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Celebrate hip-hop's golden anniversary by checking out these 10 must-hear podcasts. Each series covers a range of topics connected to the culture, from candid conservations with elite emcees to deep dives into rap history with Chuck D.
Since its emergence at DJ Kool Herc's back-to-school bash in '73, hip-hop has grown from a niche music genre into a cultural phenomenon that influences many industries. It has become the driving force behind fashion, art, film and advertising, reshaping the world's entertainment landscape.
From "The Combat Jack Show" to "The Joe Budden Podcast," the genre's popularity has given birth to a range of hip-hop podcasts that dominate the online streaming world.
These powerhouse podcasts and dozens of others provide a platform for candid interviews with artists, cultural discussions, and in-depth analyses of the rap world. But some go a bit further, digging into the practical and less-glamorous aspects of the culture like finances, entrepreneurship, education, activism and female empowerment.
Whether you're interested in the inspiration behind your fave rapper's song or simply want to learn more about the genre's history, these 10 hip-hop podcasts have got you covered.
Whether you're a hip-hop head looking for insights or just want to laugh and hear some good rap tea, Drink Champs is where it's at.
From the controversial Ye episode to Snoop's candid discussion about buying his former label, Death Row, the podcast is known for its frank and unfiltered conversations with the hottest artists in the game.
With adult beverages flowing freely, hosts N.O.R.E. (also known as Noreaga) and DJ EFN chop it up with hip-hop royalty, who share stories about their hit albums and diss tracks and bust myths that have followed them throughout their careers. The free-flowing libations help loosen everyone up, setting the stage for viral and controversial moments.
When it comes to hip-hop, Manny Faces knows what's up. He's the founder and executive director of The Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy, which focuses on boosting public understanding of hip-hop music and culture. Hip-hop has faced its fair share of negative stereotypes, but they only represent a fraction of the whole picture. And Faces is trying to highlight the other side of this much-maligned movement by highlighting hip-hop's positive influence on communities across the country.
With his long-running podcast, "Hip-Hop Can Save America!" the award-winning journalist examines how the music and cultural movement is being used to positively influence aspects of education, science, health, activism, politics, business and the arts across the country.
In conversations with authors, artists, educators, activists and scholars, Faces dives deep into the myriad ways hip-hop is being used to enact change and meaningful transformation across industries.
What began as a subscription-based newsletter has since transformed into a dynamic podcast and media company that analyzes the financial aspects of hip-hop. With a dedication to in-depth analyses and insights, "Trapital" host and founder Dan Runcie uses his tech/finance background to explore the business side of the rap game, uncovering its financial strategies and impact.
Over the show's run, Runcie has interviewed music execs and examined the rise of artists like Burna Boy, the turnover at MoTown, the state of streaming and physical media, and the decline of major record labels.
If you've ever wanted to know the story behind MC Lyte's infamous diss song "10% Dis" or how Ja Rule found his niche, Rap Stories is the podcast for you.
Created in celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, "Rap Stories" goes behind the scenes with culture-shifting artists — including Goodie Mob, MC Lyte, Currensy, Too $hort and BIG K.R.I.T. — who offer up intimate insights, production details and backstories about their most impactful and culturally significant works.
No, your mind isn't playing tricks on you. The Geto Boys' very own Scarface and Willie D are the hosts of this riveting podcast that launched in 2021 on Charlamagne tha God's The Black Effect Podcast Network. In it, the Southern rap pioneers reflect on their legacy and rise to stardom, dispels rumors and offer behind-the-scenes insights into their tenure with the Houston hip-hop group. The hosts also chop it up with guests who have impacted the culture, including Rap-A-Lot founder J Prince, Lil Keke, Krayzie Bone, 2 Chainz, Freddie Gibbs, NBA icon Allen Iverson and more.
But this isn't just a long-form chat about their careers or music. The podcast also welcomes thought leaders from the world of politics, pop culture and beyond, for thought-provoking conversations on a host of topics, from gun violence and social justice to mental health, relationships and spirituality.
"The primary goal of the podcast is to inform and instruct," Willie D told The Root in 2021. "Akin to the music we’ve done throughout our career."
From the mid-aughts to the early 2010s, music blogs played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of hip-hop. During this time, the internet provided a platform for both established and up-and-coming artists, like Drake and Kid Cudi, to share their music directly with fans through these smaller blog sites where fans could download their new music.
Hosted by brothers Eric and Jeff Rosenthal, this podcast examines the influential era of MP3 blogs in hip-hop between 2007 and 2012, when artists leveraged the power of the internet to connect with a broader audience and achieve commercial success outside of traditional channels. The series captures the impact of these amateur publications and their transformative influence on the culture.
When she's not dropping certified bangers with JT, Yung Miami holds it down on her hit podcast, where she chats with hip-hop and R&B heavy hitters like Summer Walker, Megan Thee Stallion, Trina, G Herbo and Latto. The vibrant podcast host leaves no stone unturned during these sprawling convos with her peers and other industry figures, from gossip and behind-the-scenes secrets to intimate details about relationships, careers and mental health.
But her hosting stint may not have come to fruition without the laser instincts of Diddy. After checking out Caresha's appearance on an episode of Justin Laboy and Justin Combs' podcast "Respectfully Justin," the music mogul was charmed by her responses and approached her about hosting her own show on his Revolt podcast network.
The show's premiere episode was released on YouTube in late 2022, where it broke viewership records with nearly 2 million views within 24 hours of its release.
