West Coast rapper Tash was born Rico Smith in Columbus, Ohio, in 1972, relocating to California at age 16; a protégé of King Tee and Ice T, in 1992 he co-founded tha Alkaholiks, issuing their debut album, 21 Over, the following year. In the wake of the group's third album, 1997's Likwidation, Tash began working on his solo debut, 1999's Rap Life. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi