Twenty-two years ago, the Outlawz released their debut album ‘Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us,’ independently on Outlaw Recordz.
Although the Outlawz had released a posthumous collaboration project with Tupac in 1999, ‘Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us’ was their official debut album. The 19 track effort was heavily produced by Outlawz member E.D.I. Mean peaked at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums.
Reflecting on the incredible piece of history, Young Noble sharing the album cover wrote the following in his caption, “Dropped our very first Outlawz album on our own independent label Outlaw Recordz on this day 22 years ago…. The movement still moving and thank you to everyone who been supporting us all these years!!”
Someone else who was part of the album, was also appreciative and thankful. Fabrice Henssens is the photographer responsible for the album cover. As seen on the cover, Kastro, E.D.I., Young Noble and Napoleon were captured by the L.A. based photographer.
“22 years ago today this album was released. Proud and honored to have my photo on the cover. Thanks to @edidono4l and @young_noble for the love throughout the years. Captured at the then graffiti mecca of LA, the legendary Belmont tunnel. Shot on film,” wrote Henssens on his own IG caption.
Henssens is also the man behind the Outlawz previous project ‘Still I Rise.’ Just as he did with the cover art for R.W.U.O.C.W.U., Henssens captured history and was featured for Tupac’s 3rd posthumous release.
“The story behind this photo is matter of being at the right place at the right time. The day the images were captured, I was making photos of graffiti art around Melrose Ave. I saw Tupac and The Outlawz driving, so I immediately turned my focus on to them. The first photo I captured was of them driving away, which is actually the image on the back cover of the album. As you can see on that image the Outlawz weren’t too happy with me shooting photos of them, therefore flipping me the bird,” Henssens explained during an exclusive interview which can be viewed on Tupac Uncensored. ” followed them for a couple of blocks until I finally caught up to them. I was driving alone, I pointed my camera out the passenger side window. Shot off the last three frames on the roll of film. (Yes this was shot on film! digital cameras didn’t exist back then.)”
Let us know in the comments below, which is your favorite song off the Outlawz debut album, ‘Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us.’
