Mass 187 were the most famous gangsta rap group to emerge from Kansas City, Missouri and, along with Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and (Tung) Twista, the only noteable Midwest rap artists to have a major commercial breakthough in the '90s. They released Real Trues Paying Dues in 1996 to a moderately positive response, the sole single from the album being the popular "Gangsta Strut", released on 12" both as a retail pressing and as a club promotional pressing on Pay Day records.