West Coast hip-hop: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 18:58, 4 October 2008 edit86.156.169.79 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 23:54, 13 December 2024 edit undoJJMC89 bot III (talk \| contribs)Bots, Administrators3,670,732 editsm Moving Category:West Coast hip hop to Category:West Coast hip-hop per Misplaced Pages:Categories for discussion/Speedy
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{short description\|Regional subgenre of hip-hop}}
	{{original research}}
			{{Use American English\|date=August 2023}}
	{{refimprove}}
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=August 2023}}

	{{Infobox ~~Music~~ genre		{{Infobox music genre
	\| name = West Coast hip hop		\| name = West Coast hip-hop
	\| ~~Img~~ =		\| image =
			\| caption =
	\| bgcolor = #BB0022
			\| stylistic_origins = {{hlist\|]\|]\|]\|]\|]}}
	\| color = white
			\| cultural_origins = Late 1970s, ], U.S.
	\| stylistic_origins = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]
			\| derivatives =
	\| cultural_origins = Mid-1980s, ], ]
			\| subgenrelist =
	\| instruments = Prominent ] - ] - ] - ] - ]
			\| subgenres =
	\| popularity = Popular throughout the early-to-mid 1990s, declined during the remainder of the decade up to the 2000s with a small degree of mainstream exposure
			\| fusiongenres = {{hlist\|]\|]}}
	\| derivatives = ]
			\| regional_scenes = {{hlist\|]\|]\|]\|]\|}}
	\| subgenrelist = Hip hop music
			\| local_scenes =
	\| subgenres = ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ]
			\| other_topics = {{hlist\|]\|]\|]\|]\|]\|]\|]}}
	\| fusiongenres =
	\| regional_scenes = ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ] - ]
	\| other_topics = ] - ]
	}}		}}
	'''West Coast hip hop''' is a style of ] that originated in ] in the early 1980s. It has since grown into a sub-genre of hip hop and has developed several creative centers, most of which are in ] communities in ]. Pioneers of the genre include ] and especially ], whose controversial album prompted a letter from the ]. It dominated the hip-hop air waves in the early and mid-1990s with the popularity of ]. The release of ]'s '']'' had led to the West Coast's peak.

			'''West Coast hip-hop''' is a regional genre of ] that encompasses any artists or music that originated in the ]. West Coast hip-hop began to dominate from a radio play and sales standpoint during the early to-mid 1990s with the birth of ] and the emergence of ]s such as ] and ]'s ], ]'s ], the continued success of ]'s ], Dr. Dre's ], and others.
	The center of West Coast hip hop is the ], but can also include the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]

	==Origins and early success (1980s–1992)==
	{{seealso\|Golden age hip hop}}

	===1980s===
	The origins of West Coast hip hop can be traced back to the late 1970s. After its invention in ], hip hop music started to spread across the country. It quickly jumped coasts to California, where a strong presence of African Americans embraced hip-hop, prominently in block parties and some clubs. However, the West Coast scene became truly established during the 1980s as hip hop music first gained national appeal, and established itself in California in general (and in Los Angeles in particular). Early hardcore rap performers included ]'s ], who started rapping as early as 1983 and put out three independent albums beginning in 1985 before his 1987 major-label debut, '']'', went gold. Too Short would release 2 more albums before 1991 that went platinum and double platinum respectively. In Los Angeles during the same period, artists like ], Capitan Rapp, ], ], ], and ] gained prominence, while ], ], DJ Unknown, ] and the ] innovated a style called ] (or simply ''electro''), essentially a hybrid of ] and rap - following the lead of ], who had originally created hip hop by mixing together reggae, funk, and German techno. Electro hop was a less funky, more bass-heavy West Coast sound, similar to ] rap group ] and the ] scene. However, hip hop followers didn't fully accept electro hop in the long run, and it had all but disappeared by the mid-1990s.

	===Gangsta rap===
	The "]" movement also originated in California in the 1980s, serving as a sharp contrast to electro hop and other lighter forms of hip hop. Ice-T's "6 In The Mornin'" (1987) received some national exposure while his 1987 recording '']'' was a landmark for the genre and could be considered one of the first purely gangsta rap albums. It managed to go gold. ]'s '']'' came out shortly thereafter. The CD was a compilation album of loosely connected rappers under the name "N.W.A." ("Niggaz With Attitude"). While not proving to be popular nor having a major affect on hip hop, it set up N.W.A. for their follow up album, which is credited for popularizing gangsta rap to this day. It was about a year after their first album that the group was shortened to the members ], ], ], ] and the addition of ]; along with continued contributions from unofficial members ] and ].

	In 1988, the ] released their blockbuster, '']'', and put the West Coast on the ] map. Their sound was influenced by hardcore, ]-tinged rap performers like Ice-T, and 1970s ] and ]. ''Straight Outta Compton'' united these sounds with minimalistic beats and blunt, hard-hitting lyrics filled with references to (and often promotions of) ], ], and the ]. Individual members also were able to write pages in hip-hop history. Shortly after ''Straight Outta Compton'' was released, ] released his wildly received debut album, '']'', in 1988, with most of the production done by Dr. Dre. In 1989, unofficial member ] (a ] native) released his solo debut album '']'' which managed to be released with critical acclaim, (including a 5 Mic rating from ]) and sold over a million copies. When Ice Cube left the group in 1989 his lyrics and delivery earned him two platinum and widely acclaimed (both gaining the highest ratings from The Source) albums in '']'' and '']'' released in 1990 and 1991 respectively. The remaining members of the group followed up by releasing '']'' which leaned more towards violent, criminal rap that became more growingly associated with hip-hop and became the first gangsta rap album to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts. After this the group would break up with Dr. Dre leaving the label to sign to ].

	===Early 1990s===
	However, like N.W.A., some of its individual members would go on to form moderate (ie. ] of ]) to successful (ie. ] of ]) solo careers, and continue to build upon West Coast rap. During ]'s early career, he would rap about many social and political issues with the albums '']'' and '']'' before his style began to lean towards gangsta/thug rap in the mid-1990s.

	] also got its first start during this time. While previously being restricted to New York, West Coast artists like ] and ] were pioneers in the sub-genre. Although not popular at the time, these artists paved the way for the most successful Latin rap group/artist to ever come out, the ] natives, ]. West coast Hip Hop Radio station B.Fuzz-40 South central stated in an online chat show on august 26th That the L.A.X album made By Cedar blocks The Game is the most successful record to be recorded by a westcoast artist selling over 8 million within its u.s debut on the billboard having sold 3 million in the EU where it was released a day in advance.

	===Other contributions===

	West Coast hip hop also received early contributions from groups based in the ], and ] in particular. ], for instance, was a giant in the genre, and ] was one of the first "pop-rap" national superstars. Both artists began their rap careers on the streets of Oakland, and the radically different paths their careers have taken are indicative of the fracturing of hip hop culture into multiple sub-genres over the last twenty years. Its varied levels of success have never failed to make The Bay's music popular among its own people. ], although primarily being known as the center of ], has also had an active scene from early on, including the artist ].

	==History==		==History==
			African American communities of the Bay Area and southern California emerged as new bases of hip-hop culture in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite book\|title= The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: The United States and Canada\| isbn=9781317934431 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sldWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA368 \| last1=Burnim \| first1=Mellonee V. \| last2=Maultsby \| first2=Portia K. \| date=November 13, 2014 \| publisher=Routledge }}</ref> Hispanics in the Los Angeles area have played a significant role in West Coast hip-hop culture.<ref>{{cite book\|title= Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: \|page=239\|isbn=9780313343216 \|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&pg=PA239 \|last1=Hess \|first1=Mickey \|date=November 25, 2009 \|publisher=Abc-Clio }}</ref>
	With the almost worldwide success of N.W.A., the West Coast had finally established a style that matched the intensity and grit of the hip hop that was coming from the ] at the time. In ], the West Coast scene had a voice that could compete with ], ], and other East Coast powerhouses. Although N.W.A. would eventually split, its remaining members continued to build, popularize, and revolutionize on the foundation the group had laid.

			=== Bay Area hip-hop ===
	Three of N.W.A.'s most prominent members, ], ], and ], launched successful solo careers after the group's dissolution. Ice Cube's style was more ], angry, racially charged, and ], while Eazy-E's style was more violent gangsta rap mixed with some g-funk.
			The ] has vastly contributed to the ] genre seen in today's modern music industry. While its significance may be lesser known to the general public, since the establishment of hip-hop, the Bay solidified itself as an instrumental building block in the genre’s development. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, political and social justice movements put in place a potential blueprint of what local artists could rap about, and showcased how the counter-hegemonic culture of hip-hop was already embedded into the roots of the Bay Area.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Arnold \|first=Eric \|date=February 1, 2023 \|title=The Bay Area Was Hip-Hop Before There Was Hip-Hop \|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13924126/the-bay-area-was-hip-hop-before-there-was-hip-hop \|access-date=December 7, 2023 \|website=kqed.org}}</ref> Coming out of the Bay was a unique style of break dancing that was exhibited at local shows, and a representation of ] sprayed along city streets and buildings, similar to what was expressed in ] on subway cars and abandoned structures. From the inspiration of ], to the political and social movements that were energized by the ], Hip-Hop in the Bay was a newfound outlet, and proved to be ingrained in the region's identity. Founded in ] in 1966, the Black Panthers surge for change and alterations of the systemic racism entangled in society resonated with the residents of the blue collar city. Many of the organization’s ideologies became well represented in the area’s rap scene, and triggered an explosion of black identity and frustration with the ].

			Despite artists like ] claiming that the Bay rap scene doesn’t receive the respect it deserves, this hasn’t prevented its artists and style from influencing hip-hop’s sound and dance.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Nosnitsky \|first=Andrew \|date=August 9, 2023 \|title=How the Bay Area became a rap incubator with a chip on its shoulder \|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/08/09/1192465852/hip-hop-50-bay-area \|access-date=December 7, 2023 \|website=npr.org}}</ref> Laid out in the 1960s and 70s through activism and the hybridity of funk music, the Bay Area was able to gain serious traction from the 1980s to mid 90s, which saw local artists popularize Pimp rap. Artists across the region began harnessing the sound of the Bay and slowly saw their rhythmic funky beats slowed down and reused in later hits that would intersect genres.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Schumacher \|first=Alexandra \|title=2018 \|url=https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1126&context=senior-theses \|access-date=December 7, 2023 \|website=scholar.dominican.edu}}</ref> Freestyle samples of electro funky beats provided listeners with a sound that they didn’t know the genre needed. The Bay Area isn’t often viewed as one of the prominent hip-hop hubs in the U.S., but its rich history and extensive range of diverse artists prove that many of the original characteristics of early hip-hop can be traced back to the major metropolitan areas and cities of ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Palmer \|first=Tamara \|date=August 21, 2023 \|title=A Guide To Bay Area Hip-Hop: Definitive Releases, Artists & Subgenres From Northern California \|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/guide-to-bay-area-hip-hop-northern-california-major-releases-artists-labels-history-playlist \|access-date=December 7, 2023 \|website=grammy.com}}</ref>
	===G-funk===
	{{main\|G-funk}}

			===Early years===
	]'s style, innovated with Dre Dre, dubbed "]" or "gangsta funk" (also known as "ghetto funk"), was slower and more melodic, with heavy basslines topped by flutes and ] samples, and finished with a slurring, often whimsical lyrical delivery. The genre was characterized by a generally hedonistic subject matter including violence, sex, and drug use, and a slurred "lazy drawl" that was said to sacrifice lyrical complexity for clarity and rhythmic cadence. Dr. Dre's debut album, '']'' released in 1992, is widely considered to be a ] work in the genre and not only established the dominant sound of hip hop music for years to come, but also launched the careers of several key West Coast hip hop artists, including, ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Dr. Dre would continue to refine his work on Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album '']'', which launched Snoop Dogg into one of the most well known rap careers ever. Furthermore, the album's success established ] as a dominant force in gangsta rap. G-funk also became the dominant genre of West Coast rap for years to come for new and veteran artists alike easily put the West on the map.
			Several events laid the foundations for West Coast hip-hop, long before the emergence of West Coast rappers such as ], ], ], ] and ]—or even before the emergence of rap itself. According to Syd Caesar, "a cataclysmic event helped give rise to it out West: the ] of 1965."<ref>{{cite web\|last=Caesar\|first=Syd\|title=Westside Story: The History of West Coast Hip-Hop\|url=http://geniusrap.com/rap-articles/westside-story-the-history-of-west-coast-hip-hop.html\|access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> In 1967, ] founded a creative space in ] entitled ], intended to help the people of the ] neighborhood and provide a place for them to express themselves freely; one group to emerge from the workshop was the proto-rap group ].<ref name="WaitingSun341">{{cite book\|last=Hoskyns\|first=Barney\|date=2009\|title=Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w7oB2UKVxgQC&q=%22kraftwerk+meets+pacman%22&pg=PA341\|location=New York\|publisher=Backbeat Books\|page=341\|isbn=9780879309435}}</ref>

			In the late 1970s in Los Angeles, ], a young ] from ] formed a partnership with another DJ named ] from ] who created a promotion company called Unique Dreams that would hire Williams to DJ at local events.<ref name="Payback">{{cite book\|last=Charnas\|first=Dan\|date=2010\|title=The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idYFcmXcRm4C&q=unknown+dj+andre+manuel&pg=PT182\|location=New York\|publisher=New American Library\|isbn=9781101445822}}</ref> The two eventually went their separate ways: Williams started a group called the ] and became the house DJs at a local nightclub called Eve's After Dark while Clayton launched what would perhaps be the foremost successful mobile DJ crew in the region by the name of ] that would host parties by top DJs for thousands of people at large venues.<ref name="Payback"/><ref name=ArabianPrinceEight>{{Cite AV media notes \|title=Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 \|title-link=Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 \|others=] \|year=2008 \|editor-last = Egon \|first=Amin \|last=Eshaiker \|page=8 \|type=Liner notes \|publisher=Stones Throw Records \|location=Los Angeles }}</ref> Other smaller DJ and party crews emerged around this time, hoping to establish themselves in the area.<ref name=ArabianPrinceEight/> Unlike their East Coast counterparts, the Hip-Hop sound emerging from Southern California was more fast-paced and influenced by ].<ref name=ArabianPrinceSix>{{Cite AV media notes \|title=Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 \|title-link=Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 \|others=] \|year=2008 \|editor-last = Egon \|first=Amin \|last=Eshaiker \|page=6 \|type=Liner notes \|publisher=Stones Throw Records \|location=Los Angeles }}</ref> This could be largely credited to the fact that the local West Coast hip-hop scene revolved more around DJing than rapping.<ref name=ArabianPrinceSix/> A localized dance sub-culture later came out of this party scene, which was highlighted on a national scale on such motion pictures as '']''.<ref name="WaitingSun341"/> ], ] and ] gave the Los Angeles music scene some of its earliest credibility outside the region.<ref name="WaitingSun341"/> Further attention came to the West Coast as Uncle Jamm's Army began inviting such well-known East Coast Hip-Hop acts such as ] and ] to their functions.<ref name="WaitingSun341" />
	After the release of ''The Chronic'', many producers from the West Coast, and even some from the East Coast, began producing in the g-funk style or imitating it. Most notably, producers Warren G and ] produced their most well-known material in the g-funk era, Dr. Dre's fellow Death Row "inmate" Dat Nigga Daz produced ]'s debut album, '']'', in the same style.
			], leader of ], one of the first gangster rap groups based in Compton]]
			Another early landmark occurred in 1981, when Duffy Hooks launched the first West Coast rap label, ], inspired by ] in New York.<ref name="WaitingSun341" /> Its first act was the duo of Disco Daddy and ], whose debut single was "The Gigolo Rapp" which was also released in 1981. The song became a minor success but failed to gain much radio play. Many other Hip-Hop songs recorded in California were released during the early 1980s, but many of them received little or no radio play.<ref name="WaitingSun341" /> ] created the classic West Coast song released in 1983 called, "Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)", which is a politically conscious response to Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" arranged by the legendary production duo of ] and Rich Cason.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://hiphopbebop.com/2015/10/captain-rapp-bad-times-i-cant-stand-it-2.html\|title=Captain Rapp – Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)\|publisher=Hip-Hop Be Bop\|date=October 23, 2015\|access-date=June 14, 2019}}</ref> Clayton's group, Uncle Jamm's Army, released their first single, "Dial-a-Freak", and in 1984 ] released his ''On the Nile'' album, which includes the popular 12" single "Egypt Egypt". Members of Uncle Jamm's Army and the World Class Wreckin' Cru, including ], ], ], ] and ] would later go on to help define the early West Coast hip-hop sound throughout the 1980s.
			] rapper Too Short\|241x241px]]

			During this period, one of the most significant factors in the spread of West Coast hip-hop was the radio station 1580 ] AM, which was the first radio station in the world to play rap/hip-hop music 24 hours a day because of Assistant Program Director/Music Director and Radio Personality Greg "Mack Attack" Mack.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2023-08-07 \|title=When L.A. invented rap radio: The rise of KDAY \|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-08-07/kday-hip-hop-50th-anniversary-radio-la-dr-dre-dj-yella \|access-date=2023-11-03 \|website=Los Angeles Times \|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Coleman \|first=Brian \|date=2016-01-07 \|title=1580 KDAY — AND THE BEAT GOES ON \|url=https://medium.com/@briancoleman/1580-kday-and-the-beat-goes-on-9dab5b6c55e6 \|access-date=2023-11-03 \|website=Medium \|language=en}}</ref>
	Lasting influences in hip-hop that have carried on even to this day include heavy use of funk-style synthesizers, and hooks sung using a ] in a style pioneered by funk singer ].

	===~~East~~ ~~Coast~~ ~~vs.~~ ~~West Coast~~===		===Late 1980s and 1990s===
			Ice-T is known as one of the pioneers of West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap, with songs such as "]", released in 1986, demonstrating the unique style of the west coast.<ref>{{Cite web\|title=West Coast Rap Music Genre Overview\|url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/west-coast-rap-ma0000002932\|access-date=February 17, 2022\|website=AllMusic\|language=en}}</ref> In 1988, Ice-T released the R&B hit ], and Too Short released album '']''.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Too_Short/Biography/ \|title=Too Short Biography \|publisher=Starpulse.com \|access-date=November 22, 2011 \|archive-date=March 4, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042830/http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Too_Short/Biography/ \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=Bush \|first=John \|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/too-short-p132295/biography \|title=Too $hort: Biography \|publisher=AllMusic \| access-date=November 22, 2011}}</ref>
	{{main\|East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry}}
			In 1988, ]'s landmark album '']'' was released.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.allmusic.com/subgenre/west-coast-rap-ma0000002932 \|title=West Coast Rap Music Genre Overview \|publisher=AllMusic \|quote=set the stage for a more identifiable West Coast style}}</ref> Focusing on life and adversities in ], a notoriously rough area which had gained a reputation for gang violence, it was released by group member ]'s record label ]. As well as establishing a basis for the popularity of ], the album drew much attention to West Coast hip-hop, especially the Los Angeles scene. In particular, the controversial "]" and the ensuing censorship attracted substantial media coverage and public attention. Following the dissolution of N.W.A due to in-fighting, the group's members Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and ] would later become platinum-selling solo artists in the 1990s. Ice Cube released some of the West Coast's most critically acclaimed albums, such as 1990's '']'' and 1991's '']'', as well as making film and television appearances such as in ]'s '']'' in 1991.
	While the beginnings of the rivalry between coastlines can be tracked back to N.W.A, ] was a ] rapper to start and take shots at the West Coast scene plus many rappers including N.W.A, ], ] and received response from not only them but also from other ] natives, ] and ]. While ] was working on his third album '']'' in 1994, he was shot by muggers in the lobby of a ] recording studio that friend ] was recording at. While serving prison time for sexual assault, 2Pac accused The Notorious B.I.G. and ], amongst others, of having prior knowledge of the shooting. This series of events sparked an inter coastal war between ] (owned by Puff Daddy) and ] (owned by ]).
			]]]
			The early 1990s was a period in which Hip-Hop went from strength to strength. ]'s debut album '']'' was released in 1991, demonstrating a social awareness, with attacks on social injustice such as ], ], ], crime, drug and ]. This album featured 3 singles: "]", "]" and "]". ''2Pacalypse Now'' was certified Gold by the ] (RIAA) on April 19, 1995.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Gold & Platinum \|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=2+pac&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH# \|access-date=2023-09-02 \|website=RIAA \|language=en-US}}</ref> Shakur's music and philosophy was rooted in various philosophies and approaches, including the ], ], egalitarianism and liberty. Tupac sold over 75 million records, being regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time and a pioneer of West Coast rap.<ref>{{Cite web\|last=Greenburg\|first=Zack O'Malley\|title=Tupac Shakur Earning Like He's Still Alive\|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/05/31/tupac-shakur-earning-like-hes-still-alive/\|access-date=February 17, 2022\|website=Forbes\|language=en}}</ref>
			] rapper and producer Dr. Dre\|238x238px]]Also in 1991, ] founded ] which became a record label powerhouse throughout the 1990s. In 1992, Dr. Dre released his solo debut, '']''; this marked the birth of the G-funk sound that became a hallmark of the West Coast sound in the 1990s, with the album's lead single "]" peaking at #2 on the US ].<ref>{{cite journal \|last=Anderson \|first=Errol \|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/features/classic-albums-dr-dre-the-chronic \|title=Classic Albums: Dr Dre - The Chronic \|journal=] \|date=January 11, 2013 \| access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>

			The city of ] arrived to the hip-hop scene in the early 1990s with artists such as ] and ], both signed to Death Row, with releases such as '']'' (1993) and '']'' (1995). Both albums becoming huge sellers and being critically acclaimed and helped make a mark in establishing Long Beach in the hip-hop scene.<ref name="Hundreds">{{cite web\|author=Senay Kenfe\|url=https://thehundreds.com/blogs/content/the-true-home-of-g-funk-long-beach\|title=LONG BEACH :: THE TRUE HOME OF G-FUNK\|publisher=]\|date=August 24, 2014\|accessdate=January 5, 2024}}</ref> Another artist who helped establish Long Beach was ] with his release '']'' (1994). He founded his record label ] in 1995 and helped promote artists also from Long Beach such as the ] and ].<ref name="Hundreds"/>
	The tension between Death Row and Bad Boy increased as both labels released a series of scathing tracks blatantly filled with insults, threats, and accusations targeted at the opposing labels. The rivalry ended when 2Pac was fatally shot in ] in 1996, a slaying that ] was suspected by the public to be involved in. The Notorious B.I.G. was also fatally shot in ], in a similar fashion to 2Pac, six months later.

