R.I.P."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Da Lench Mob". Billboard 200. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Da Lench Mob Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Da Lench Mob Chart History". Hot Rap Songs. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  17. ↑ "DA LENCH MOB | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
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