Bay Area Rap

BAY AREA?

  • Although there are many regions in the U.S. with a bay, the San Francisco Bay Area claims the title, ‘The Bay Area’ or ‘The Bay’
  • The Bay Area is a region surrounding San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay located in the northern part of the state, California.
  • The Bay Area includes the counties Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco.
  • The racial makeup of the nine-county Bay Area was 52.5% White, 23.3% Asian, 6.7% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.7% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from two or more races and 10.8% from other races. 
  • The Bay Area cities of Vallejo, Suisun City, Oakland, San Leandro, Fairfield, and Richmond are among the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States.
  • The Bay Area is home to 2 football teams, 2 baseball teams, and 1 basketball team.
  • If the Bay Area was a country, it would be the 19th highest economy.
  • The Bay Area is known for its innovation and growth.

THE HYPHY MOVEMENT

  • The Bay Area is known as the rap capital of nonconformists and hustling
  • Bay Area Rap has a very unique and uncommon sound. A Bay Area rap song can identified with a pounding rhythm, a prominent bass, drums, and keyboard
  •  The hyphy movement is a movement local to the Bay Area
  • The term ‘hyphy’ is slang for the word, ‘hyperactive’. It is used to describe the music and culture. The term was coined by Freak da Sneak, Federation, and Mac Dre
  • The culture that embodies hyphy started in Oakland, CA, specifically East Oakland. It was started in the late 1990s and eventually spread to the rest of the bay in the 2000s.
  • The elements of the hyphy movement include gritty, pounding rhythm, sideshows, and ghost riding
  • The phrase, ‘get hyphy’ or ‘go dumb’ prompts you to act eccentric, irrational, get out of hand, and goofy whether its in the club, a party, or on the street

NOTABLE RAPPERS

MAC DRE

  • Born Andre Louis Hicks in Oakland, CA, raised in Vallejo, CA
  • Founded the label ‘Thizz Entertainment’
  • Known for the singles, “Feelin Myself”, “Thizzle Dance”, and “Get Stupid”
  • Heavily influenced the rap culture and the hyphy movement in the Bay Area 
  • His death in 2004 greatly impacted the bay

TOO SHORT

  • Todd Anthony Shaw 
  • Born in Los Angeles, CA but raised in East Oakland
  • Popular in the 1990s and 2000s
  • Best known for the singles, “Blow the Whistle”, “The Ghetto”, “Gettin It”, “Shake That Monkey” and “I’m a Player”

TUPAC

  • Born and raised in East Harlem, lived in Baltimore, MA. He spent his young adult years in the Bay Area(Marin City & Oakland)
  • Joined the Bay Area rap group, Digital Underground, best known for “Humpty Dance” and “Same Song”
  • He is the most influential rapper to come out of the Bay Area
  • Tupac said, “When I got to Oakland, that’s where I learned the game. So that’s why I give all my love to Oakland. If I’ma claim a city, I’ma claim Oakland.”

E-40

  • Earl Stevens
  • Born and raised in Vallejo, CA
  • Known for his unique sounding voice and flavorful beats
  • Used his musical success to become a businessmen
  • Known for the singles, “Tell Me When To Go”, “Choices ‘Yup'”, “Snap Yo Fingers”, “Sprinkle Me”, “U and Dat”, and “My Sh*t Bang”

THE NEW BAY

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