			As for Death Row, success kept coming throughout the 1990s with 2Pac's '']'' (1996) also becoming a huge seller and becoming critically acclaimed. 2Pac gained hits California Love" and "Live and Die in LA". Also in the early-to-mid 1990s, the group ] made a big impact on the scene with their albums such as their ] and ]. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast rap and hip-hop. Other popular artists and groups from this period include ] (known for their albums '']'' and '']''), ] (known for their album '']''), ] (known for his song ]), ] (known for his album '']'') and ] (known for his album '']'').
	===Popularity===
	The coastal rivalry raised Death Row Records to notorious status. Combined with the rise of g-funk, West Coast artists like ], ], ], and ] all released multi-platinum albums on Death Row Records. Although enjoying much success because of surrounding controversy, many critically acclaimed albums that are now considered classics in hip hop history were released during this time such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' . At the height of its popularity, West Coast artists were selling three times more than their East Coast rivals. Meanwhile, other gangsta rap artists from California were also enjoying much success, if not as much as Death Row artists. ] amazed the hip hop world with his outstanding 5x platinum album '']'' which was actually a diss album towards to ]. ], ], Ice Cube, and ] all debuted or continued to release gangsta rap/g-funk albums in the early and mid-1990s, which enjoyed at least moderate success.
	]'s album '']'']]
	On the other side of the coin, non Death Row artists were rising to popularity. ] released his platinum selling album '']'' and his multi-platinum and world famous album '']'' in 1994 and 1995 respectively. ] released his ] album in 1995 and managed to go gold. Too Short and newcomer ] pushed the Bay Area to a rare level of moderate success, with E-40 releasing his second album, ''In a Major Way'' in 1995, which went gold (and eventually went platinum 7 years after it was released). Too Short continued to release music about pimp lifestyle and drugs that helped him receive 4 platinum albums between 1992 and 1996 . ]'s ] held a string of artists on its roster matching the label's hardcore, violent style in artists such as ], ], ], ] and ]. The earliest success of ] also came from this time, as ] released a string of platinum selling albums in the early and mid-1990s while at the same time continuing to pioneer Latin rap set forth by fellow West Coast rapper ]. Their style mixed Latin rap with gangsta rap and g-funk to create a ] work in the genre and made them the first Latin rappers to have gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums. Their first two albums (and to a lesser degree, their third) were met with great critical acclaim.

			=== 2000s and 2010s ===
	While not nearly as successful commercially, ] ] were also starting to emerge and contribute to West Coast ]. ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many others began releasing a wide range of albums at this time. Though most of them were most popular in ].
			] rapper Kendrick Lamar\|228x228px]]

			West Coast hip-hop's position in the mainstream dwindled greatly in the late 1990s and 2000s, with a few notable exceptions such as Dr. Dre's '']'', ]'s '']'', ]'s '']'' and '']'' albums. However, the trend soon changed. Although ] was still popular on the West Coast in the 2000s, the West Coast sound became more designed for nightclubs with the rise of the Bay Area's ] scene, featuring flamboyant raps and explicit references to sex and drugs. A key artist in the genre was ], who found a substantial audience with his 1995 album ''In a Major Way''; he found even greater success with the song "]" in 2006, featuring Oakland rapper ].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Snoop Dogg - Biography and Facts \|url=https://www.famousafricanamericans.org/snoop-dogg \|access-date=2023-12-12 \|website=FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICANS \|language=en-US}}</ref>
	Following incidents with the two Coasts, Death Row Records' success diminished as Dr. Dre departed to form ], 2Pac got murdered, and Snoop Dogg left to join ]. Gangsta rap disappeared from the national spotlight and the resulting void was filled by East Coast pop-rap acts such as Puff Daddy, ], and actor/musician ]. When 2pac died, West Coast hip hop had begun to diminish from the mainstream media, though still popular in its home region.

			Bay area rapper ], already well known for his collaborations with artists such as ] and ], found a new lease on life with the hyphy scene, his 16th studio album '']'' in 2006 debuting at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' 200. ] also brought attention back to the West Coast with his double platinum album, '']'', as did ]'s platinum certified '']'' album, and gold certified albums '']'' and '']''. Artists from the 1990s such as ] and ] and groups such as the ] and ] continued to release albums throughout the 2000s and had success but did not garner the same level of fame as they had experienced in the 1990s. Throughout the 2000s, a number of peripheral West Coast hip-hop artists such as ], ], ], SKG (Suge Knight Girl) Helecia Choyce, ], ], ], ] and ] collaborated with big-name artists such as Dr. Dre, ], ], The Game, E-40 and Snoop Dogg.
	===Underground development===
	In the late 1990s, the West Coast's ] scene began to gain prominence as underground hip hop started to boom as artists tried to stray away from the negativity gangsta rap brought the Coast. Artists like ], ], ], ], The BUMS, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and others (most of whom self-identify as "conscious" artists, and all of whom include political, social, or insightful messages in their music) gained recognition without being signed to major labels. Other artists such as ] and ] while signed to major labels, failed to break out into the mainstream for lack of promotion or other reasons yet still had the same style and maintained an underground following. Eventually ] would later find success in the 2000s after releasing the album "Elephunk" with a more mainstream sound.

			In the early to mid-2010s, the West Coast had also seen a resurgence with hyphy as well as a transition to an uptempo and club-oriented type of Pop Rap.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=History of Rap & Hip-Hop \|url=https://timeline.carnegiehall.org/genres/rap-hip-hop \|access-date=2023-12-07 \|website=Timeline of African American Music \|language=en}}</ref>
	===Gangsta rap's decline===
	Despite the emergence of the underground movement as a factor at the turn of the century, gangsta rap was still the dominant genre of West Coast hip hop, although the sound and feel of the music had began to change since the g-funk era. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre continued to be major players in the national mainstream, but other artists from the 1990s and local gangsta rap artists continued to struggle for name recognition, having enjoyed less commercial success than their East Coast and Southern counterparts. While the West Coast still got some exposure such as Dr. Dre's second album '']'', ]'s introduction to the mainstream, and Snoop Dogg's work with ], most artists like ], ], ], ], ], and ], and the remaining veteran artists of the 1990s continued to rapidly lose recognition among music fans. While newer rappers like ], ], and ] were able to begin strong leads in California and trying to bring gangsta rap to a new level.

			Producer ] had pioneered the "ratchet" music movement, a production style that has snowballed into the mainstream.<ref name="swaysuniverse1">{{cite web\|title=DJ Mustard talks Ratchet Movement\|url=http://www.swaysuniverse.com/music-news-2/dj-mustard-talks-ratchet-movement\|publisher=Sway's Universe\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001104426/http://www.swaysuniverse.com/music-news-2/dj-mustard-talks-ratchet-movement\|archive-date=October 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.complexmag.ca/music/2012/10/25-new-producers-to-watch-out-for/dj-mustard \| title=DJ Mustard \| publisher=Complex \| date=November 5, 2012 \| access-date=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/08/20/beat-construction-dj-mustard/ \| title=Beat Construction: DJ Mustard \| publisher=Fader \| access-date=August 28, 2013 \| first=Andrew\| last=Noz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1931/title.producers-corner-dj-mustard-explains-the-ratchet-movement-the-weirdest-place-hes-heard-rack-city \| title=Producer's Corner: DJ Mustard Explains The Ratchet Movement, The Weirdest Place He's Heard "Rack City" \| publisher=HipHopDX \| date=July 19, 2012 \| access-date=August 28, 2013 \| first=William E. III \| last=Ketchum}}</ref> DJ Mustard played a role in bringing West Coast hip-hop back to national attention through the 2010s. He gained huge popularity throughout 2011 to 2014, producing a number of popular artists' singles, including ]'s "]", ]'s "]", ]'s "]", ]'s "]", ]'s "]" and "]", ]'s "]", ]'s "]" and ]'s "]". Mustard also released his debut mixtape, ''Ketchup'', in 2013, further solidifying his ratchet sound, which follows its G-funk and ] predecessors.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2013/06/dj-mustard-ketchup-mixtape-review/ \| title=DJ Mustard – 'Ketchup' Mixtape Review \| publisher=XXL \| date=June 5, 2013 \| access-date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2014/03/25/how-west-coast-rap-came-to-dominate-radio-again \| title=How West Coast Rap Came to Dominate Radio Again \| publisher=LA Weekly \| date=March 25, 2014 \| access-date=March 27, 2014 \| first=Max\| last=Bell}}</ref>
	===Birth of hyphy music===
	{{Main\|Hyphy}}

