{{short description|American hip hop group}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Mr. Cee|Mister Cee}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist |name = RBL Posse |image = |caption = Black C and Mr. Cee |background = group_or_band |alias = Ruthless by Law |origin = Hunters Point, San Francisco, California |genre = Gangsta rap |years_active = 1991–present |label = In-A-Minute, Big Beat, The Rightway Productions |website = {{URL|rblposse.com/}} |current_members = Black C |past_members = {{ubl|Mr. Cee|Hitman}} }}

'''RBL Posse''' is an American gangsta rap group from the Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco, California. The members were Black C, Mr. Cee, and Hitman. The only surviving member is Black C.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Vallejo |date=March 6, 2024 |title=Upcoming Vallejo Events — Hip Hop Empowerment and SOL, the Musical |url=https://www.vallejosun.com/upcoming-vallejo-events-hip-hop-empowerment-and-sol-the-musical/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520123312/https://www.vallejosun.com/upcoming-vallejo-events-hip-hop-empowerment-and-sol-the-musical/ |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=May 20, 2024 |website=The Vallejo Sun |language=en}}</ref>

==History== RBL Posse was formed in 1991 by Black C (Christian Mathews) and Mr. Cee (Kyle Church). Their first release, the self-produced "Don't Give Me No Bammer" came out on In-a-Minute Records and made the ''Billboard'' magazine Hot Rap Singles chart, peaking at #16.<ref name=billboard>[http://www.billboard.com/artist/277282/rbl+posse/chart "RBL Posse: Chart History."] Billboard. ''www.billboard.com.'' Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref> Two albums followed: ''A Lesson to Be Learned'' released in 1992, which peaked at #60 on the ''Billboard'' magazine Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and ''Ruthless by Law'' released in 1994, which surpassed their debut by making it to #23, and also made The Billboard 200 at #197.<ref name=billboard/> In 1995, the group produced a solo record for group member Hitman (Ricky Herd) called ''Solo Creep''.

Their impressive sales for regional indie releases attracted interest from Atlantic Records subsidiary Big Beat, which signed the group. Before they could deliver an album, Mr. Cee was shot nine times and killed near his home on Harbor Road on New Year's Day 1996. This murder set off a wave of retaliation killings in this section of the city. Black C also lost an eye in 1988 during the San Francisco gang wars in a drive-by shooting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sward|first=Susan|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/12/16/MN232399.DTL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011216235818/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/12/16/MN232399.DTL|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2001|title=In Bayview-Hunters Point, a series of unsolved homicides has devastated one of S.F.'s most close-knit communities|date=December 16, 2001|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|accessdate=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

Black C and Hitman filled the void created by Mr. Cee's absence with various producers, including Rick Rock and MC Eiht, and released ''An Eye for an Eye'' in 1997. Musician and Co-producer Shannon Lacy whom also wrote and performed the instrumentation on "Strictly this game". The album peaked at #70 on The ''Billboard'' 200 chart and got as high as #14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.<ref name=billboard/>

Another Hitman solo record was released in 1999, and in 2000, RBL Posse released a double album—''Bootlegs and Bay Shit: The Resume''. In May 2001, Hitman was shot in the leg in a gang-related shooting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Van Derbeken|first=Jaxon|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/escalating-violence-between-s-f-gangs-big-2925412.php|title=Escalating violence between S.F. gangs / Big Block leader's half-brother killed|date=May 2, 2001|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

On February 3, 2003, Hitman was shot in the head while driving at the intersection of Whitney Young Circle and Hudson Avenue in the San Francisco's Hunters Point neighborhood; he died in hospital.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); No by-line-->|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/man-found-fatally-shot-in-car-in-bayview-district-2636901.php|title=Man found fatally shot in car in Bayview district|date=February 3, 2003|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> 2001's ''Hostile Takeover'' proved to be the group's last album before Hitman's death.

Black C, the only surviving member of the group, has continued to release solo albums and RBL Posse-related material.

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''A Lesson To Be Learned (1992)'' *''Ruthless By Law (1994)'' *''An Eye For An Eye (1997)'' *''Hostile Takeover (2001)'' *''A Lesson To Be Learned (Refreshed) <small>(with DJ.Fresh)</small> (2023)''

===Compilation albums=== *''Bootlegs & Bay Shit: The Resume (2000)'' *''20th Anniversary (2012)'' *''The Bong Show (Volume 1) (2014)''

===Solo albums=== *''Hitman – Solo Creep (1995)'' *''Hitman – H2O Volume One (1999)'' *''Black C & Taydatay – Prime Factorz (2000)'' *''Black C – Last Man Standing (2003)'' *''Black C – The City Of Gods (2007)'' *''Black C – 70s Baby (2010)'' *''Black C – Still Ruthless (2012)'' *''Black C – Black Caesar (2021)'' *''Black C – The Black Album (2023)'' *''Black C & Joe Fresco – Ruthless (2023)'' *''Black C – Heavy In It (2024)'' *''Black C & DJ Idea - Sumthin’ 2 Mobb 2 (2025)''

===Other releases=== *''RBL Posse Presents: N.O.H. Mafia – Niggaz on High (1996)'' *''Mr. Sandman – 10% Love Me 90% Hate Me EP (1997)'' *''RBL Posse Presents: Prime Minister – No Compromise (2002)'' *''RBL Posse Presents: Military Minded – Ghetto Vietnam (2002)'' *''RBL Posse Presents: The Rightway Malitia – Malitia Muzik (2003)'' *''RBL Posse Presents: Young Thugg – Thugg Livin' (2003)''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://rblposse.com/ Official website of RBL Posse] * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p41078}} * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/RBL+Posse Discography at discogs.com]

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Category:Musical groups from San Francisco Category:Hip-hop groups from California Category:Gangsta rap groups Category:Big Beat Records (American record label) artists Category:Bayview–Hunters Point, San Francisco Category:1991 establishments in California