Celly Cel was ushered onto the West Coast rap scene by friend and fellow rapper E-40 in the early ‘90s, but has become a household name due to his hardcore hip-hop, string of albums and constant collaborations with big names in the rap game.

Celly Cel (born Marcellus McCarver in Vallejo, CA) began making his own demos starting in 1990, but first appeared in the Nor Cal rap scene with 1994's Heat 4 Yo Azz, released on E-40's label Sick Wid It. Celly Cel's best album to date dropped in 1995 and Killa Kali displayed the rappers hardcore lyrics. Although Celly Cel didn't release another record of his own until 1998's G Filez, he did manage to appear on albums by E-40, Mossie, D-Shot, Young Dre, Latino Velvet, Messy Marv and B-Legit Jay Tee.

In 1999 Celly Cel simultaneously split with Sick Wid It and released a best-of record before starting his own label, Realside in 2000, and issuing a new album titled Deep Conversation. Next Celly teamed up with Spice 1 and Jayo Felony for the hardcore rap outfit the Criminalz; the group made their debut on Celly's Realside label in 2001 with Criminal Activity. Back to the solo game, Celly came out with the aptly titled compilation of guest rhymes and rare tracks, Song'z U Can't Find, in 2002 and three years later released his fifth studio effort, It'z Real Out Here. 2006 was a busy year for Celly, who released Celly's Slaps, Straps and Baseball Caps, The Wild West and Brings the Gumbo Pot. Once out from under the wing of Bay Area veteran rappers like E-40 and B-Legit, Celly Cel has proved his talent through hardcore beats and searing lyrics.