Kokane

Kokane, real name Jerry B. Long Jr., is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, and an iconic figure of West Coast hip-hop and G-funk. Raised in Pomona, California, in a family deeply connected to music, he is the son of Motown composer Jerry B. Long Sr. and developed an early musical foundation shaped by funk, soul and hip-hop.

In the late 1980s, he joined Ruthless Records, the label founded by Eazy-E, becoming part of the creative movement that was shaping the sound of the West Coast, notably alongside Above the Law. After releasing his debut album under the name Who Am I?, he fully established his artistic identity with Funk Upon a Rhyme in 1994, blending rap, singing and P-Funk influences into an instantly recognizable style.

His distinctive voice, moving effortlessly between rapping and singing, became one of his defining signatures. Throughout his career, Kokane has collaborated with major figures in American hip-hop and funk, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Cypress Hill and Xzibit. His appearance on Dr. Dre’s 2001, followed by his contributions to several tracks on Snoop Dogg’s Tha Last Meal, helped establish his voice as an enduring presence in West Coast hip-hop.

Alongside his numerous collaborations, Kokane has built a prolific solo discography, continuing to explore G-funk, hip-hop, funk and soul throughout the decades. For PARIGO, he contributed his voice and songwriting to Warp Zone feat. Kokane, alongside Liqid and Bonetrips, featured on the album Diggin Hip Hop Vol. 2 (Parigo No. 32). The track was nominated for Best Hip Hop Track at the 2020 Mark Awards, bringing further recognition to this collaboration within PARIGO’s original catalogue.

Across both his solo work and numerous collaborations, Kokane has cultivated an instantly recognizable identity, driven by groove, a deep-rooted funk heritage and a distinctive vocal style that effortlessly blurs the boundaries between rapping and singing.