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West Coast hip hop is a style of hip hop music that originated in California 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 African American communities in California. Pioneers of the genre include Ice T and especially N.W.A, whose controversial album prompted a letter from the FBI. It dominated the hip-hop air waves in the early and mid-1990s with the popularity of G-funk. The release of Dr. Dre's The Chronic had led to the West Coast's peak.

The center of West Coast hip hop is the Los Angeles area, but can also include the Inland Empire, Bay Area, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Denver

Origins and early success (1980s–1992)

1980s

The origins of West Coast hip hop can be traced back to the late 1970s. After its invention in New York City, 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 SF Bay Area's Too Short, who started rapping as early as 1983 and put out three independent albums beginning in 1985 before his 1987 major-label debut, Born to Mack, 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 Ice T, Capitan Rapp, King Tee, Toddy Tee, Mixmaster Spade, and C.I.A. gained prominence, while LA Dream Team, World Class Wreckin' Cru, DJ Unknown, Egyptian Lover and the Arabian Prince innovated a style called electro hop (or simply electro), essentially a hybrid of dance music and rap - following the lead of Afrika Bambaataa, 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 Florida rap group 2 Live Crew and the Miami bass 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 "gangsta rap" 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 Rhyme Pays was a landmark for the genre and could be considered one of the first purely gangsta rap albums. It managed to go gold. N.W.A.'s N.W.A. and the Posse 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 Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and the addition of MC Ren; along with continued contributions from unofficial members The D.O.C. and Arabian Prince.

In 1988, the N.W.A. released their blockbuster, Straight Outta Compton, and put the West Coast on the hip hop map. Their sound was influenced by hardcore, metal-tinged rap performers like Ice-T, and 1970s soul music and p-funk. Straight Outta Compton united these sounds with minimalistic beats and blunt, hard-hitting lyrics filled with references to (and often promotions of) violence, hedonism, and the criminal lifestyle. Individual members also were able to write pages in hip-hop history. Shortly after Straight Outta Compton was released, Eazy-E released his wildly received debut album, Eazy-Duz-It, in 1988, with most of the production done by Dr. Dre. In 1989, unofficial member The D.O.C. (a Texas native) released his solo debut album No One Can Do It Better which managed to be released with critical acclaim, (including a 5 Mic rating from The Source) 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 AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Death Certificate released in 1990 and 1991 respectively. The remaining members of the group followed up by releasing Efil4zaggin 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 Death Row Records.

Early 1990s

However, like N.W.A., some of its individual members would go on to form moderate (ie. MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted) to successful (ie. 2Pac of Digital Underground) solo careers, and continue to build upon West Coast rap. During 2Pac's early career, he would rap about many social and political issues with the albums 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. before his style began to lean towards gangsta/thug rap in the mid-1990s.

Latin rap also got its first start during this time. While previously being restricted to New York, West Coast artists like Kid Frost and Mellow Man Ace 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 South Gate, CA natives, Cypress Hill. 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 San Francisco Bay Area, and Oakland in particular. Too Short, for instance, was a giant in the genre, and MC Hammer 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. Seattle, Washington, although primarily being known as the center of grunge rock, has also had an active scene from early on, including the artist Sir Mix-a-Lot.

History

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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 East Coast at the time. In gangsta rap, the West Coast scene had a voice that could compete with Public Enemy, KRS-One, 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.

Three of N.W.A.'s most prominent members, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre, launched successful solo careers after the group's dissolution. Ice Cube's style was more militant, angry, racially charged, and political, while Eazy-E's style was more violent gangsta rap mixed with some g-funk.

G-funk

Above The Law's style, innovated with Dre Dre, dubbed "g-funk" or "gangsta funk" (also known as "ghetto funk"), was slower and more melodic, with heavy basslines topped by flutes and p-funk 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, The Chronic released in 1992, is widely considered to be a seminal 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, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt, RBX, Nate Dogg and Warren G. Dr. Dre would continue to refine his work on Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album Doggystyle, which launched Snoop Dogg into one of the most well known rap careers ever. Furthermore, the album's success established Death Row 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.

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 DJ Quik produced their most well-known material in the g-funk era, Dr. Dre's fellow Death Row "inmate" Dat Nigga Daz produced Tha Dogg Pound's debut album, Dogg Food, in the same style.

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 talk box in a style pioneered by funk singer Roger Troutman.

