Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, there’s a chance you’ve heard Kokane rap or sing on one of your favorite artist’s tracks.
The West Coast rapper/vocalist rose to prominence in the ’80s and ’90s alongside the Diirty OGz, and other West Coast vets like N.W.A, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube — and he’s collaborated with all of them. Now, Kokane has claimed the title of most featured artist in the world.
“It’s been a long road to become the most featured artist in the world,” Kokane tells HipHopDX. “But to tell you the truth, when I first started in the mid-80s, I never intended to be on so many features years later. My dad Jerry B. Long, Sr. was an original member at Motown Records in the ’60s. He wrote, arranged and orchestrated over 500 music compositions and successful music scores.
“It’s quite ironic that I would follow in my father’s footsteps years later to create my own body of work and become the most featured artist in the world with over 4,000 plus guest appearances.”
Kokane says ’90s Hip Hop ushered in the “hook game” era, and more artists like he and Nate Dogg were being heavily requested all over the world to bring G-Funk vocal styles to the mix.
“Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records and Above The Law’s Gregory Hutchison gave me my start,” he explains. “They introduced my many styles and characters on platinum and gold albums in the ’90s. After those encounters, artists from all over the world requested my hooks and rap verses, and it’s gone on for the last 28 years.
“I knew I was the most featured artist about eight years ago when my wife and team researched this matter, and pulled up all the artist that I’ve collaborated with over the years. I was already at 3,500 features in 2010. Even today’s Top 100 Billboard artists didn’t reach 1,200 collabs. Now, it’s super official.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tmu4PW7t_k
Although Kokane says Google will provide 99 million results saying he’s the most featured artist in the world, the next step is getting the Guinness Book of World Records to recognize his achievement.
“We are getting close to solidifying this matter in their history books,” he says. “Since this is a new lane and this accomplishment has yet to be discovered until now, we will continue to press forward toward Guinness Book of World Records to seal this matter. I’m more than confident that it’s coming. But in the meantime, I’m very satisfied with the Google results.”
Over the years, some of Kokane’s favorite collaborations include N.W.A’s “Niggaz 4 Life” intro, Above The Law’s “Kalifornia,” Eazy-E’s “Any Last Werdz,” Ice Cube’s “Spitting Pollaseeds,” Dr. Dre’s “La Niggaz” from 2001, J. Dilla’s “It’s Gangsta,” Snoop Dogg’s “Stacey Adams,” Busta Rhymes’ “Ass On Your Shoulder” and Cypress Hill’s “Legalize It.”
The Pomona, California-bred rapper isn’t limited to West Coast artists. He’s also on Prince Paul’s Politics Of The Business from 2003 and Tech N9ne’s 2010 cut “Hard Liquor,” which was produced by Dre and Blink-182’s Travis Barker.
Kokane admits if Nate Dogg was still alive, things would be different.[apple_news_ad type=”any”]
“If I stop making records for the next two or three years, some of these artist would probably come close to my stats,” he says. “But since I don’t plan on retiring any time soon, I’ll keep this crown on my head for a while.
“I will say this for the record — if Nate Dogg was still here, he would’ve gave me some problems. Me and the homie Nate would’ve been tied on collabs. Rest well Nate. Gone too soon.”
For now, 1,000 of his collabs can be found here. The remaining 3,000 plus are expected to be listed soon.
Dope
Interesting fact. From a great artist. Pollaseeedz.
Who is this washed dude
You are stupid and let me tell you why. The article clearly tells who he is and you comment at the bottom asking who he is. Premeditated right? You spent time thinking stupidity.
say mayne, too short has to have that blown out the water ya dig? over 30 years in the game mayne
This is why getting proper writing credit owning your publishing is a real issue. 4000 plus features and still counting adds up on a royalty statement. Salute to the OG.
What about the songs he made with 2Pac. I guess since it wasn’t released commercially, they don’t count it. Hats off to the legendary KoKane.
Ummmmm . . . Have you ever heard of Lil Wayne . . . I’m just saying
Lil Wayne is garbage
Right, and Kokane is the modern day Shakespeare, lmfao
Glad to see an underrated OG get noticed
I literally can’t name one (excluding the ones that are given in the article), except I THINK he was on the Snoop Dogg song from the Undercover Brother soundtrack that also had Bootsy Collins on it. Must be mostly on west coast artists who were hot in the ’90s songs, and I don’t follow that nearly as close as I do with east coast.
just look him up on youtube, he has songs with more than just west coast artist. Dudes work expands further than you know
Can’t name a Kokane song or album? I have been listening to Kokane since the Above the Law days in the early 90s. Time to learn hip hop history and the creators of good music.
I never heard of him till today. Thanks DX
4,000 x $1,000 = 4,000,000 before tax and all that bullshit
If he’s still paying a mortgage, he’s a fool
No Pain…no gain !!!
HIS WORK ON UNCLE SAM’S CURSE IS HIS BEST.
Took the words right out my mouth!!! Classic
Goto listen to “Kokane – King of Gfunk”. Its a geat album
he musta never heard of method man
OG in the game – Good to see real OG’s getting some press – Gone be 10,000 features soon with his work rate #salute from New Zealand