			Other more peripheral acts that achieved moderate, ] success in the mainstream include ], who built a strong fan base via social media outlets such as ], ], and ], and has recorded both solo and with ].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-01-20 \|title=Lil B: "Motivation" \|url=https://dean-magazine.ghost.io/archive/lil-b-motivation/ \|access-date=2023-12-07 \|website=DEAN MAGAZINE \|language=en}}</ref>
	Hyphy music also began to develop around this time, originating in the ]. While The Bay was an early contributor to hip hop, like the rest of West Coast rap, it was on the decline in the late 1990s. Around the turn of the millennium, a new sub-genre of hip hop emerged and flourished almost exclusively in The Bay. While Bay Area music was still considered new hip hop to some, (despite success from Yukmouth, Too Short and E-40) it was continually building up since the early 1990s. The earliest pioneers included ] (who coined the word "hyphy") and ] (the purveyor of ] culture), with later push by ] (the "Ambassador of the Bay"). While some automatically associate The Bay with hyphy music and vice versa, the music from Bay Area isn't exclusively hyphy (although hyphy is almost exclusively in The Bay Area). The hyphy culture also grew with its music, creating a trend of dances, slang, and behaviour associated with it, some of which The Bay claims has been stolen by other artists. Hyphy's style of exuberant energy, "going dumb" and excessive behaviour was a sharp contrast to the steryotypical ]'s style of music of gangs, violence, low riders and having a serious/cool persona, which dominated rap; hyphy's style didn't overwhelmingly associate itself with these topics.

			That same year, Black Hippy's own ] 2012 release, '']'', was met with rave reviews and was featured on many critics' end-of-year lists.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/the-king-of-the-city-the-best-rapper-in-13-hip-hop-meccas/los-angeles\|title=The King of the City: The Best Rapper in 13 Hip-Hop MeccasLos Angeles\|website=Complex}}</ref> The album was nominated ] at the ], marking the first time any West Coast hip-hop was nominated for award.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/grammys/10574287/Grammys-nominations-2014-full-list.html \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/grammys/10574287/Grammys-nominations-2014-full-list.html \|archive-date=January 12, 2022 \|url-access=subscription \|url-status=live\|title=Grammys nominations 2014: full list\|date=August 1, 2018\|work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2014, '']'' debuted at no.1 on the ] with 139,000 copies sold. YG's '']'' debuted at #2 on the US ''Billboard 200'' with 61,000 copies sold.
	==West Coast hip hop today (2004–present)==
	]'' album, released in 2005, was a major success at a time when West Coast rap was almost dead to the outside world.]]
	West Coast rap seems to be fighting to be part of the mainstream again as there is on going a third generation of artists. ]'s album '']'' along with a well publicized ] has received more attention to the West Coast, and he is said to be the driving force behind West Coast rap. The album sold 2.5 million copies in the USA and over 5 million records worldwide, becoming The Game's most successful album to date. It was also certified double platinum by the ].

			=== 2020s ===
	Since The Game released ''The Documentary'', artists like ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Down a.k.a. Kilo, Bailey, ] (of ]), ], ], Hood Surgeon, and ] have all received increased attention with regard to future releases (as it should be since J.T. The Bigga Figga helped launch his star-studded career). The Bay Area is also picking up steam with their sub-genre of music hyphy music, promoted by long time veteran ]. While other artists like ], ], ], Freaks, ], ], and ], Mykestro, and ] are also trying to help re-introduce West Coast rap to the world, the West Coast still has to compete with a market dominated by Southern artists that even East Coast rappers have trouble competing with. Combined with the continued growth of ] or commercialism, this has led to a mystery regarding which direction the current generation of rappers will go. As of right now, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, E-40, Too Short, Nate Dogg, and Ice Cube seem to be the only artists in 2006 that have created strong leads in mainstream hip hop.
			On June 19, 2024, ], Kendrick Lamar hosted the impromptu ] concert following his highly publicized ], noted as a celebration of the West Coast.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ju \|first=Shirley \|date=2024-06-20 \|title=Kendrick Lamar Really Popped Out: The West Coast Is Back On Top \|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/817849-kendrick-lamar-pop-out-ken-friends-review-hip-hop-news \|access-date=2024-06-22 \|website=HotNewHipHop \|language=en}}</ref>
	<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ]'s ] single (2006), featuring cameo appearances:

	Top: ], Playa Hamm, ], ], ], ], Mykestro (partially hidden), ], Rakaa Iriscience (of ]), ], Krondon, ], Romeo, and ].

	Bottom: Daddy V, Crazy Toones, ], Mykestro's associate, ], ], and ].]] -->
	After the success of his album '']'', Snoop Dogg convoked West Coast artists (about 65 people) into a meeting called the '']'' on ], ]. They agreed to join forces again and to end long standing arguments between each other in hopes of helping West Coast music back to its once reigning place through unity. It served as occasion for several members to announce cease-fires in their arguments including the reconciliation of ], Jayo Felony and Snoop Dogg, and The Game and JT the Bigga Figga. Snoop Dogg offered his label ] and his CEO position at ] to be an "engine" of the movement, and that he will promote with his name. Dr. Dre announced he will release his third and final album, '']'', in September 2007, which has been pushed to mid 2008

	However, for much of the 2000s, the West Coast continued losing its appeal to the (then growing) ]. In particular, Southern rap experienced mainstream popularity in 2003. Since 2000, The Game remains the only rapper to sell a multi-platinum album on the West Coast (aside from The Black Eyed Peas, who do not follow traditional West Coast hip hop music and are often overlooked).

	One of the popular underground styles of dancing called ] has started to become more mainstream due to the popularity of the ] film ]. West coast Hip Hop Radio station B.Fuzz-40 South central stated in an online chat show on august 26th That the L.A.X album made By Cedar blocks The Game is the most succesful record to be recorded by a westcoast artist selling over 8 million within its u.s debut on the billboard having sold 3 million in the EU where it was released a day in advance.

	==Major Areas of Influence==
	===Los Angeles===
	:''Main articles: ]''

	In the early 1980s, recorded hip hop from Los Angeles began in a kind of electronic dance music called ]; these included artist such as the ], ], ], and ]. The mid-to-late eighties would bring attention to the west coast, such as ] "6'n da Mornin'" (1986), which was one of the first ] songs. ] broke through with the groundbreaking ] and gave the West Coast it's first major ], ]. The departure of ], marked the release of ]. With ]'s break up, ] and ] established ], the most prominent West Coast record label. ] served as the showcase for ] era and the start of ] with ]. Other prominent Los Angeles artists are ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. ] ] showed the peak of West Coast hip hop going 9X platinum. Since ] and ] death, West Coast rap has died down a bit yet still ] and ], as well as ], still remain popular. Recently the West Coast has made a comeback with ] rapper ] and ] . Also underground artist such as ], ], ], ], ], and ] has continued to make a buzz.

	===Long Beach===

	Though technically a part of L.A.'s hip hop scene, ] has gained a name for itself. Led by ], artists like ], ], ] and ] have all seen major success. Though ] hasn't produced any major new talent, ] has made a buzz around the Los Angeles Area.