When Jazzie Belle wanted to empower women by spotlighting their voices and fostering self-sufficiency and confidence.
"The premise of the show is to shed light on the influence, the impact and the talent from women within the culture — especially for women who are doing great in a male-dominated industry to tell their story and to inspire other women to inspire other women," Belle told Vibe.
The long-running podcast has welcomed an impressive lineup of guests, including Da Brat, Roxanne Shanté, Rapsody, Latto and Gangsta Boo, as well as multi-platinum R&B sensation Faith Evans and media powerhouse Wendy Williams.
Who better to explore the birth of hip-hop than one of its very own pioneers? Hip-hop icon Chuck D has teamed up with Audible for a new podcast series called "Can You Dig It?" Premiering this month, in celebration of hip-hop's 50th birthday, the five-episode series dives into the culture's origins in the Bronx during the early 1970s.
Narrated by Chuck D, "Can You Dig It?" combines scripted scenes with insights from street photographers, emcees and former Black Panthers. The audio documentary explores the stories of those who shaped hip-hop's early days, shedding light on their essential contributions to the genre's global impact.
The series will spotlight the story of Cornell "Black Benjie" Benjamin's murder, which led to a historic peace meeting on Hoe Avenue that united rival gangs in the South Bronx. This truce created a safer, more closely-knit community, paving the way for DJ Kool Herc's bash on Aug. 13, 1973, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, widely considered the birthplace of hip-hop.
Music enthusiast and prolific creator Questlove is out to spread the good word about the artists who excite him in this weekly podcast co-hosted by Team Supreme: Phonte, Unpaid Bill, Suga Steve, Laiya St. Clair and Boss Bill.
This music lover's paradise features interviews with a range of acts and music legends and a stacked lineup of the hip-hop elite, including Q-Tip, Jermaine Dupri, Ice-T, DJ Drama, Pete Rock and DJ Quik.
6 Must-Watch Hip-Hop Documentaries: 'Hip-Hop x Siempre,' 'My Mic Sounds Nice' & More
Photo: Jim Bennett/Getty Images
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There’s no limit to hip-hop’s expansion, and its plethora of subgenres and here’s a look at some of the most diverse and uniquely creative subgenres that have spawned from hip-hop’s roots.
As hip-hop celebrates 50 years of musical and cultural history, GRAMMY.com is exploring the genre’s influence and international reach through the decades. Much of its success and longevity is a credit to established acts who have broken geographical barriers. Meanwhile, contemporary supernovas have driven rap forward in recent years.
Their transcendent powers have allowed hip-hop to be as cross-cultural as ever before, with the genre trickling into other musical landscapes such as reggaeton, Afrobeats, dancehall, Afro-swing, and countless others. While artists Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, and Future have held down the domestic fort, exports like Drake, Central Cee, and others are drawing eyes and massive crowds across country lines.
By establishing their influences, these artists have also added to the assemblage of subgenres within rap. One example is the evolution of trap and drill music, and the recent insertion of reggaeton and afro beats into the larger hip-hop sphere. Many of them have led to industry-rattling hits and GRAMMY wins, but one can’t ignore how hip-hop’s other forms have contributed to its increasingly widespread appeal.
While there’s no limit on rap’s expansion, here’s a look at some of the most diverse and uniquely creative subgenres that have spawned from hip-hop’s roots.
Artists: Dave East, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson
With a snapping drum and snare bass, boom bap became the backdrop of hip-hop’s golden age during the 1980s and early 1990s. The sound was exemplified by now-legendary artists like LL Cool J, Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., and groups like Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, who were at the center of New York’s supremacy during that period.
After peaking in the late 1990s, boom bap had a resurgence during the early 2010s with the rise of Tri-State talents Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Dave East, and Bishop Nehru, who offered a more nuanced take on 1990s East Coast sound.
Artists: Schoolboy Q, 50 Cent, Ice Cube
Tales of street life are rooted in hip-hop, as it’s long reflected the reality many artists endure along their journey to stardom. With the emergence of gangsta rap in the late 1980s, the subgenre became their canvas.
Established by Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D and Ice-T, gangsta rap soon grew in popularity with legendary Southern California acts like N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and others taking the helm in the 1980s and 90s. In time, gangsta rap spread across rap’s various regions and later inspired drill and trap music.
Artists: Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage
Among all of hip-hop’s subgenres, trap remains arguably one the most popular and widespread sounds. It started as an off-shoot of gangsta rap in the early 1990s with the emergence of Southern acts like UGK, Goodie Mob, and Three 6 Mafia, but pioneers like Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and T.I. elevated the once niche sound to the mainstream.
Characterized by rattling hi-hats, hard-hitting kicks and tales of street life, trap is the sound of Billboard-topping hits by the likes of Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and others.
Artists: UNIIQU3, Bandmanrill, Cookie Kawaii
Originally called Brick City Club, this style of electronic club music was crafted in Newark, New Jersey by DJ Tamiel. Like Baltimore Club music, it fuses house and hip-hop at a frenetic pace. The subgenres are differentiated by tempo, with Jersey club beats reaching speeds of 150 BPM compared to Baltimore’s 130 BPM.
The subgenre took a turn in the mid-2000s, with artist Chad B becoming one of the first rappers to rhyme over Jersey club beats. The relatively new subgenre continues to gain momentum with artists Bandmanrill and Cookie Kawaii producing viral TikTok hits like "Heartbroken" and "Vibe (If I Back It Up)."
