By: Todd “DG” Davis
Rapindustry.com

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Inglewood birthed them, the streets molded them, and the West Coast elevated them to untouchable. Binky Mack and Squeak Ru—Allfrumtha I—took ‘hood hustle, G-funk grooves, and unfiltered swagger and detonated it into a sound that still hits like a full-system bass drop.

From vibing with Westside Connection to dropping anthems like “County Jail” and “Fill My Cup (To Tha Rim),” they didn’t just put their city on the map—they immortalized it in hip-hop history.

Decades deep, the culture still rides, the crowds still scream, and the legacy? Certified. They just dropped The official first single ‘Connect Gang’ ft. K-Dee Gangsta off the upcoming AllFrumTha I Lost Tapes album.

Binky Mack and Squeak Ru, take it back to Inglewood—who were y’all before Allfrumtha I, and what kind of environment shaped the sound and attitude you brought to West Coast hip-hop?

Binky Mack: In the ‘hood—street-smart, hustlin’, always trying to figure out the next move. Having fun, baggin’, and laughin’. We bring all that to our sound. Now, with freedom and control of our music, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet. We do it for love, not deadlines.

Squeak Ru: We were just two guys from the neighborhood trying to figure out life, dealing with the everyday realities of being Black men in America. The ups and downs in our community shaped us, and we put those stories into our music. That’s what built our sound and attitude.

The name Allfrumtha I always stood out—what does it really represent, and what was the meaning behind that identity when you first stepped into the game?

Binky Mack: It’s just the two of us in the group, but we represent the whole city. All Frum Tha I—Inglewood.

Squeak Ru: The name stands for all of Inglewood. That’s what we represent—the city and the people.

Your first big look came through Mack 10 and Hoo-Bangin’ Records—how did that connection come together, and what was it like being part of that Westside movement at its peak?

Binky Mack: Me and Mack were in 1st Amendment back in the early ’90s. After he linked with Cube, he came back and grabbed us. The Westside movement was—and still is—amazing. We’re still carrying the torch.

Squeak Ru: We weren’t actually on Hoo-Bangin’. We were on One Productions through Priority Records. The connection came from growing up in the same Inglewood neighborhood—the North Side. We’re just grateful to be part of hip-hop history.

You appeared on Westside Connection’s Bow Down during one of the most powerful moments in West Coast rap—what do you remember about recording “Hoo-Bangin’ (WSCG Style)” and being around Cube, WC, and Mack 10 during that era?

Binky Mack: It was a dope experience. When you’re around dopeness, it rubs off. That Cube-produced beat was one of my favorites. We had a blast recording it.

Squeak Ru: I didn’t realize how big it was going to be. Being around everyone felt like family. We already had a relationship with Mack, and Cube and Dub welcomed us in.

Before your debut album dropped, you were already on major soundtracks like The Substitute, Gang Related, and Thicker Than Water. How important were those early placements in building your buzz?

Binky Mack: Major. Anything you can do to build momentum helps. Imagine if we had social media back then—it would’ve been crazy.

Squeak Ru: Very important. We were building exposure, and Cube told us that by the time we dropped, the whole world should know who we are.

When the Allfrumtha I debut album dropped in 1998, it had that unmistakable Westside energy—what was the mindset in the studio when you were crafting that record?

Binky Mack: Just doing what we do. We’d been recording for years before that. The goal was to make even doper music while still building on our earlier work.

Squeak Ru: Just staying true to who we are and adding our element to the Westside Connection sound.

Tracks like “County Jail” hit with a different kind of reality—what inspired that song, and why was it important for you to tell that side of the Los Angeles story?

Binky Mack: I started with the Roger sample, and it just took off from there. Squeak came in and wrote something dope.

Squeak Ru: In L.A., people from all walks of life deal with the legal system. I wanted to write something everyone could relate to, so I spoke on one of my own experiences.

On the flip side, songs like “Fill My Cup (To Tha Rim)” brought the party and the Westside vibe—how did you balance street storytelling with those celebratory records?

Binky Mack: That was Dutch on the beat. I haven’t heard it in a minute, but I remember it being fun to make—and shooting the video was a good time.

Squeak Ru: Honestly, I was just trying to be as clever as I could.

Binky, you handled production on the debut—what was your approach to building beats that captured that Inglewood sound but still knocked across the whole West Coast?

Binky Mack: I was knocking out five tracks every other day, sending them to Squeak, and he’d write. That same formula is what we’re using now for the new album.

The West Coast scene has gone through waves and eras since the ’90s—how do you see the legacy of that G-funk and Hoo-Bangin’ movement today?

Binky Mack: Some people forgot—we’re in a microwave era now. But it’s on us to remind them, and that’s what we’re doing with the Lost Tapes album dropping (soon).

Squeak Ru: I see it coming back. People want that substance again.

 

 

You’re still performing live decades later—when you hit the stage now and perform those classics, what does it feel like seeing multiple generations rocking with the music?

Binky Mack: It’s always a great feeling. I love seeing artists from the ’80s and ’90s still performing too.

Squeak Ru: Beautiful. Full circle.

Looking back at the journey from Inglewood streets to Westside Connection history and beyond, what do you want the legacy of Allfrumtha I to represent in West Coast hip-hop culture?

Binky Mack: I’ve never really cared what people think, but honestly, I don’t think people have heard our best work yet. We’re about to step on the gas and start dropping more hits.

Squeak Ru: Truth, facts, quality, greatness, and love.