	===Inland Empire===

	This area of ] is part of the ] but it includes both ] and ]. Most of the rappers from this area are still considered to be underground and are building their buzz on mixtapes. Some of the most famous rappers that have emerged from the area so far include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Lunch, and Also a ghost writer named Savant.

	===The Bay Area===
	] has been a major stage for hip hop since the early eighties, with ] being the first hip hop artist to showcase ], ], ], ], ] with his album, ]. In the early 90's, The Bay Area produced successful artists like ] and ]. ] acts such as ], and ] have also seen commercial success. ], who has often been associated with the Los Angeles hip-hop scene, and who has seen major label success throughout the 90's with platinum albums like ] and ], has significant roots in the Bay Area, with his earliest success coming from his membership with Digital Underground. Others rappers like ] and ] have seen moderate commercial success. After the death of 2Pac, the West Coast had fell out of major commercial success, until the recent resurgence of ] hip hop scene, which set the stage for the mega successful ] with its most recognized artist, ], gaining widespread popularity after his untimely death in 2004. The ] has brought major success to artists like ], ], and ]. Other ] such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] has had popular hits. In addition, ] has put out many successful alternative acts that include the likes of ], ], and ].

	The Bay Area was also home to many prominent ] ], including ] (a.k.a Dre Dog), Smoov-e, ], ] and ] of the ] as well as ].

	===Northern California===
	] has often been associated with and classified in the ] Sacramento got acts such as ], ], ] (all 3 are brothers), and ]. Alternative hip-hop group ] has seen some success. Also north highland's ] and ], ], ], ], ], C-bo's brother ], ],],], and many more.

	===San Diego===
	] has a small but active underground hip hop scene. The area has had some artists breakthrough to the mainstream with varying success. Veteran artist ] is a prominent West Coast mainstay. Rapper/Actor ] has enjoyed moderate success. Other hip hop performers such as ]pers ] have seen great success with ] and ] music outlets. ] is another underground hip hop artist is currently surging in local popularity. Many new San Diego hip hop artists have been labeled as part of the growing New West movement.

	===Phoenix===
	] has never had a large hip hop scene. ] has made a name for himself throughout the area. ] rapper ] has had moderate success. Rapper ] has signed to ] ]. ] attained moderate success before disbanding in 2006 also upcomin rapper Lil Cyphe from Mesa Arizon a city near Phoenix is making music in the underground scene.

	===Seattle-Tacoma===

	] has seen a small hip hop scene since the late eighties. Rapper ] has seen success with hits such as ] and ]. Yet throughout the 90's, no major rapper has came out of Seattle. Other rappers, such as ], ] ], ], ], ], and ] has seen moderate success. Also, Seattle-based rapper ] holds the ] record holder for the Fastest Rap MC.

	===Portland===

	] has had a quiet hip hop scene trying to breakthrough. However, there are some local hip hop artists such as ] and ]. There is a lot of ] and ] generating in Portland. West coast Hip Hop Radio station B.Fuzz-40 South central stated in an online chat show on august 26th That the L.A.X album made By Cedar blocks The Game is the most successful record to be recorded by a westcoast artist selling over 8 million within its u.s debut on the billboard having sold 3 million in the EU where it was released a day in advance.

	==West Coast hip hop record labels==
	* ] founded by ] in 1987
	* ] founded by ] in 1991
	* ] founded by ] in 1994
	* ] founded by ] in 1995
	* ] founded by ] in 1995
	* ] founded by ] in 1996
	* ] founded by ] in 1996
	* ] founded by ] in 1996
	* ] founded by ] in 1997
	* ] founded by ] in 1997
	* ] founded by ] and ] in 2004
	* Street Muzik Entertainment founded by Lil Drift
	* ] founded by ]

	==See also==		==See also==
			* ]
	*]
			* ]
	*]
			* ]
	*]
	*]		* ]
			* ]
	*]
			* ]
	*]
	*]		* ]
			* ]

	==External links==
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*


			== References ==
			{{reflist}}
	{{hiphop}}		{{hiphop}}
			{{Regional hip-hop in the United States}}

	]		]
	]		]
			]

			]
	]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
	]

Latest revision as of 23:54, 13 December 2024

Regional subgenre of hip-hop

West Coast hip-hop
Stylistic origins	Hip-hop old-school hip-hop soul funk East Coast hip-hop
Cultural origins	Late 1970s, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Fusion genres
G-funk hyphy
Regional scenes
Los Angeles Compton Long Beach Oakland
Other topics
East Coast hip-hop East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry golden age hip-hop hip-hop (subculture) list of artists list of record labels list of Los Angeles rappers

West Coast hip-hop is a regional genre of hip-hop music that encompasses any artists or music that originated in the West Coast of the United States. West Coast hip-hop began to dominate from a radio play and sales standpoint during the early to-mid 1990s with the birth of G-funk and the emergence of record labels such as Suge Knight and Dr. Dre's Death Row Records, Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records, the continued success of Eazy-E's Ruthless Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and others.

History

African American communities of the Bay Area and southern California emerged as new bases of hip-hop culture in the 1980s. Hispanics in the Los Angeles area have played a significant role in West Coast hip-hop culture.

Bay Area hip-hop

The Bay Area has vastly contributed to the hip-hop genre seen in today's modern music industry. While its significance may be lesser known to the general public, since the establishment of hip-hop, the Bay solidified itself as an instrumental building block in the genre’s development. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, political and social justice movements put in place a potential blueprint of what local artists could rap about, and showcased how the counter-hegemonic culture of hip-hop was already embedded into the roots of the Bay Area. Coming out of the Bay was a unique style of break dancing that was exhibited at local shows, and a representation of graffiti sprayed along city streets and buildings, similar to what was expressed in The Bronx on subway cars and abandoned structures. From the inspiration of funk music, to the political and social movements that were energized by the Black Panther Party, Hip-Hop in the Bay was a newfound outlet, and proved to be ingrained in the region's identity. Founded in Oakland in 1966, the Black Panthers surge for change and alterations of the systemic racism entangled in society resonated with the residents of the blue collar city. Many of the organization’s ideologies became well represented in the area’s rap scene, and triggered an explosion of black identity and frustration with the SFPD.

Despite artists like E-40 claiming that the Bay rap scene doesn’t receive the respect it deserves, this hasn’t prevented its artists and style from influencing hip-hop’s sound and dance. Laid out in the 1960s and 70s through activism and the hybridity of funk music, the Bay Area was able to gain serious traction from the 1980s to mid 90s, which saw local artists popularize Pimp rap. Artists across the region began harnessing the sound of the Bay and slowly saw their rhythmic funky beats slowed down and reused in later hits that would intersect genres. Freestyle samples of electro funky beats provided listeners with a sound that they didn’t know the genre needed. The Bay Area isn’t often viewed as one of the prominent hip-hop hubs in the U.S., but its rich history and extensive range of diverse artists prove that many of the original characteristics of early hip-hop can be traced back to the major metropolitan areas and cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Early years

Several events laid the foundations for West Coast hip-hop, long before the emergence of West Coast rappers such as Mellow Man Ace, Too Short, Kid Frost, Ice-T and Eazy-E—or even before the emergence of rap itself. According to Syd Caesar, "a cataclysmic event helped give rise to it out West: the Watts riots of 1965." In 1967, Budd Schulberg founded a creative space in Los Angeles entitled Watts Writers Workshop, intended to help the people of the Watts neighborhood and provide a place for them to express themselves freely; one group to emerge from the workshop was the proto-rap group Watts Prophets.