Artists: Lil Yachty, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne
It’s easy to see why rappers are considered modern rock stars — with the electrifying performances and rowdy fanbases and all — and the rap rock subgenre hasn’t trailed too far behind. Artists Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, and Lil Yachty have all layered their voices over thunderous, guitar-ridden beats to explore the boundless nature of rock music.
But before these artists dove into the punk world, pioneers like Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and producer Rick Rubin were the innovators of the rap rock movement. While it hasn’t led to Billboard hits or GRAMMY wins in recent years, it remains a point of sonic exploratio for the genre’s biggest stars.
Artists: Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Pitbull
While gangsta rap and trap have long dominated hip-hop, pop rap artists Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, Flo Rida, and others have contributed to the genre’s expansion on a global scale. The elements of pop rap have seen many iterations over the years, with early adopters like Ja Rule and Nelly fusing melody-driven tunes with gritty lyrics in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The subgenre is often criticized by hip-hop purists, but it’s gained considerable popularity as artists Drake, Coi Leray, Doja Cat, Wiz Khalifa, and others have endeared crowds across different genres.
Artists: E-40, Too-$hort, Keek Da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B.
The word "hyphy" is slang for "hyperactive," and rapper Keak Da Sneak is known for coining the term and helping shape the distinctly East Oakland sound. The hyphy movement is synonymous with the San Francisco Bay Area, where artists such as E-40, Mac Dre, Mistah F.A.B. and others created party music with pounding, fast-paced beats and lyrics often centered on partying and drug use.
The subgenre amassed mainstream success in the mid 2000s with E-40’s "Tell Me When To Go," which drew millions of hip-hop fans to the once regional sound. After the buzz faded toward the back half of the 2000s, the hyphy movement had a resurgence in the mid-2010s, with artists like Drake, YG, Mustard and others borrowing the energy-fueled sound on street hits like "Who Do You Love?" and "Why You Always Hatin?" Contemporary rap stars and Bay Area ambassadors like Larry June, P-Lo, Kamaiyah and others continue to breathe new life into hyphy culture.
Artists: Suga Free, Three 6 Mafia, UGK
The influences of pimp rap can be traced back to the popular blaxploitation films of the 1970s and the graphic depictions from ex-pimp and author Iceberg Slim. Naturally, the visual representation and narrative elements of the pimp lifestyle made its insertion into a wide variety of rap styles.
Among the most influential artists includes Ice-T, Slick Rick, Suga Free, who cascaded to popularity with the songs "Why U Bull—in’?" and "I’d Rather Give You My Bitch" in the late 1990s. And groups Three 6 Mafia and UGK were also massive influencers of pimp rap, with their playalistic and womanizing-inspired hits like "It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp" and "Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" adding to the subgenre.
Artists: Payroll Giovanni, Larry June, Jay Worthy
What To Know: Along with elevating talents like Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and other mainstream acts, Dr. Dre is often cited as the father of the G-funk sound. G-Funk incorporates rap and funk music of the 1970s, especially that of the Goerge Clinton-led band Parliament-Funkadelic, which Dr. Dre established with 1992’s The Chronic.
While far less popular compared to its earlier form, elements of the F-funk sound have been adopted by artists like Detroit rapper Payroll Giovanni, Larry June and Jay Worthy.
Artists: Chief Keef, G Herbo, Polo G
A mix of trap music and gangsta rap, drill emerged in Chicago in the early 2010s under artists Chief Keef, Fredo Santana, Lil Reese, G Herbo, and others. The subgenre is known for its explicit, nihilistic lyrics and untamed aggression, which can be found in the early releases of Keef and company. And while Chicago drill’s momentum subsided in the mid-2010s, a renewed Lil Durk and Polo G have helped restore its luster.
Since elevating to the mainstream in 2012, drill’s influence made its way across state and international borders. Artists Fivio Foreign, Sheff G, and the late Pop Smoke established Brooklyn drill in the late 2010s, while UK drill has been headed by stars Central Cee, Digga D, Dave, and others.
Artists: Eminem, Tech N9ne, Insane Clown Posse
Horrorcore delves into violent and graphic themes like death, satanism, and cannibalism. Think death metal, but with a moody hip-hop beat overlaying the dark and often grotesque lyrics. Horrorcore records are often inspired by slasher films, and some of the most notable artists that explored the subgenre are Tech N9ne, Eminem, Mars, and Detroit-bred duo Insane Clown Posse.
50 Artists Who Changed Rap: Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem & More
Photo: Courtesy of 41
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Hip-hop trio 41 enthusiastically trade off at the mic for a hypnotic cover of DMX's GRAMMY-nominated single, "Party Up (Up in Here)."
Twenty-three years after its release, DMX's "Party Up (Up in Here)" continues to be a staple to live events and party playlists globally. But beyond its irresistible melody and chorus, "Party Up" was one of the very first chart-busting — and GRAMMY-nominated — diss tracks as the Compton native proudly dared his opposers to "meet me outside."
In this episode of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, watch rising rap trio 41 deliver an upbeat cover of "Party Up." And just like the title suggests, the three rappers "party up" throughout the performance with infectious dance moves and harmonious ad-libs.
Their carefree nature and determination to have fun have become a hallmark of 41's sound, including their latest singles, "Fetty" — whose lyrics are a paronomasia referencing rap star Fetty Wap — and "Bent." In April, they released their debut album, 41 Ways.
Press play on the video above to watch 41's energetic cover of DMX's "Party Up (Up In Here)," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Hip-Hop Re:Defined, a limited series in celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary.
