# RBX
**RBX** is the stage name of Eric Dwayne Collins (born 1967), an American rapper from [Long Beach, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/long-beach-california), who came to prominence in the early 1990s as a featured voice on [Dr. Dre](https://www.edgepedia.org/dr-dre)'s *The Chronic* and [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg)'s *Doggystyle* before recording a solo catalog that runs from *The RBX Files* (1995) to *Hibernation Shivers* (2024).[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) • [2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) He also performs under the alias **The Narrator**.[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real name | Eric Dwayne Collins, born 1967 in Long Beach, California[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) |
| Stage name | Disputed expansion: "Reality Born Unknown" per the Library of Congress authority record; "Reality Born X" per his official Bandcamp page[3](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001040639.html) • [2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) |
| Death Row years | Joined Death Row Records in 1992 with his cousins Snoop Dogg and Dat Nigga Daz; left in 1994 for Premeditated Records[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) |
| Signature features | "The Day The N****z Took Over" and "Stranded on Death Row" on *The Chronic* (1992); "Serial Killa" on *Doggystyle* (1993)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) |
| Debut album | *The RBX Files*, Premeditated Records, released September 26, 1995; peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard 200 on October 14, 1995[5](https://www.discogs.com/release/762874-RBX-The-RBX-Files) • [1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) |
| Later catalog | *No Mercy No Remorse The X-Factor* (1999), *Ripp Tha Game Bloody (Street Muzic)* (2003 or 2004), *Broken Silence* (2007), *X3 - Calm Before the Storm* (2011), EPs in 2014 and 2019, *Hibernation Shivers* (2024)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) |
| Recent activity | *Hibernation Shivers* (Labcabin Records, 2024); a class action lawsuit concerning alleged Spotify streaming fraud filed on his behalf on November 3, 2025[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX) • [7](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rbx-a-founding-father-of-west-coast-hip-hop-files-a-class-action-lawsuit-against-spotify-concerning-alleged-streaming-fraud-302603347.html) |
## Life and career beginnings
RBX was born Eric Dwayne Collins in Long Beach, California, in 1967.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) Having begun his college football career with promise at the [University of Nevada, Las Vegas](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-nevada-las-vegas), he turned to music after hurting his knee.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/)
## Death Row years and The Chronic
RBX joined [Death Row Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/death-row-records) in 1992 with his cousins Snoop Dogg and Dat Nigga Daz, according to his official Bandcamp page.[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) Apple Music credits him on two tracks of Dr. Dre's 1992 album *The Chronic*: "The Day The N****z Took Over" (with Daz and Snoop Dogg) and "Stranded on Death Row" (with Snoop Dogg, The Lady of Rage, and Kurupt).[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) He also appears on "Serial Killa" from Snoop Dogg's *Doggystyle* (1993), credited alongside Doc and [Tha Dogg Pound](https://www.edgepedia.org/tha-dogg-pound).[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
His own page describes these contributions as "commanding cameos" and states that he left the label in 1994 and signed with Premeditated Records.[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) The specialist discography site elpee.jp characterizes the friction as disagreements with Death Row management, which his debut album voiced directly.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/)
## Studio albums and releases
RBX's debut album, *The RBX Files*, was released on Premeditated Records on September 26, 1995 (catalog 9 45866-2), styled Gangsta and Conscious, with US, Canadian, German, and promo pressings.[5](https://www.discogs.com/release/762874-RBX-The-RBX-Files) Discogs also lists the 1995 singles "Rough Is The Texture / A.W.O.L." and "A.W.O.L." on Premeditated.[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
The chronology runs:
- *The RBX Files* (1995)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *No Mercy No Remorse The X-Factor* (1999), issued by Street Solid as *No Mercy - No Remorse / The X-Factor* per Discogs[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) • [6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
- *Ripp Tha Game Bloody (Street Muzic)*, dated 2003 by Discogs (Premeditated [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment)) and 2004 by Apple Music[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX) • [4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *Broken Silence* (2007)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *X3 - Calm Before the Storm* (2011)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *The French Connection* EP (2014)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *Tha Equinox* EP (2019)[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
- *Hibernation Shivers* (2024), released on Labcabin Records per Discogs[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) • [6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