East Coast vs. West Coast

While the beginnings of the rivalry between coastlines can be tracked back to N.W.A, Tim Dog was a Bronx rapper to start and take shots at the West Coast scene plus many rappers including N.W.A, DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg and received response from not only them but also from other Compton natives, Tweedy Bird Loc and MC Eiht. While 2Pac was working on his third album Me Against the World in 1994, he was shot by muggers in the lobby of a New York City recording studio that friend The Notorious B.I.G. was recording at. While serving prison time for sexual assault, 2Pac accused The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy, amongst others, of having prior knowledge of the shooting. This series of events sparked an inter coastal war between Bad Boy Entertainment (owned by Puff Daddy) and Death Row Records (owned by Suge Knight).

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 Las Vegas, Nevada in 1996, a slaying that The Notorious B.I.G. was suspected by the public to be involved in. The Notorious B.I.G. was also fatally shot in Los Angeles, California, in a similar fashion to 2Pac, six months later.

After the passing of The Notorious B.I.G and the passing of Tupac Shakur the whole east coast , west coast thing died down.

Popularity

The coastal rivalry raised Death Row Records to notorious status. Combined with the rise of g-funk, West Coast artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, and Tha Dogg Pound 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 All Eyez on Me, The Chronic, Doggystyle, Dogg Food, and Tha Doggfather . 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. Eazy-E amazed the hip hop world with his outstanding 5x platinum album It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa which was actually a diss album towards to Dr. Dre. Warren G, DJ Quik, Ice Cube, and Westside Connection all debuted or continued to release gangsta rap/g-funk albums in the early and mid-1990s, which enjoyed at least moderate success.

On the other side of the coin, non Death Row artists were rising to popularity. Coolio released his platinum selling album It Takes a Thief and his multi-platinum and world famous album Gangsta's Paradise in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Mack 10 released his self titled album in 1995 and managed to go gold. Too Short and newcomer E-40 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 . Eazy-E's Ruthless Records held a string of artists on its roster matching the label's hardcore, violent style in artists such as MC Ren, B.G. Knocc Out, Dresta, Above The Law and Kokane. The earliest success of Latin rap also came from this time, as Cypress Hill 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 Kid Frost. Their style mixed Latin rap with gangsta rap and g-funk to create a seminal 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.

While not nearly as successful commercially, Bay Area rappers were also starting to emerge and contribute to West Coast hip hop. Spice 1, Keak Da Sneak, San Quinn, The Luniz, B-Legit, E-A-Ski, Ant Banks, Mac Dre, and many others began releasing a wide range of albums at this time. Though most of them were most popular in California.

Following incidents with the two Coasts, Death Row Records' success diminished as Dr. Dre departed to form Aftermath Entertainment, 2Pac got murdered, and Snoop Dogg left to join No Limit Records. Gangsta rap disappeared from the national spotlight and the resulting void was filled by East Coast pop-rap acts such as Puff Daddy, Mase, and actor/musician Will Smith. When 2pac died, West Coast hip hop had begun to diminish from the mainstream media, though still popular in its home region.

Underground development

In the late 1990s, the West Coast's underground hip hop 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 Blackalicious, Zion I, The Pharcyde, Aceyalone, The BUMS, Hieroglyphics, Jurassic 5, The Coup, Ozomatli, Spearhead, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Souls of Mischief, Planet Asia, 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 Dilated Peoples and The Black Eyed Peas 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 The Black Eyed Peas would later find success in the 2000s after releasing the album "Elephunk" with a more mainstream sound.

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 2001, Xzibit's introduction to the mainstream, and Snoop Dogg's work with Tha Eastsidaz, most artists like Warren G, Kurupt, WC, Mack 10, DJ Quik, and Daz, and the remaining veteran artists of the 1990s continued to rapidly lose recognition among music fans. While newer rappers like Yukmouth, Jayo Felony, and Ras Kass were able to begin strong leads in California and trying to bring gangsta rap to a new level.

Birth of hyphy music

Hyphy music also began to develop around this time, originating in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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 Keak da Sneak (who coined the word "hyphy") and Mac Dre (the purveyor of thizz culture), with later push by E-40 (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 Southern California'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.

West Coast hip hop today (2004–present)

West Coast rap seems to be fighting to be part of the mainstream again as there is on going a third generation of artists. The Game's album The Documentary along with a well publicized argument with 50 Cent 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 RIAA.