A Guide To New York Hip-Hop: Unpacking The Sound Of Rap's Birthplace From The Bronx To Staten Island
Photo: Scott Legato/Getty Images
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Bay Area hip-hop has had a few moments to shine on the main stage, but has largely grinded independently for decades. On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, learn how "the whole damn Yay" fits into this global culture — and how it stands out.
The San Francisco Bay Area is a geographically and culturally diverse region of Northern California whose music scene has influenced the world. There is a lot more territory to Northern California, but the more than 7.5 million people who live in the Bay are crucial to the state's music scene.
While the Summer of Love and associated boom of rock and psychedelia in the 1960s might be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the sounds of San Francisco, the Bay has long been a source of creative, boundary-breaking hip-hop music and culture. The region's nine counties are where many definitive hip-hop acts were raised and became inspired to create.
Major labels largely ignored Bay Area artists at the beginning of hip-hop's golden age. However, that lack of attention allowed for wider creative freedom and a bevy of distinctly Bay Area sounds.
As hip-hop celebrates half a century of soundtracking the world, it’s a good time to learn how this part of the West Coast fits into this global culture — and how it stands out. Listen to Spotify playlist below or visit Amazon Music, Pandora and Apple Music to learn more about the Bay Area's bountiful hip-hop culture.
The Bay Area's first local commercial rap release came in 1981 via Motorcycle Mike’s "Super Rat." But the world wouldn’t become seriously acquainted with Bay Area rappers until the early ‘90s, when MC Hammer told everyone what they couldn’t touch.
Some of the most notable releases tap into the region's educated and aware, activist-oriented, health-focused lifestyle. The Bay also knows how to party, and the funky musicality of the region — from Sly and the Family Stone to Con Funk Shun (whose member Felton Pilate produced some of MC Hammer’s early works) — have been a strong influence on hip-hop culture nationwide.
However, the Bay Area rap music scene is historically distinguished by reality-based work that sometimes alludes to criminal activity — including violence, murder, drug dealing and sex trafficking — and details rough times.
The intermingling between the fictional world of music and criminal realities has led rap lyrics to be used against defendants in criminal cases around the country. In the '90s and early aughts, prominent rappers such as Sacramento’s C-Bo and Vallejo’s Andre "Mac Dre" Hicks were jailed for their lyrics, which detailed crimes and had anti-police and governor sentiment.
New state legislation is setting a national example for such work to be inadmissible in court. In September, with the support of popular Bay Area rappers E-40 and Too $hort, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act to restrict the use of rap lyrics in criminal proceedings. (The Recording Academy is also involved in a federal effort to limit the use of lyrics in court.)
Several high-profile murders and deaths altered the trajectory of burgeoning careers, casting a question mark about the unrealized potential of some of the Bay Area’s brightest artists. This unfortunate list includes the 1996 Las Vegas murder of Tupac Shakur — who spent formative years being educated and recording in the Bay Area — and Mac Dre, the progenitor of the region’s hyphy culture who was shot to death in Kansas City in 2004 and still reigns as the Bay Area’s biggest posthumous figure. Pittsburg’s Dominick "The Jacka" Newton is another revered figure supported heavily by Northern California who was killed in Oakland in 2015. In 2021, Stephen "Zumbi" Gaines from Zion I died in an Oakland hospital; his death was ruled a homicide, yet no criminal charges have been filed and his family called to continue the investigation in 2022.
Bay Area hip-hop has had a few moments to shine especially bright in the eyes of the world, but the local scene has kept grinding in and out of the mainstream spotlight. Sporadic attention and contracts from the major record labels throughout the years meant that the Bay Area rap scene generally needed to continue to be sustained independently.
In the pre-streaming era, record stores such as Amoeba Music in San Francisco and Rasputin Music (which had several locations at its height) sold thousands of copies of albums and mixtapes from local artists on their own. Too $hort and E-40’s DIY business model would influence Southern rap moguls like Percy "Master P" Miller, who started his No Limit Records in Richmond, California, and Bryan "Baby" Williams of New Orleans’ Cash Money Records.
For decades, there was an absence of prolonged label and distribution support from the traditional music business centers of Los Angeles, New York City and, later, Atlanta. A significant shift began when EMPIRE Distribution opened in San Francisco in 2010, making the city a power player in the international music industry.
While the San Francisco Bay Area may not be the biggest name in the national hip-hop conversation, its underdog status is a point of pride and reason for continued creativity. In 2023, hip-hop artists, producers and businesspeople keep an eye on the Bay for lyrical, linguistic, music, dance and style trends.
MC Hammer: Stanley Burrell’s evolution from young bat boy for the Oakland Athletics and growing up connected to the streets, to becoming the GRAMMY-winning and Billboard-charting pop superhero MC Hammer is the Bay Area’s first international hip-hop success story. He’s the only rapper from Northern California who had his own Saturday morning cartoon (Hammerman) on ABC — an epic achievement in the early '90s, when weekend programming for kids was still a household phenomenon.
He was the first to work with major brands like Taco Bell and Sprite in an era when hip-hop didn’t have the attention of corporate America, like it does now. VH1 aired a biopic in 2001 and A&E commissioned a family reality series in 2009. There’s even a Hammer doll made by the toy company Mattel.
Digital Underground: Helmed by Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs and Ronald "Money-B" Brooks, Oakland’s mischievous party rap crew Digital Underground flirted with various Billboard singles and albums charts throughout the '90s and released six albums until Jacobs' untimely passing in 2021.
