Cali Life style was a Chicano Rap duo formed in 1992 from Santa Maria,CA. The duo consisted of rapper T-dre(Terry Funk) and Delux(Dominick??) as well as Producer/Dj Dominator(Alex Dominguez). Cali Life Style was signed to a new emerging underground label Familia records in 1993 as a group to represent the Underground Chicano Rap youth in Southern California 805 Scene.
They are known for their strong involvement in the infancy of the Sureno Rap Era(1995-2008) and as a pioneers in Chicano Rap(1989-20–). In 1995 CLS releases it's first LP THE MEXICAN INVASION. It's lead single "Coastin" made the LP become a huge underground success gaining airplay in Southwestern United States,Japan,Australia and New Zealand.
The Mexican Invasion was different from what other chicano rapers from LA (who were using 70's soul samples and Ice Cube -Kid Frost flows) and San Diego Chicano Rappers(who were using 50's Rare Groove and Soul with their own unique Calo Flows) were doing at the time.
In that it was the first album to expose 805 California(Santa Barbara,Oxnard,Ventura) gang culture with its dark synth rap, Sureno rap flow and constants mentions of it throughout the album as well as giving light to 80's Electro-funk samples in Chicano Rap that is a staple to the 805 and France's Undergrounds music scene to date.
With the success of TMI it lead to it's follow up LP TELL IT LIKE IT IS recorded in 1998 and released in 1999. Ignored in its release due in part to a change of scenery in Chicano Rap with acts like Lil Rob and Knightowl leading the way in 50's Rare Groove and Soul samples in Chicano Rap.
It would eventually be recognized as one of the duo's finer albums with its creative and strong approach to 80's Electro-Funk samples that would then be pursed heavily by Cali Lfie Style's Dj member Dominator who would form Central Coast Clique the following year and eventually shift the Chicano Rap scene to 805 -CA- 80's Electro-Funk Rap.
The group would release it's third and final album before hiatus SUN UP 2 SUN DOWN released SEP. 11 2001. The third album again went un-noticed by the Chicano Rap masses who had gone towards the NB RIDAZ approach to Chciano Rap with its Zapp&Rogger ,POP love ballads.
The album still fared better than TELL IT LIKE IT IS with it's popularity rise from LA RADIO SHOW -POCOS PERO LOCOS from lead single "1st Thang's First" .Like TELL IT LIKE IT IS , it was a rare case in Chicano Rap in which a Chicano Rap act blended MIAMI BASS and Synth-Pop in it's flow.
SUN UP 2 SUN DOWN was without full production from DJ DOMINATOR and instead was co-produced with a young FINGAZZ. "Southern Comfort"-samples Micheal Jacksons 'Rock With You' . "1st thangs 1st"-samples Surface's "Happy" The duo would then go on hiatus and make individual appearences for other acts throughout the 2000's like Central Coast Clique,Chino Grande,Don Cisco,E-Dub,Paul Dateh.
In 2005 CLS released a self released LP THE INVASION CONTINUES still using its classic style but involving more Hip Hop en Espanol with appearances from Don Abusivo. In 2008 CLS released THE FOUNDATION LP.
In 2009 rapper T-Dre was incarcerated.*LSOB and CLS did get in a confrontation at a low-rider show for LSOB alleged use of plagiarism of CLS's track "Coastin" which was set to be released as the lead single for the Mexican Invasion album that was to be released in 1995.
LSOB apparently had stole the lyrics and idea for sample of Con Funk Shun's " by your side" at a dual recording session in LA . LSOB was able to release the track as "Dip Into My Ride" in 1994 . CLS makes notice of this in their tracks "Coastin" and "Down From The Get Go".
*Rapper T-dre is rumored to have slapped rapper Kid Frost without retalitaion from Kid Frost at a Lowrider show in the early 2000's for a disagreement in ideals when Kid Frost asked for Sureno's and Norteno's to unite.
SIMILAR ARTISTS-Central Coast Clique,ODM, 213,Diamonique, Clicka 1,, Spanish Fly, Lil Blacky,Followed- Dj Quik,Snoop Dogg,SOS BAND,Too Short.Followers-Mr. Blue,Scrip Loc,Chino Grande,Diamonique,Fingazz, Mr Capone-E,Prophecy,Blunted 1,
