History of Pre-Hyphy and Non-Hyphy Bay Area Hip Hop

Since I plan on putting out a podcast soon that features a lot of classic Bay Area rap, I decided to blog about some of the artists that kept the Bay Area rap scene going while the rest of the nation turned their backs on the Bay.

First of all I want to familiarize you all with the cities that some of the key Bay Area artists are from. Since I am from San Francisco, I can get down to the neighborhood on all SF artists.

Bay Area Map

San Francisco Neighborhoods

San Francisco:
-Hunter’s Point
RBL (Ruthless By Law) Posse including Black Cee and Mr. Cee (R.I.P.)
Hitman (R.I.P.)
11/5
Guce

-Fillmore
GLP (Get Low Posse) including San Quinn and JT Tha Bigga Figga
Messy Marv
Fully Loaded including Big Rich, J. Bailey, and Don Toriano
Ya Boy
Andre Nickatina (formerlly Dre Dog)

-Lakeview (Ocean View)
IMP (Ill Mannered Posse) including Coughnut (R.I.P.) and C Fresh
Cellski

-Unknown Hood
Paris

Oakland:
415 including Richie Rich, D-Loc, JED, and DJ Darryl
3XKrazy including Keak Da Sneak, Agerman, and B.A.
Too Short
The Luniz including Yukmouth and Numbskull
Dru Down
The Whoridas
Digital Underground
Pooh Man
Saafir the Saucee Nomad of Hobo Junction
Hieroglyphics including Del the Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Souls of Mischief, etc.
The Coup
Conscious Daughters

Vallejo:
The Click including E-40, B Legit, Suga T, and D-Shot
Mac Dre
Mac Mall

Richmond:
Filthy Phil

Santa Rosa:
Ray Luv

Marin City:
2PAC

Hayward:
Spice 1

East Palo Alto:
Totally Insane

I started listening to this music early in middle school and I always liked it. Some of it is mediocre and weak but I love it cause it was what I used to bump back then and it is the kind of music that you and all your friends could just listen to and hella feel. This was apparent when I was at Milk bar on Haight Street in SF when they played Mac Dre’s “Too Hard For The Fucking Radio” and the crowd went wild as they sang along word by word. You won’t get that kind of reaction from a non-major artist in any region in the US except the Bay. We loved Bay music when everyone outside of the region could give a fuck about Bay music and we will love it when everyone outside the region no longer likes Bay music. We are faithful to our artists even though they may have a 1-5 record of hot albums. We buy their CDs to support them and keep their careers alive. The Bay rap scene is the best rap scene in regards to faithful fans that will still like the artist in the same numbers when they fall off.

Although Bay rap fell onto deaf ears in most of the US before hyphy came around, underground Bay Area rap has always been huge in Kansas City where artists would do shows out there on the regular. Mac Dre was killed in a car to car shooting in Kansas City after doing a show which was rumored to be by Kansas city rapper Fat Tone, who was later killed in Las Vegas in the same fashion.

Bay Area rap is like no other in the world. Mobb style, hyphy, or whatever it is, it is very distinct from all other regions. I suggest you get educated…

Here are some classic and newer Bay tracks: Enjoy

Mac Dre – California Livin

Guce – Western Bay Playerz

Dre Dog – The Ave

Saafir the Saucee Nomad – Light Sleeper

Mac Mall – Sic Wit Tis

The Whoridas – Shot Callin and Big Ballin

San Quinn – Look What I’ve Done For Them

3XKrazy – Keep It On The Real

Hieroglyphics – You Never Knew

Souls of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity

RBL Posse – Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed

Rappin’ 4-Tay – I’ll Be Around

The Click – Captain Save ‘Em

Digital Underground – Same Song featurinf 2PAC

The Coup – Dig It

Peace…