The self-described "Sons of the P" drew from the well of the Parliament-Funkadelic world, sampling and interpolating George Clinton’s best-known riffs, ad-libs and freewheeling thoughts. Digital Underground’s two top 40 hits include "Kiss You Back" and "The Humpty Dance," the latter nominated for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group at the 1991 GRAMMYs. "The Humpty Dance" introduced the character of Humpty Hump, which was another of Jacobs’ alter egos, but the group pretended like they were different people, sometimes enlisting Jacobs’ own brother to help further the prank on stage.
Tupac Shakur: Shock G and Money-B took a young Tupac Shakur under their wings, bringing him on tour as a roadie and dancer in 1990 and producing songs on his 1991 debut album 2Pacalypse Now. Shakur recorded half of his sophomore album in the East Bay, and later signed to Los Angeles labels Interscope and Death Row.
His mother, Afeni Shakur, reconnected with the Bay Area in the last years of her life and passed away on her houseboat in Sausalito, not far from Marin City, where Tupac lived in his high school years. History hasn’t viewed him as a strictly Bay Area artist, but the region is a crucial architect of his career.
Too $hort: Though he was born in Los Angeles and moved to the East Bay in his youth, Todd Shaw’s Too $hort character is synonymous with Oakland, its pimp culture and being the first to sell custom mixtapes on the streets. He turned his "out the trunk" ethos into a decades-long deal with Jive Records.
Despite threatening to retire in the mid-'90s, Too $hort continues to make music to add to his discography, which includes six platinum-selling albums, three gold albums and the enduring hyphy anthem "Blow The Whistle." He has collaborated with many rappers, including Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., and on "Bossy," a top 20 hit for Kelis. Shaw represented the Bay Area at the 2023 GRAMMYs' tribute to hip-hop, and told PEOPLE that he was "really glad to be a part of it."
E-40: Like Too $hort, E-40 (Earl Stevens) parlayed his independent record hustle into a contract with Jive Records that yielded gold and platinum-selling singles and albums. Both essentially created a playbook that was cited and followed by Southern labels such as No Limit and Cash Money. E-40’s storytelling prowess and gift for slanguage is delivered with impressive speed, and continues to influence MCs all over the world. He’s as deft at crafting party-starters like his hyphy hit "Tell Me When to Go" as poignant tales like "Zoom," which describes how life handed him nothing, but he transcended his circumstances to become a leader.
A community-minded philanthropist, he recently donated $100,000 to Grambling University, which he attended, to create the Earl "E-40" Stevens Sound Recording Studio on campus and inspire the next generation of artists. In recent years, he has applied his independent strategies to the food, wine and spirits industries, and will release a cookbook in November.
E-40 and Too $hort have recorded two albums together, and have since formed the northern half of the rap supergroup Mount Westmore, with Los Angeles natives Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. Stevens will soon have a Bay Area street named after him called E-40 Way in Vallejo — just as Shaw received Too $hort Way in Oakland in December.
Mac Dre: Andre Hicks didn’t have a mainstream career like MC Hammer or Too $hort, but his influence on Bay Area music and culture as a progenitor and propeller of hyphy remains outsized. His music is rooted in the streets, but also party minded and musical, bridging a gap between the rough and serious and happy and intoxicated.
His mother Wanda Salvatto, who is nicknamed Mac Wanda, continued his Thizz Entertainment label after his still-unsolved 2004 murder in Kansas City, Missouri. She has built an extensive discography of posthumous and tribute albums and compilations.
Keak Da Sneak: After making noise in the mid-Nineties Oakland group 3X Krazy and later on his own, the rapper born Charles Kente Williams has earned his spot as a crucial Bay Area music and slang innovator. He’s credited with expressions like "fa sheezy," "yadidimean" and hyphy, the latter a contraction devised to describe his hyperactive tendencies.
"I don’t think they know, that’s my word," he proclaims in the chorus of his quick-moving 2005 party hit "Super Hyphy." In 2017, Keak Da Sneak was shot eight times by an unknown assailant at a gas station in Richmond, California. Though he’s been using a wheelchair ever since, he remains active in the local scene, recently appearing at DJ and podcaster Dregs One’s History of Bay Area Hip-Hop day party in San Francisco.
Too $hort - Life Is…Too $hort (1988)
As a rapper and character, Too $hort has transcended generations of Bay Area hip-hop fans, but the old-schoolers will still point to his fifth album, which broke him out of the region thanks to support in the form of a 1989 re-release from Jive Records. It delivers the bawdy, pimp boasting raps that he’s known for, but Life Is… also shows his less-known talents for keyboard and drum programming.
MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
MC Hammer’s third album Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em spent almost five months on top of the Billboard 200, and he is the only rap artist from Northern California to win GRAMMY Awards. With their hooky Rick James and Prince samples, respectively, the album’s hit singles "U Can’t Touch This" and "Pray" set a production standard that has been relied on pretty much ever since — whether in the most popular songs of P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records catalog in the 1990s, or today’s social media hits by Latto and Coi Leray.
In 1991, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em was nominated for Album Of The Year, and he took home three golden gramophones for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best Rap Solo Performance for "U Can’t Touch This" and Best Music Video - Long Form.
Digital Underground - Sex Packets (1990)
DU’s platinum-selling debut album may be the Bay Area’s greatest concept rap album, a lascivious romp assisted by imaginary sexual enhancement pills years before Viagra was invented. Songs like "Freaks of the Industry," "Doowutchyalike" and "The Humpty Dance" brought fun and levity to the streets and households across America.
