http://www.mp3.com/stories/2822.html
Spotlight on the Bay - Part 1
By Brolin Winning, MP3.com
January 5, 2006 at 02:05:00 PM |
While they may not get the same recognition awarded to acts from Los Angeles, New York, or the Dirty South, Bay Area hip-hop artists have been on the grind since day one. Read and learn.
The Pioneers
The undisputed godfather of Bay Area rappers, Too Short came on the scene in the early 1980s, put Oakland on the map, and introduced the whole pimp/player rhyme style that remains extremely popular to this day. Moving to The Town at age 14, he got his start making personalized tapes for local ballers, before signing with the 75 Girls label.
Short built a name for himself through his languid flow and streetwise verses, warning of the dangers of crack cocaine and scandalous females. Selling albums literally out of his trunk, he quickly became one of hip-hop's first self-made stars.
His '86 masterpiece Born to Mack secured him a deal with Jive Records, and the rest was history. Platinum plaques followed, and he went on to release an epic number of LPs. He retired after his 10th album in 1996, but soon returned and continues to record to this day.
Among Too Short's many contributions to the game, he was the first to exclaim "beeeyitch," which Snoop Dogg would later popularize during the G-funk era.
Discovered by Too Short, Spice 1 was arguably the first superhardcore gangster rapper to come from the area. Though originally from Texas, he settled in Oakland during the ultraviolent, drug-plagued early '90s and brought a gruff but melodic voice to go with his graphic murder tales. He also injected some reggae-infused patois into his sound, long before dancehall/hip-hop collaborations became in vogue.
His self-titled debut LP (released on Jive) was a slept-on classic, though the follow-up, 187 He Wrote, earned him more commercial props, featuring the single "Trigga Gots No Heart" (which was showcased on the Menace II Society soundtrack).
Spice 1 has stayed busy since then, releasing tons of new material and mentoring younger emcees. In 2005 alone, he dropped three full-lengths.
E-40 Hailing from Vallejo, E-40 got his start selling independently released cassettes locally during the early 1990s. His lyrical style was something never heard before (or really since), a watery, quick-tongued flow chock-full of unusual, self-designed slang.
E-40's sound was street but funny, and his one-of-a-kind charisma was hard to ignore. Always the businessman, he started his own label, Sick Wid' It, and in addition to his solo material, he assembled a group called The Click, which also featured his cousin, sister, and brother, B Legit, Suga T, and D-Shot. Soon enough, the major (again, Jive) came calling, signed him, and rereleased the back catalog for a national audience.
He scored a sizable hit with "Captain Save-A-Ho," though never truly broke through to the mainstream. Regardless, he remains a hero on the West Coast and has put out a steady stream of albums since his debut.
Following his lead, a gang of Vallejo artists emerged, including Mac Dre, Mac Mall, and many others. In addition to his ongoing music career, (he's got a brand new single out now), E-40 also co-owns a nightclub and is opening several Fatburger franchises throughout Northern California.
Taking Over the Airwaves
The first Bay Area act to really storm the pop charts was undoubtedly Digital Underground. Led by Shock G--and his alter ego Humpty Hump--the Oakland collective came together in the late 1980s, flaunting an intoxicating blend of thickly produced, supremely funky production (using both samples and live instrumentation) and party-starting, lady-loving rhymes.
After their single "Underwater Rimes" blew up overseas, the group was picked up by Tommy Boy (then home to Stetsasonic, Queen Latifah, and De La Soul), where they released their classic debut full-length, Sex Packets, in 1990.
The album was a decided contrast to the incendiary ghetto rap of N.W.A., and listeners responded in a big way. "The Humpty Dance" became an enormous hit across the country, their record went platinum, and Digital Underground became full-fledged rap stars.
Their follow-up, This Is an EP Release, lacked the major hit single, but it was the first official release to feature a young hype-man/dancer/emcee named 2Pac. DU would continue to put out albums and perform over the next 15 years, though they never matched the commercial success of their early work.