In the late 1970s in Los Angeles, Alonzo Williams, a young disc jockey from Compton, California formed a partnership with another DJ named Rodger Clayton from Los Angeles, California who created a promotion company called Unique Dreams that would hire Williams to DJ at local events. The two eventually went their separate ways: Williams started a group called the World Class Wreckin' Cru and became the house DJs at a local nightclub called Eve's After Dark while Clayton launched what would perhaps be the foremost successful mobile DJ crew in the region by the name of Uncle Jamm's Army that would host parties by top DJs for thousands of people at large venues. Other smaller DJ and party crews emerged around this time, hoping to establish themselves in the area. Unlike their East Coast counterparts, the Hip-Hop sound emerging from Southern California was more fast-paced and influenced by electronic music. This could be largely credited to the fact that the local West Coast hip-hop scene revolved more around DJing than rapping. A localized dance sub-culture later came out of this party scene, which was highlighted on a national scale on such motion pictures as Breakin'. Breakdancing, popping and locking gave the Los Angeles music scene some of its earliest credibility outside the region. Further attention came to the West Coast as Uncle Jamm's Army began inviting such well-known East Coast Hip-Hop acts such as Whodini and Run-DMC to their functions.

Another early landmark occurred in 1981, when Duffy Hooks launched the first West Coast rap label, Rappers Rapp Records, inspired by Sugar Hill Records in New York. Its first act was the duo of Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp, whose debut single was "The Gigolo Rapp" which was also released in 1981. The song became a minor success but failed to gain much radio play. Many other Hip-Hop songs recorded in California were released during the early 1980s, but many of them received little or no radio play. Captain Rapp created the classic West Coast song released in 1983 called, "Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)", which is a politically conscious response to Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" arranged by the legendary production duo of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Rich Cason. Clayton's group, Uncle Jamm's Army, released their first single, "Dial-a-Freak", and in 1984 Egyptian Lover released his On the Nile album, which includes the popular 12" single "Egypt Egypt". Members of Uncle Jamm's Army and the World Class Wreckin' Cru, including Dr. Dre, The Unknown DJ, Egyptian Lover, Ice-T and Kid Frost would later go on to help define the early West Coast hip-hop sound throughout the 1980s.

During this period, one of the most significant factors in the spread of West Coast hip-hop was the radio station 1580 KDAY AM, which was the first radio station in the world to play rap/hip-hop music 24 hours a day because of Assistant Program Director/Music Director and Radio Personality Greg "Mack Attack" Mack.

Late 1980s and 1990s

Ice-T is known as one of the pioneers of West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap, with songs such as "6 in the Mornin", released in 1986, demonstrating the unique style of the west coast. In 1988, Ice-T released the R&B hit I'm Your Pusher, and Too Short released album Life is... Too Short. In 1988, N.W.A's landmark album Straight Outta Compton was released. Focusing on life and adversities in Compton, California, a notoriously rough area which had gained a reputation for gang violence, it was released by group member Eazy-E's record label Ruthless Records. As well as establishing a basis for the popularity of gangsta rap, the album drew much attention to West Coast hip-hop, especially the Los Angeles scene. In particular, the controversial "Fuck tha Police" and the ensuing censorship attracted substantial media coverage and public attention. Following the dissolution of N.W.A due to in-fighting, the group's members Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and MC Ren would later become platinum-selling solo artists in the 1990s. Ice Cube released some of the West Coast's most critically acclaimed albums, such as 1990's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and 1991's Death Certificate, as well as making film and television appearances such as in John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood in 1991.

The early 1990s was a period in which Hip-Hop went from strength to strength. Tupac Shakur's debut album 2Pacalypse Now was released in 1991, demonstrating a social awareness, with attacks on social injustice such as racism, police brutality, poverty, crime, drug and teenage pregnancy. This album featured 3 singles: "Brenda's Got a Baby", "Trapped" and "If My Homie Calls". 2Pacalypse Now was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 19, 1995. Shakur's music and philosophy was rooted in various philosophies and approaches, including the Black Panther Party, Black nationalism, egalitarianism and liberty. Tupac sold over 75 million records, being regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time and a pioneer of West Coast rap.

Also in 1991, Suge Knight founded Death Row Records which became a record label powerhouse throughout the 1990s. In 1992, Dr. Dre released his solo debut, The Chronic; this marked the birth of the G-funk sound that became a hallmark of the West Coast sound in the 1990s, with the album's lead single "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" peaking at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The city of Long Beach arrived to the hip-hop scene in the early 1990s with artists such as Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound, both signed to Death Row, with releases such as Doggystyle (1993) and Dogg Food (1995). Both albums becoming huge sellers and being critically acclaimed and helped make a mark in establishing Long Beach in the hip-hop scene. Another artist who helped establish Long Beach was Warren G with his release Regulate... G Funk Era (1994). He founded his record label G-Funk Entertainment in 1995 and helped promote artists also from Long Beach such as the Twinz and The Dove Shack.

As for Death Row, success kept coming throughout the 1990s with 2Pac's All Eyez on Me (1996) also becoming a huge seller and becoming critically acclaimed. 2Pac gained hits California Love" and "Live and Die in LA". Also in the early-to-mid 1990s, the group Cypress Hill made a big impact on the scene with their albums such as their debut studio album of the same name and Black Sunday. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast rap and hip-hop. Other popular artists and groups from this period include The Pharcyde (known for their albums Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia), Souls of Mischief (known for their album 93 'til Infinity), Ahmad (known for his song Back in the Day), Xzibit (known for his album At the Speed of Life) and Ras Kass (known for his album Soul on Ice).

2000s and 2010s

West Coast hip-hop's position in the mainstream dwindled greatly in the late 1990s and 2000s, with a few notable exceptions such as Dr. Dre's 2001, Xzibit's Restless, Snoop Dogg's No Limit Top Dogg and Tha Last Meal albums. However, the trend soon changed. Although gangsta rap was still popular on the West Coast in the 2000s, the West Coast sound became more designed for nightclubs with the rise of the Bay Area's hyphy scene, featuring flamboyant raps and explicit references to sex and drugs. A key artist in the genre was E-40, who found a substantial audience with his 1995 album In a Major Way; he found even greater success with the song "Tell Me When to Go" in 2006, featuring Oakland rapper Keak da Sneak.

Bay area rapper Too Short, already well known for his collaborations with artists such as Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G, found a new lease on life with the hyphy scene, his 16th studio album Blow the Whistle in 2006 debuting at number 14 on the Billboard 200. The Game also brought attention back to the West Coast with his double platinum album, The Documentary, as did Xzibit's platinum certified Restless album, and gold certified albums Man vs. Machine and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Artists from the 1990s such as Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube and groups such as the Tha Dogg Pound and Westside Connection continued to release albums throughout the 2000s and had success but did not garner the same level of fame as they had experienced in the 1990s. Throughout the 2000s, a number of peripheral West Coast hip-hop artists such as Ya Boy, Glasses Malone, Juice, SKG (Suge Knight Girl) Helecia Choyce, Crooked I, 40 Glocc, Slim the Mobster, Bishop Lamont and Mistah F.A.B. collaborated with big-name artists such as Dr. Dre, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, The Game, E-40 and Snoop Dogg.

In the early to mid-2010s, the West Coast had also seen a resurgence with hyphy as well as a transition to an uptempo and club-oriented type of Pop Rap.

Producer DJ Mustard had pioneered the "ratchet" music movement, a production style that has snowballed into the mainstream. DJ Mustard played a role in bringing West Coast hip-hop back to national attention through the 2010s. He gained huge popularity throughout 2011 to 2014, producing a number of popular artists' singles, including Tyga's "Rack City", 2 Chainz's "I'm Different", Young Jeezy's "R.I.P.", B.o.B's "HeadBand", YG's "My Nigga" and "Who Do You Love?", Ty Dolla Sign's "Paranoid", Kid Ink's "Show Me" and Trey Songz's "Na Na". Mustard also released his debut mixtape, Ketchup, in 2013, further solidifying his ratchet sound, which follows its G-funk and hyphy predecessors.