"The Humpty Dance" was not only a top 20 pop hit and a No. 1 rap single; its undulating groove formed the backbone of countless pop, rap, R&B and drum and bass songs that later sampled it. Even the Spice Girls couldn’t resist using it for their 1996 song "If U Can’t Dance."
2Pac - 2Pacalypse Now (1991)
The majority of Tupac Shakur’s first two albums were made in the Bay Area: He recorded all of 2Pacalypse Now and half of his sophomore album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z… at Starlight Sound in the East Bay city of Richmond. 2Pacalypse Now shows how a descendent of the Black Panther Party reflects his history for the '90s.
He worked with local producers — including Digital Underground’s Shock G, Raw Fusion and Big D The Impossible — on early anthems like "Brenda’s Got a Baby," "Trapped" and "If My Homie Calls." Though his posthumous discography is long, he would go on to release just two more albums before his murder in 1996: Me Against the World and the GRAMMY-nominated All Eyez on Me.
Del the Funky Homosapien - "Mistadobalina" (1991)
When he was a little kid, Del the Funky Homosapien designed the three-eyed face that became the logo of his Hieroglyphics crew and a worldwide symbol of Bay Area rap. "Mistadobalina," which he produced with Boogiemen and his cousin Ice Cube, was his breakout song. His confident and fun flow drew people into the Hiero world — which now includes an annual festival in Oakland — and it still sounds timeless.
RBL Posse - "Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed" (1992)
The biggest group to come from San Francisco’s tough Hunters Point neighborhood and score a major label record deal, RBL Posse is best remembered for this ode to smoking quality cannabis from their debut album A Lesson To Be Learned. Members Hitman and Mr. Cee were both victims of gun violence, but their sonic calling card remains a local anthem.
N2DEEP - "Back to the Hotel" (1992)
Vallejo is most often associated with Mac Dre and E-40, but the city also birthed N2DEEP, the Latinx group that brought the sax-heavy rap song "Back to the Hotel" to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was everywhere in 1992, and has been due for a renaissance of appreciation.
Souls of Mischief - "93 ‘til Infinity" (1993)
Friends of Del the Funky Homosapien and fellow Hieroglyphics crew members, A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai are Souls of Mischief. "93 ‘til Infinity" remains their inspiring signature song, resonating sonically and lyrically across generations. The track has been sampled dozens of times by artists like J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T. and Tyga.
The Conscious Daughters - Ear to the Street (1993)
Released by Priority Records — the Los Angeles label that introduced venerable acts such as Funkadelic, N.W.A. and EPMD to the world — Ear to the Street gave a national platform to two smooth and streetwise rappers from Oakland who happened to be women: CMG (Carla Green) and the late Special One (Karryl Smith, who passed away in 2011). Their debut album, and especially its breakout single "Somethin’ to Ride to (Fonky Expedition)," are still requisite car listening in the Bay Area.
Spice 1 - 187 He Wrote (1993)
Though he collaborated with Shakur, Spice 1 is still one of the more underrated and under the radar of the old-school gangster rappers. This sophomore album features production by Too $hort and local legends Ant Banks and E-A-Ski, as well as guest spots by E-40 and Compton’s MC Eiht. 187 He Wrote topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Luniz - "I Got 5 On It (Bay Ballas Vocal Remix)" (1995)
Almost 30 years since its release, this ode to smoking weed by Oakland rappers Yukmouth and Numskull still makes frequent appearances at Bay Area events and clubs. The Bay Ballas Vocal Remix, which features E-40, Richie Rich, Spice 1, Dru Down, Shock G, hogged all the attention back in the day and is still the version to play.
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996)
The mysterious DJ and producer mixed at the nucleus of the SoleSides crew, which later became the Quannum Projects label and includes vital Bay Area artists like Blackalicious, Lyrics Born and Lateef The Truthspeaker. Shadow’s debut album Endtroducing is a masterpiece of instrumental hip-hop.
Hieroglyphics - 3rd Eye Vision (1998)
Oakland’s Hieroglyphics is made up of solo MCs and groups who have created some of Bay Area rap’s most vaunted songs. The first of three crew albums, the stellar arrangement and song selection on the 22-track 3rd Eye Vision, which refers to their three-eyed logo and spotlights each individual’s talents, keeps it in the conversation 25 years since its release.
Blackalicious - "Alphabet Aerobics" (1999)
A stunning feat of linguistic excellence by the late rapper Gift of Gab (who tragically passed away in 2021 after receiving a kidney implant the year before), "Alphabet Aerobics" pushes rhymes of increasing complexity from A to Z. It’s a textbook of how to MC in one track.
Mystic - Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom (2001)
Mandolyn Wind Ludlum is best known as Mystic, a singer, rapper and educator from Oakland whose debut album sounds as fresh as when it was released in 2001. Cuts for Luck was re-released 10 years later in large part to the lead single "The Life" and "W," a duet featuring Fresno rapper Planet Asia that was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2002 GRAMMYs.
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots (2003)
Murdered in 1993, South Bay rapper Charizma never got the chance to see where his talent would take him. Big Shots was not released until 2003, but his flows on songs like "Methods" and "Jack the Mack" are timeless. Peanut Butter Wolf —a San Jose native producer and close friend of Charizma — moved his record label Stones Throw to Los Angeles and keeps Charizma's legacy alive.
Mac Dre - Treal TV DVD and Soundtrack (2004)
Thanks to the continuation of his Thizz Entertainment record label after his 2004 murder, Mac Dre’s posthumous discography is extensive, but a DVD released when he was alive is perhaps the most coveted release in the collection. Treal TV has a cult following for its casual depiction of his everyday life, car collection and live footage of him performing songs such as "Thizzelle Dance," which also appears on Dre’s 2002 album Thizzelle Washington.