Since The Game released The Documentary, artists like Glasses Malone, Bishop Lamont, Raje', Omar Cruz, Crooked I, JT the Bigga Figga, Lil Eazy-E, Eastwood, Down a.k.a. Kilo, Bailey, Clyde Carson (of The Team), Spider Loc, The Fixxers, Hood Surgeon, and Ya Boy 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 E-40. While other artists like Guerilla Black, Roscoe, Sly Boogey, Freaks, Mistah F.A.B., The Mob Figaz, and The Federation, Mykestro, and Ca$his 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 Pop-rap 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. After the success of his album R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, Snoop Dogg convoked West Coast artists (about 65 people) into a meeting called the Western Conference on July 4, 2005. 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 Tha Dogg Pound, Jayo Felony and Snoop Dogg, and The Game and JT the Bigga Figga. Snoop Dogg offered his label Doggystyle Records and his CEO position at Koch Records 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, Detox, 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) Dirty South. 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 krumping has started to become more mainstream due to the popularity of the David LaChapelle film Rize. 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

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Los Angeles

Main articles: Music of California

In the early 1980s, recorded hip hop from Los Angeles began in a kind of electronic dance music called electro hop; these included artist such as the LA Dream Team, Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, and World Class Wreckin' Cru. The mid-to-late eighties would bring attention to the west coast, such as Ice-T "6'n da Mornin'" (1986), which was one of the first gangsta rap songs. N.W.A. broke through with the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton and gave the West Coast it's first major record company, Ruthless Records. The departure of Ice Cube, marked the release of AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. With N.W.A.'s break up, Dr. Dre and Suge Knight established Death Row Records, the most prominent West Coast record label. The Chronic served as the showcase for G-Funk era and the start of Snoop Dogg with Doggystyle. Other prominent Los Angeles artists are DJ Quik, The D.O.C., Mack 10, Freestyle Fellowship, The Pharcyde, Coolio, and Cypress Hill. 2Pac's All Eyez On Me showed the peak of West Coast hip hop going 9X platinum. Since Eazy-E and 2Pac's death, West Coast rap has died down a bit yet still Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, as well as Xzibit, still remain popular. Recently the West Coast has made a comeback with Compton rapper The Game and Black Eyed Peas . Also underground artist such as MURS, Blu, Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Glasses Malone, and Bishop Lamont has continued to make a buzz.

Long Beach

Though technically a part of L.A.'s hip hop scene, Long Beach has gained a name for itself. Led by Snoop Dogg, artists like Warren G, Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tha Eastsidaz have all seen major success. Though Long Beach hasn't produced any major new talent, Crooked I has made a buzz around the Los Angeles Area.

The Bay Area

The Bay Area has been a major stage for hip hop since the early eighties, with Too Short being the first hip hop artist to showcase Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, Pittsburg, Vallejo with his album, Life Is...Too Short. In the early 90's, The Bay Area produced successful artists like Digital Underground and MC Hammer. Alternative acts such as Souls of Mischief, and Del tha Funkee Homosapien have also seen commercial success. 2Pac, 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 All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World, has significant roots in the Bay Area, with his earliest success coming from his membership with Digital Underground. Others rappers like Spice 1 and The Luniz 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 The Bay Area hip hop scene, which set the stage for the mega successful Hyphy Movement with its most recognized artist, Mac Dre, gaining widespread popularity after his untimely death in 2004. The Hyphy Movement has brought major success to artists like E-40, Keak da Sneak, and The Pack. Other hyphy artists such as The Mob Figaz, The Federation, Mistah F.A.B., Baby Bash, Ya Boy, JT the Bigga Figga, and San Quinn has had popular hits. In addition, The Bay Area has put out many successful alternative acts that include the likes of The Coup, Hieroglyphics, and Zion I.

The Bay Area was also home to many prominent turntablist DJs, including Andre Nickatina, DJ Qbert and Mix Master Mike of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz as well as DJ Shadow.

West Coast hip hop record labels

• Ruthless Records founded by Eazy-E in 1987
• Death Row Records founded by Suge Knight in 1991
• Da Lench Mob Productions founded by Ice Cube in 1994
• Doggystyle Records founded by Snoop Dogg in 1995
• Open Bar Entertainment founded by Xzibit in 1995
• Aftermath Entertainment founded by Dr. Dre in 1996
• Hoo-Bangin' Records founded by Mack 10 in 1996
• Thizz Entertainment founded by Mac Dre in 1996
• Amaru Entertainment founded by Afeni Shakur in 1997
• ABB Records founded by Beni B in 1997
• The Black Wall Street Records founded by The Game and Big Fase 100 in 2004

See also

• G-funk
• Gangsta rap
• Hyphy
• List of West Coast hip hop artists
• Mobb Music
• Music of California

External links

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• West Coast Rap Album Reviews
• Donmega.com West Coast Rap News & Info
• dubcnn.com West Coast News Network
• Westcoastpioneers - Informations about the early years of West Coast Rap
• West Coast News Network
• westcoast2k.net West Coast News Network

• Articles with peacock terms from September 2008
• Articles lacking sources from September 2008
• American hip hop genres
• West Coast hip hop