[YouTube Music](https://www.edgepedia.org/youtube-music) additionally lists *Westside Radio Vol.18* (2007) in his catalog.[8](https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCwsz-mhh1kwgiMz6YSSGOxg)
**Labels.** Across 1995 to 2019, Discogs records RBX releases on Premeditated Records and Premeditated Entertainment, Street Solid, Aftermath Entertainment, Warner Bros., Priority, DPG Recordz, and Up Above.[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
## Guest appearances and collaborations
Beyond the Death Row-era features, RBX appears on "Blunt Time" from *Dr. Dre Presents... The Aftermath* (1996) and on "Remember Me?" (with [Sticky Fingaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/sticky-fingaz)) from Eminem's *The Marshall Mathers LP* (2000).[4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978) The Library of Congress authority record independently notes his appearance on *The Marshall Mathers LP* and describes him as a cousin of Snoop Doggy Dogg.[3](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001040639.html) Discogs also places him on the 1996 Aftermath compilation *Group Therapy – East Coast/West Coast Killas*.[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
His 2024 album *Hibernation Shivers* features collaborations with [Krayzie Bone](https://www.edgepedia.org/krayzie-bone), Ras Kass, and [MC Eiht](https://www.edgepedia.org/mc-eiht).[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/)
## By the numbers
*The RBX Files* reached number 62 on the Billboard 200 chart on October 14, 1995.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) Streaming data give a sense of the reach of his Chronic-era features: YouTube Music shows 46 million plays for a Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg & RBX track from *The Chronic* and 2.5 million for "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat" (feat. BJ), credited to Dr. Dre, RBX & Snoop Dogg.[8](https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCwsz-mhh1kwgiMz6YSSGOxg)
## Style and critical characterization
Unlike many of his contemporaries who favored the G-Funk sound, *The RBX Files* used a grittier, darker production aesthetic, and the album voiced RBX's disagreements with Death Row management.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) His own page emphasizes the "commanding" quality of his Death Row cameos.[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/)
## What has changed since 2023
RBX's most recent album, *Hibernation Shivers*, was released in 2024 on Labcabin Records and drew critical attention with its featured collaborators.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) • [6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX) On November 3, 2025, the law firms Baron & Budd, P.C. and Irpino Avin & Hawkins filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles on behalf of Eric Dwayne Collins, professionally known as RBX, concerning alleged streaming fraud by Spotify; the press release describes him as a founding father of West Coast hip-hop and a musician and hip-hop producer.[7](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rbx-a-founding-father-of-west-coast-hip-hop-files-a-class-action-lawsuit-against-spotify-concerning-alleged-streaming-fraud-302603347.html)
## Disputed points
- **Expansion of the name.** The Library of Congress authority record, citing All Music Guide, gives "Reality Born Unknown";[3](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001040639.html) RBX's own official Bandcamp page gives "Reality Born X".[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) elpee.jp also uses "Reality Born Unknown".[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/)
- **Family relations.** His official page calls Snoop Dogg and Dat Nigga Daz his cousins;[2](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/) elpee.jp instead describes Dr. Dre and [Daz Dillinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/daz-dillinger) as cousins.[1](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/) The Library of Congress record supports the cousin relationship with Snoop Dogg.[3](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001040639.html)
The release year of *Ripp Tha Game Bloody (Street Muzic)* likewise differs: 2003 on Discogs, 2004 on Apple Music.[6](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX) • [4](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
## References
1. [ARTIST / RBX (elpee.jp)](https://www.elpee.jp/artist/RBX/)
2. [Music | RBX (official Bandcamp)](https://narratorrbx.bandcamp.com/)
3. [RBX (Musician) — Library of Congress Name Authority Record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001040639.html)
4. [RBX — Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rbx/252895978)
5. [RBX – The RBX Files (Discogs release entry)](https://www.discogs.com/release/762874-RBX-The-RBX-Files)
6. [RBX | Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/109829-RBX)
7. [RBX, a Founding Father of West Coast Hip-Hop, Files a Class Action Lawsuit Against Spotify (PR Newswire)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rbx-a-founding-father-of-west-coast-hip-hop-files-a-class-action-lawsuit-against-spotify-concerning-alleged-streaming-fraud-302603347.html)
8. [RBX — YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCwsz-mhh1kwgiMz6YSSGOxg)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Discographies and musical catalogues › Artist and group discographies › Hip-hop and rap artist discographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license