Regardless, their playful antics and love of the P-funk would prove very influential to two key albums that hit the scene soon after, Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride II and Dr. Dre's The Chronic. In 2005, Shock G announced his retirement from music.
Hieroglyphics Another Oakland resident with an unusual style and a keen ear for George Clinton melodies was Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. The younger cousin of Ice Cube (he appears briefly on Amerikkka's Most Wanted), Del was signed to Elektra when he dropped his first album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, in 1991.
Produced with Cube and DJ Pooh, it was another energetic and upbeat affair that spawned two quintessential party-jam singles, "Dr. Bombay" and "Mistadobalina." Del's sophomore LP was even better, but it sold poorly and led to his dismissal from the label.
Undaunted, he went independent, aligning with homies Souls of Mischief and Casual (who released the timeless debuts '93 Til Infinity and Fear Itself, respectively), to start their own label, Hieroglyphics Imperium. The whole Hiero clique were among the first rap crews to take to the Internet and are still thriving today.
Other notable Bay Area acts who found radio love at this time included Vallejo's N2Deep, who were all over Yo! MTV Raps in 1992 with their pager-fueled breakout single "Back to the Hotel."
The following year, Total Devastation, a three-man crew from San Francisco's Mission District, emerged with "Many Clouds of Smoke," a weed-rap anthem that revisited an older Tribe Called Quest beat.
In 1995, Oakland duo Luniz had a huuuuge hit called "I Got 5 on It," which topped the R&B charts with its molasses-slow beat and smoker-friendly wordplay.
As insane as the original is, the "Ballas Bay Remix" is even better, featuring added verses from Dru Down, Richie Rich, E-40, Shock G, and Spice 1. It's extremely difficult to find a copy of this nowadays (it was originally released on 12-inch by Noo Trybe), but hopefully somebody will step up and reissue it, and there is a video floating around somewhere.
(Note: Obviously, Tupac was the biggest hip-hop artist from the Bay, we will be doing a full Streetwatch feature dedicated to him later this year).
you catch my drift.. pt. 2 speaks about sucka free city, rbl posse & Dj Shadow.
http://www.mp3.com/stories/2896.html
Spotlight on the Bay - Part 1
By Brolin Winning, MP3.com
January 5, 2006 at 02:05:00 PM |
While they may not get the same recognition awarded to acts from Los Angeles, New York, or the Dirty South, Bay Area hip-hop artists have been on the grind since day one. Read and learn.
The Pioneers
The undisputed godfather of Bay Area rappers, Too Short came on the scene in the early 1980s, put Oakland on the map, and introduced the whole pimp/player rhyme style that remains extremely popular to this day. Moving to The Town at age 14, he got his start making personalized tapes for local ballers, before signing with the 75 Girls label.
Short built a name for himself through his languid flow and streetwise verses, warning of the dangers of crack cocaine and scandalous females. Selling albums literally out of his trunk, he quickly became one of hip-hop's first self-made stars.
His '86 masterpiece Born to Mack secured him a deal with Jive Records, and the rest was history. Platinum plaques followed, and he went on to release an epic number of LPs. He retired after his 10th album in 1996, but soon returned and continues to record to this day.
Among Too Short's many contributions to the game, he was the first to exclaim "beeeyitch," which Snoop Dogg would later popularize during the G-funk era.
Discovered by Too Short, Spice 1 was arguably the first superhardcore gangster rapper to come from the area. Though originally from Texas, he settled in Oakland during the ultraviolent, drug-plagued early '90s and brought a gruff but melodic voice to go with his graphic murder tales. He also injected some reggae-infused patois into his sound, long before dancehall/hip-hop collaborations became in vogue.
His self-titled debut LP (released on Jive) was a slept-on classic, though the follow-up, 187 He Wrote, earned him more commercial props, featuring the single "Trigga Gots No Heart" (which was showcased on the Menace II Society soundtrack).
Spice 1 has stayed busy since then, releasing tons of new material and mentoring younger emcees. In 2005 alone, he dropped three full-lengths.
E-40 Hailing from Vallejo, E-40 got his start selling independently released cassettes locally during the early 1990s. His lyrical style was something never heard before (or really since), a watery, quick-tongued flow chock-full of unusual, self-designed slang.
