Troutman Sound Labs

Side A: “…this was the area that supported us, which made us…” –Roger Troutman (1951-1999). Hits by Roger and Zapp, such as “More Bounce to the Ounce” (1980) and the albums Zapp (1980), The Many Facets of Roger (1981), and Zapp II (1982) made Troutman Sound Labs possible. The studio was finished in 1983. The music produced here included the Gold-selling album New Zapp IV U (1985), Shirley Murdock’s self-titled Gold album (1987), and Roger’s “I Want to Be Your Man,” which was #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Pop chart in late 1987. (Continued on other side) Side B: (Continued from other side) Attesting to his lasting influence, Roger and Zapp’s music has been sampled nearly 900 times and shaped the sound of West Coast Hip-Hop. Tupac Shakur’s “Keep Ya Head Up” (1993) samples Zapp’s “Computer Love” (1985), recorded here, as well as “Be Alright” (1980). Troutman’s work on Dr. Dre and Shakur’s 1995 “California Love” earned a Grammy nomination for best rap performance by a duo or group in 1997. The music made here lives on, although the building that housed Troutman Sound Labs was razed in 2004.