West Coast hip hop, also known as West Coast rap or California 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. 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 was the spark that led to the West Coast's peak.
The center of West Coast hip hop is the Los Angeles area, but can also include the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, and Seattle.
The beginning
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 Bay Area legend Too $hort, Ice T, Capitan Rapp, King Tee, Toddy Tee, Mix Master Spade, C.I.A., World Class Wreckin' Cru, DJ Unknown and Egyptian Lover.
It has been suggested that the West Coast movement gained early recognition in Los Angeles partly due to the city's affiliation with the entertainment industry where most of the major record companies and labels reside.
West Coast hip hop also received early contributions from groups based in the Bay Area, and Oakland in particular.
The golden era
Between 1992 and 1996 the nationwide success of N.W.A.(group formed by Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eazy-E), 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. This period is also known as the Golden Era of West Coast hip hop music.
Today
West Coast rap seems to be fighting to be part of the mainstream again with artists such as The Game, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, E-40, Lil Eazy-E, E-40, The Black Eyed Peas, WC and Xzibit. |
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