RIP Roger Troutman, talkbox player extraordinaire and “maker of the most beautiful music ever” says the internet’s most trusted music authority. With his glory early 80’s days behind him, he began to experience a resurgence through sampling and eventually rappers got smart and started putting him on songs. He was as big as ever by 1997 when “California Love” got him a Grammy nomination. From there the guest appearances came fast and furious, many of them on has-beens, c-listers and no namers but he always sounding happy to be there and was animated in videos, most likely thankful for being an in-demand mid-40’s legend. Mastering the talkbox was no easy task musically or physically; Roger was out here risking viral infections, cracked teeth and electrocution for the funk. Unfortunately in 1999, older brother and longtime bandmate/manager Larry was experiencing financial problems and when Roger fired him he sought revenge by murdering him outside of his studio and then minutes later killing his own a few blocks away.
- Scandalous [The Click feat. Roger Troutman]
- Master Of The Game [Kool Keith feat. Roger Troutman]
- Untouchable [Scarface feat. Roger Troutman]
- Five Minutes To Flush [The Firm feat. Roger Troutman]
- My Homiez [Vontel feat. Roger Troutman]
- Short Times [Da 5 Footaz feat. Roger Troutman]
- Beware Of My Crew (DJ Pooh Remix) [LBC Crew feat. Roger
Troutman]
- Throw It Up [Rappin’ 4-Tay feat. Snoop Dogg, Tray Deee
& Roger Troutman]
- Eternal E [Eazy E feat. Roger Troutman & DJ Yella]
- No Idea [DJ Pooh feat. KAM & Roger Troutman]
- Rally World [Rally Boys feat. Roger Troutman]
- All Night [N2Deep feat. Roger Troutman]
- The Jones [Ahmad feat. Roger Troutman]
- Long Beach City [Soloc feat. Roger Troutman]
- Live From Oakland [Slim feat. Roger Troutman]
- Playaz Need No Love [H-Bomb feat. Roger Troutman]
- Suckas Do What They Can [Spice 1 feat. Too Short,
Yukmouth & Roger]
So what you know about Roger & Zapp outside of the rap? Here are their best 6 songs placed chronologically from 1980-1983. This may seem like an EP but it’s mostly 10 minute extended album cuts.
- More Bounce To The Ounce [Zapp]
- So Ruff, So Tuff [Roger]
- Do It Roger [Roger]
- Dance Floor [Zapp]
- I Can Make You Dance [Zapp]
- Heartbreaker [Zapp]