E-40's sound was street but funny, and his one-of-a-kind charisma was hard to ignore. Always the businessman, he started his own label, Sick Wid' It, and in addition to his solo material, he assembled a group called The Click, which also featured his cousin, sister, and brother, B Legit, Suga T, and D-Shot. Soon enough, the major (again, Jive) came calling, signed him, and rereleased the back catalog for a national audience.
He scored a sizable hit with "Captain Save-A-Ho," though never truly broke through to the mainstream. Regardless, he remains a hero on the West Coast and has put out a steady stream of albums since his debut.
Following his lead, a gang of Vallejo artists emerged, including Mac Dre, Mac Mall, and many others. In addition to his ongoing music career, (he's got a brand new single out now), E-40 also co-owns a nightclub and is opening several Fatburger franchises throughout Northern California.
Taking Over the Airwaves
The first Bay Area act to really storm the pop charts was undoubtedly Digital Underground. Led by Shock G--and his alter ego Humpty Hump--the Oakland collective came together in the late 1980s, flaunting an intoxicating blend of thickly produced, supremely funky production (using both samples and live instrumentation) and party-starting, lady-loving rhymes.
After their single "Underwater Rimes" blew up overseas, the group was picked up by Tommy Boy (then home to Stetsasonic, Queen Latifah, and De La Soul), where they released their classic debut full-length, Sex Packets, in 1990.
The album was a decided contrast to the incendiary ghetto rap of N.W.A., and listeners responded in a big way. "The Humpty Dance" became an enormous hit across the country, their record went platinum, and Digital Underground became full-fledged rap stars.
Their follow-up, This Is an EP Release, lacked the major hit single, but it was the first official release to feature a young hype-man/dancer/emcee named 2Pac. DU would continue to put out albums and perform over the next 15 years, though they never matched the commercial success of their early work.
Regardless, their playful antics and love of the P-funk would prove very influential to two key albums that hit the scene soon after, Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride II and Dr. Dre's The Chronic. In 2005, Shock G announced his retirement from music.
Hieroglyphics Another Oakland resident with an unusual style and a keen ear for George Clinton melodies was Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. The younger cousin of Ice Cube (he appears briefly on Amerikkka's Most Wanted), Del was signed to Elektra when he dropped his first album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, in 1991.
Produced with Cube and DJ Pooh, it was another energetic and upbeat affair that spawned two quintessential party-jam singles, "Dr. Bombay" and "Mistadobalina." Del's sophomore LP was even better, but it sold poorly and led to his dismissal from the label.
Undaunted, he went independent, aligning with homies Souls of Mischief and Casual (who released the timeless debuts '93 Til Infinity and Fear Itself, respectively), to start their own label, Hieroglyphics Imperium. The whole Hiero clique were among the first rap crews to take to the Internet and are still thriving today.
Other notable Bay Area acts who found radio love at this time included Vallejo's N2Deep, who were all over Yo! MTV Raps in 1992 with their pager-fueled breakout single "Back to the Hotel."
The following year, Total Devastation, a three-man crew from San Francisco's Mission District, emerged with "Many Clouds of Smoke," a weed-rap anthem that revisited an older Tribe Called Quest beat.
In 1995, Oakland duo Luniz had a huuuuge hit called "I Got 5 on It," which topped the R&B charts with its molasses-slow beat and smoker-friendly wordplay.
As insane as the original is, the "Ballas Bay Remix" is even better, featuring added verses from Dru Down, Richie Rich, E-40, Shock G, and Spice 1. It's extremely difficult to find a copy of this nowadays (it was originally released on 12-inch by Noo Trybe), but hopefully somebody will step up and reissue it, and there is a video floating around somewhere.
(Note: Obviously, Tupac was the biggest hip-hop artist from the Bay, we will be doing a full Streetwatch feature dedicated to him later this year).
you catch my drift.. pt. 2 speaks about sucka free city, rbl posse & Dj Shadow.
http://www.mp3.com/stories/2896.html