Other more peripheral acts that achieved moderate, cult following success in the mainstream include Lil B, who built a strong fan base via social media outlets such as Twitter, YouTube, and MySpace, and has recorded both solo and with The Pack.

That same year, Black Hippy's own Kendrick Lamar 2012 release, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, was met with rave reviews and was featured on many critics' end-of-year lists. The album was nominated Album of the Year at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, marking the first time any West Coast hip-hop was nominated for award. In 2014, Schoolboy Q debuted at no.1 on the Billboard 200 with 139,000 copies sold. YG's My Krazy Life debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200 with 61,000 copies sold.

2020s

On June 19, 2024, Juneteenth, Kendrick Lamar hosted the impromptu The Pop Out: Ken & Friends concert following his highly publicized feud with Drake, noted as a celebration of the West Coast.

References

Burnim, Mellonee V.; Maultsby, Portia K. (November 13, 2014). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: The United States and Canada. Routledge. ISBN 9781317934431.
Hess, Mickey (November 25, 2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: [2 Volumes]. Abc-Clio. p. 239. ISBN 9780313343216.
Arnold, Eric (February 1, 2023). "The Bay Area Was Hip-Hop Before There Was Hip-Hop". kqed.org. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
Nosnitsky, Andrew (August 9, 2023). "How the Bay Area became a rap incubator with a chip on its shoulder". npr.org. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
Schumacher, Alexandra. "2018". scholar.dominican.edu. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
Palmer, Tamara (August 21, 2023). "A Guide To Bay Area Hip-Hop: Definitive Releases, Artists & Subgenres From Northern California". grammy.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
Caesar, Syd. "Westside Story: The History of West Coast Hip-Hop". Retrieved April 17, 2013.
^ Hoskyns, Barney (2009). Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles. New York: Backbeat Books. p. 341. ISBN 9780879309435.
^ Charnas, Dan (2010). The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop. New York: New American Library. ISBN 9781101445822.
^ Eshaiker, Amin (2008). Egon (ed.). Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 (Liner notes). Arabian Prince. Los Angeles: Stones Throw Records. p. 8.
^ Eshaiker, Amin (2008). Egon (ed.). Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989 (Liner notes). Arabian Prince. Los Angeles: Stones Throw Records. p. 6.
"Captain Rapp – Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)". Hip-Hop Be Bop. October 23, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
"When L.A. invented rap radio: The rise of KDAY". Los Angeles Times. August 7, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
Coleman, Brian (January 7, 2016). "1580 KDAY — AND THE BEAT GOES ON". Medium. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
"West Coast Rap Music Genre Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
"Too Short Biography". Starpulse.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
Bush, John. "Too $hort: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
"West Coast Rap Music Genre Overview". AllMusic. set the stage for a more identifiable West Coast style
"Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Tupac Shakur Earning Like He's Still Alive". Forbes. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
Anderson, Errol (January 11, 2013). "Classic Albums: Dr Dre - The Chronic". Clash. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
^ Senay Kenfe (August 24, 2014). "LONG BEACH :: THE TRUE HOME OF G-FUNK". The Hundreds. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
"Snoop Dogg - Biography and Facts". FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICANS. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
"History of Rap & Hip-Hop". Timeline of African American Music. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
"DJ Mustard talks Ratchet Movement". Sway's Universe. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013.
"DJ Mustard". Complex. November 5, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
Noz, Andrew. "Beat Construction: DJ Mustard". Fader. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
Ketchum, William E. III (July 19, 2012). "Producer's Corner: DJ Mustard Explains The Ratchet Movement, The Weirdest Place He's Heard "Rack City"". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
"DJ Mustard – 'Ketchup' Mixtape Review". XXL. June 5, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
Bell, Max (March 25, 2014). "How West Coast Rap Came to Dominate Radio Again". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
"Lil B: "Motivation"". DEAN MAGAZINE. January 20, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
"The King of the City: The Best Rapper in 13 Hip-Hop MeccasLos Angeles". Complex.
"Grammys nominations 2014: full list". The Telegraph. August 1, 2018. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022.
Ju, Shirley (June 20, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Really Popped Out: The West Coast Is Back On Top". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 22, 2024.

Hip-hop

Culture

History

Subgenres

General	Alternative Hipster hop Boom bap Bounce British Road rap Chipmunk soul Chopped and screwed Chopper Cloud rap Comedy Crunk Crunkcore East Coast Freestyle rap Hyphy Jerkin' Instrumental Latin Chicano rap Lofi Miami bass Mumble rap Nerdcore Chap hop Political Conscious Progressive rap Religious Christian Jewish Snap music Southern Turntablism Underground
Hardcore	Dirty rap Gangsta rap Mafioso rap G-funk Horrorcore Memphis rap
Trap music	Afro trap Drill Brooklyn drill Jersey drill Sample drill UK drill Latin trap Phonk Plugg Rage Tread UK trap

Fusion genres

General	Country rap Electro Emo rap Hip-hop soul Hip house Industrial Jazz rap New jack swing Pop rap Psychedelic rap Punk rap Ragga Rap opera Rap rock Trip hop
Rap metal	Trap metal Nu metal
Regional	Afroswing Bongo Flava Boomba music Cumbia rap Genge Hip-hop galsen Hipco Hiplife Igbo rap Kwaito Low bap Motswako Nā mele paleoleo Nuyorican rap Romani hip-hop Songo-salsa Scam rap Stronda Urban Pasifika Vigilante rap Zenji flava

Derivatives

Electronic	Breakbeat Baltimore club Florida breaks Ghetto house Ghettotech Glitch hop Grime Illbient Freestyle Wonky
Other	Funk carioca Reggaeton Alternative reggaeton

Regional scenes

African	Algerian Angolan Beninese Botswana Gambian Ghanaian Ivorian Kenyan Malawian Mauritian Moroccan Namibian Nigerian Port Harcourt Nigerien Senegalese South African Tanzanian Togolese Zambian Zimbabwean
Asian	Armenian Azerbaijani Bangladeshi Burmese Chinese Indian Desi Indonesian Japanese Korean Malaysian Mongolian Nepalese Pakistani Philippine Singapore Sri Lankan Taiwanese Thai
European	Albanian Austrian Belgian Bosnian and Herzegovinian British Celtic Scottish Bulgarian Croatian Czech Dutch Finnish French German Greek Portuguese Hungarian Icelandic Irish Italian Macedonian Montenegrin Norwegian Polish Romanian Romani Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Swiss Ukrainian
Middle Eastern	Arabic Egyptian Iranian Israeli Lebanese Palestinian Saudi Arabian Tunisian Turkish Yemeni
North American	United States: East Coast Baltimore New Jersey New York City Philadelphia Washington, D.C. Midwestern Chicago Detroit Minneapolis/St. Paul Milwaukee Omaha Southern Atlanta Memphis Miami West Coast Northwest Alaska Asian American Latin Native American Outside the US: Canadian Cuban Dominican Haitian Mexican Salvadoran
Oceanian	Australian New Zealand Samoan
South American	Brazilian Brasília Chilean Colombian

v t e Hip-hop in the United States
Regions	East Coast Hawaii Northwest Southern West Coast
Cities	Anchorage Atlanta Baltimore Chicago Denver Detroit Houston Long Beach Los Angeles Memphis Miami Minneapolis/St. Paul New Orleans New York Oakland Omaha Philadelphia Washington, D.C.

Latest revision as of 23:54, 13 December 2024

History

Bay Area hip-hop

Early years

Late 1980s and 1990s

2000s and 2010s

2020s

See also

References