Crooked I

Crooked I, born Dominick Wickliffe, is an American rapper from Long Beach, California, who later rebranded as KXNG Crooked in November 2014. He rose through the West Coast scene in the late 1990s, signing to Death Row Records before moving through Virgin Records, and built a reputation as one of hip-hop's most technically gifted lyricists, known for dense wordplay, punchlines and freestyle skill.

He is best known as a member of Slaughterhouse, the hip-hop supergroup he formed with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9», signed to Eminem's Shady Records. The group released a string of albums built around rapid-fire trading of verses, cementing Crooked's status among the era's premier lyrical technicians. Outside the group, his solo catalogue, including projects like «Gangsta Rap» and mixtapes such as «Drum Murder» and «Guess Who's Back», showcases his gritty, street-rooted West Coast sound alongside sharp battle-ready technique.

As an independent artist, he founded his own labels, Dynasty Entertainment and C.O.B. Digital, and has held executive roles including Senior Vice President of Treacherous Records, reflecting a career that spans both major-label runs and hands-on independent hustle. Tracks like «Not for the Weak Minded» and «Monsters in My Head» remain touchstones for fans of hard-edged, lyrically driven West Coast rap.