Published August 14, 2023
Hip Hop Turns 50 and the most legendary artists that hail from the bay.
This week we’re honoring some of the most epic, badass, original, visionary talent in hip hop. Some folks aren’t aware of how many of the greats started in the Bay Area.
Let’s get into it:
First legend is B-Legit.
-In the 90s he kicked it off with a family group comprised of himself, a cousin and two siblings called The Click. He was so prolific through the years and has created music both alone and as one half of E-40. B-Legit is exceptional blending the worlds of old and new school hip hop.
Souls of Mischief
-These dudes all started in different groups, Del and The Funky Homosapiens, A plus, Opio, and Tahai. These were the first kind of hippie rap groups.
Souls of Mischief was super West Coast with a stoner rap vibe that hadn’t been done in the Bay. They were groundbreaking around these parts, as alt rap had only really come from groups like DeLa Soul, who hail from NYC. Music so special has cemented these guys as an unforgettable legacy of the Bay.
Spice 1
-Spice 1 is a truly Oakland rapper. He is very famous for being the guy working in studio with Tupac Shakur and being with him during his last day alive. But on his own, Spice 1 has created tons of music in the past 20 years. His style of rapping about Oakland street life is rhythmic and smooth.
2Pac
-Although he was born in NY, Tupac eventually settled in Oakland. His parents were Black Panthers and named him after a revolutionary Incan leader. He was destined for greatness straight away. He started making music as a teenager. He quickly rose in the ranks- with lyrics that highlighted difficult societal issues, he was a beacon of bravery and a voice that excited and thrilled millions.
His light was stolen from the world when he was murdered in 1996, however he holds a spot in the line up of greatest rappers of all time.
The Coup
-With front man Boots Riley bringing the charisma, the Coup has brought an amazing rap with funk and jazz grooves to the Bay since 1993.
This group is a unique combination of rap and soul jams, with relevant, revolutionary, smart lyrics that have pulled in fans and kept them close as they remain one of the most radical rap groups in Oakland.
Mac Dre
Mac Dre has arguably had one of the most relevant impacts on Bay Area rap, like ever in all time. He has given a foot up to tons of aspiring young Oakland and San Francisco hip hop artists with his independent record label Thizz Entertainment.
Very critical of police, with sharply smart societal observations, Mac Dre created two decades of important music before his unsolved murder in 2004. His legacy lives on in all the artists he brought to the forefront and his own music which gave him the title of one of the top Bay Area rappers of all time.
Too $hort
-In the 80s East Coast rap, out of NYC was becoming gigantic. Too Short brought attention to hip hop on the West coast. Although he ended up in Atlanta in later years, he first made a lasting and undeniable impact on the Bay Area. As an originator of West Coast gangsta rap, Too Short started Up All Night records. Through his label he discovered and boosted tons of Bay Area talent in the hip hop scene.
E-40
-In the 90s, E-40 created a massive amount of music with lyrics about the hustle and the grind. Early on he rapped which his brother B-legit, but went on as a solo artist to build one of the biggest catalogs of music in the industry. He was a true business man who grew into brands of energy water and cognac. His label Sick Wid It Records made him a pioneer in Bay Area independent hip hop.
We could gush for pages, but we imagine you all have kids and jobs and stuff to do. We are happy and excited to highlight some greats. We hope you are inspired to treat yourself by making these Spotify of Pandora channels and blasting them all week. Or maybe you have killer taste and it’s already on your list. It’s a relevant week to enjoy and be thankful for these hip hop heroes