There’s also a CD soundtrack version of Treal TV featuring various artists and associates; a second volume of Treal TV was released in 2006 and includes footage of Mac Dre on the road in Hawaii.
Mistah F.A.B. - "Super Sic Wit It" (2005)
With his Dope Era clothing store and frequent community events, Oakland’s Mistah F.A.B. has been an entrepreneurial and philanthropic leader in the scene since he turned out hyphy club and radio hits like "Super Sic Wit It." The high energy song for car sideshows helped him score a major label contract.
E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card (2006)
E-40’s many albums have consistently good arrangement and a narrative arc of storytelling, and My Ghetto Report Card represents him at the crest of a second wind that floated him into greater international recognition. Produced by Lil Jon, the lead single "Tell Me When to Go" landed at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the big hits of the hyphy era.
Atlanta’s king of crunk produced seven additional songs on the album, including "White Gurl" featuring UGK and Juelz Santana and "U and Dat" featuring T-Pain and Kandi, while Bay Area standard-setter Rick Rock and E-40’s son Droop-E rounded out the production duties.
The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon (2006)
The Coup represented the revolutionary side of Oakland with razor-sharp intellect and furiously funky beats. Pick a Bigger Weapon was released by Epitaph Records, a label known more for rock than rap music, and includes collaborations with Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine. Frontman Boots Riley has made forays into film and streaming TV, most recently with the comedy series "I’m a Virgo." The Coup’s late DJ, Pam The Funkstress, was selected by Prince to open some of his final shows.
Zion I - "Tech $" (2017)
Oakland’s Zion I has long reflected on the changes and realities of the Bay Area in their music. Nowhere does this resonate the most as it does on "Tech $," which details displacement and gentrification as it was literally happening to the late MC Stephen Gaines, who was known as Zumbi and Baba Zumbi. The accompanying music video shows him moving his family out of their house and out of the area.
Stunnaman02 - "Big Steppin’" (2021)
Perhaps the biggest local rap song to come out of the pandemic, San Francisco rapper Jordan "Stunnaman02" Gomes even got the city’s mayor to do the song’s infectious associated dance, which KQED calls "a trend that rhythmically mimics the act of bench pressing."
Bay Area rap can be educated, activist, party-starting and gangster — and sometimes all on the same track. There’s a distinct pride in the scope and the range of subject matter and sonic aesthetics in the region. Achieving uncategorizable moments is wonderful, but everyone seems to love big, trunk-rattling bass.
There’s always been nuance within these major styles — for example, music that could blanketly be called gangster could also be subdivided into general topic styles such as pimping and drug dealing, and even small subgenres like mobb music — which was coined to describe a particular sinister and gritty sound characterized by even heavier basslines more than the lyrical content.
Turntablism: In the '90s Bay Area DJs with mobile party and technical battle circuit experience contributed significantly to the development of turntablism. With the help of the Return of the DJ compilation series from San Francisco’s Bomb Hip-Hop Records, turntablism became an international style of using and manipulating record players like musical instruments to record original works. With talents such as Shortkut, DJ Disk, DJ Apollo, DJ Flare, D-Styles, Qbert and Mix Master Mike, local crew Invisibl Skratch Piklz won world battle championships and inspired countless fans to become DJs. Mix Master Mike has toured extensively with Beastie Boys, Metallica and Cypress Hill.
Hyphy: The aughts ushered in the music, linguistic and car subculture called hyphy, bringing in quicker tempos ready for popping pills and "going dumb" on the dancefloor. Too $hort would criticize the abuse of MDMA in his 2006 hit "Blow the Whistle," but most of hyphy’s hits revel in ignorance — and Mac Dre certainly touted the benefits of ecstasy when he was alive.
Almost 20 years since hyphy’s ascent and this is thought of as a sort of golden era of Bay Area hip-hop, a time when the world’s attention was facing west. Hyphy songs have been sampled in more contemporary contexts (as Saweetie used "Blow the Whistle" for 2020’s "Tap In"), and the subject is a common one used to evoke an uplifting nostalgia.
Based: Brandon "Lil B" McCartney formed the rap group the Pack while attending Berkeley High School, and their 2006 cult hit "Vans" led to an album deal with Jive Records. After leaving the Pack, Lil B single-handedly propagated an unedited and free associative style he called based, dubbing himself the Based God. He was the first in the area to use social media sites and apps to become an early meme, which he supported with a large quantity of songs and videos.
The next generation of artists leading the future of the Bay Area is tapping into the technological prowess of the region while furthering traditions of musical innovation and philanthropic goals. While Bay Area rap has long been male-dominated, the future may be more balanced.
Larry June: Ten albums deep, Larry June is not exactly new to this, but he’s the San Francisco artist who is currently breaking through to the world with his album Spaceships on the Blade. Northern California’s healthy, organic lifestyle is a popular topic for June, who eats well, owns a boba shop and is showing his fans the benefits of consistent, hard work.
P-Lo: After years producing for the Bay Area’s HBK Gang artists as well as national stars such as Wiz Khalifa and Yo Gotti, P-Lo’s status as a solo artist is on the rise with his 2022 album STUNNA. His 2022 collab with Larry June, "Doing Good," is a uplifting banger
Lil Kayla: Born and raised in San Francisco, 24-year-old Lil Kayla is signed to Atlantic and repping for the 415 on her freestyles, singles and 2022 album Young & Turnt. "I’m about to do it for my city," she said in a May interview with Lil Blood TV. "I’m gonna be the one to do it, 'cause everybody else, they get it and they leave and they don’t come back. I’m not going nowhere."
LARussell: Born LaRussell Thomas, Vallejo’s LARussell has harnessed social media to spread his sharp rhymes, as well as his social message. He donates money to allow his community to enjoy restaurant meals they may not otherwise be able to afford. Freestyles for Sway and the Breakfast Club and his album I Hate When Life’s Going Great have solidified his name outside the region.
MacArthur Maze: Teamwork makes the dreamwork, and there’s hope that MacArthur Maze, the Oakland collective of MCs and producers led by Golden State Warriors DJ D Sharp, will help usher in a fresh era of working together for the creative good in the Bay Area, as evidenced on the new group album Blvck Saturday.
Su’Lan: This Richmond-based duo describe themselves as having "pretty girl swag with a hood twist" flip old crunk and hyphy hits into fresh new favorites on their debut album Forever Da Gang.
TotogangzMau: A female Samoan rapper from East Palo Alto, TotogangzMau is showing lyrical greatness and melodic hooks out the gate on autobiographical songs like "Grow Up."
The Bay Area’s sky high rents and home prices have steadily driven residents to the Central Valley, which includes cities like Modesto, Stockton and California’s capital city of Sacramento, and effectively stretched the geographical and sociological boundaries of the region.
Sacramento produced a bounty of homegrown gangster rappers. The most notable are C-Bo, a 2Pac collaborator who was jailed in 1998 for his anti-police and governor lyrics; Marvaless, a woman who debuted with C-Bo and went on to release several solo albums and collaborations with Bay Area rappers Messy Marv, Husalah and The Jacka; and Mozzy, a contemporary star from the Empire Distribution crew. The region also claims Saweetie, the "Icy Girl" who has been endorsed by McDonald’s and is signed to Warner Records; she grew up in the East Bay city of Hayward before moving to Sacramento.
After a spate of violent incidents at major hip-hop concerts led Oakland to ban rap shows for a year in 1989, the Bay Area’s biggest cities developed a reputation for being averse to the genre. Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto have served as more consistent markets for a number of Bay Area rappers, especially those with more violent or drug-related content.
A Guide To Southern Hip-Hop: Definitive Releases, Artists & Subgenres From The Dirty South
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Five years after his first solo release, Quavo's 'Rocket Power' explores loss, faith, and memories of the artist's late nephew Takeoff — a poignant tribute that marks a new creative plane for the Georgia-born artist.
Tragedy struck the hip-hop world in November 2022 when Migos star Takeoff was killed during an early morning shootout in Houston. Among the hardest hit by the loss was one-third of the famed trio and his uncle Quavo, who witnessed the shooting and sat by Takeoff's side as he passed outside a nearby bowling alley.
Since Takeoff's death, Quavo has largely stepped away from public view. He first resurfaced with an emotional tribute to his late nephew, "Without You," in January, sporadically releasing four more singles in subsequent months. But on Aug. 18, Quavo delivered his biggest tribute yet: the aptly titled album, Rocket Power, which explores the emotional scars that have formed nearly a year after Takeoff's passing.
Arriving nearly five years after his debut solo album, 2018's Quavo Huncho, Rocket Power is a welcomed sign of Quavo's artistic maturation. The 32-year-old rapper melds his effortless melodicism and hit-making powers to create a cohesive body of work filled with soul-stirring jams and ear-catching trap bangers.
To welcome Huncho's newest solo effort, we compiled five early takeaways from the 18-track project Rocket Power.
From the intro "Fueled Up" to the album's closing track, Rocket Power points to the life and legacy of Takeoff, who's featured on songs "Patty Cake" and "Back Where It Begins." On songs like "Hold Me," Quavo details the misery and emotional pain he and others have faced in the months following Takeoff's unexpected death: "I just need you to hold me/ Listen and feel my heart closely." Quavo also points to other instrumental figures in his life, asking them to come to his aid in moments of darkness.
On the title track, "Rocket Power," Quavo acknowledges the gut-wrenching thoughts and vulnerability he's experienced in this time of grief, and the toll it's placed on both him and his family. "Thinking about my nephew while I'm rolling some trees/ Mama said she's crying, and she's crying in her sleep."
While references to Takeoff's passing are sprinkled throughout the project, "Patty Cake" gifts Migos fans a welcomed look back at the two artist's influence and chemistry. And for many, hearing Taekoff's voice on the interlude "Narkedo Speaks" (which is pulled from a Drink Champs interview) reflects the kind of figure he was in rap: "I ain't even have a plan B, I made myself not have a plan B on purpose/Just so I can fulfill my plan A."
Rocket Power only includes five features, a vast difference from Quavo's debut album, which boasted features on over half of its 19 tracks.
Among the artists featured on the project — which includes Future, Young Thug, Hunxho and BabyDrill — the most significant moments come from the artist the album honors. With Takeoff's presence on "Patty Cake" and "Back Where It Begins," the songs flash to his often understated talents and role as the Migos' lyrical foreman. It also points to how instrumental he was in Quavo's life, as the rapper touches on their past memories growing up in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
With fewer features, Quavo's vision for Rocket Power pierces through more vividly, and the project's more intimate and conceptualized moments reach their apex. While stars like Young Thug and Future elevate tracks like "Focused" and "Back Where It Begins," songs like "11.11" and "Not Done Yet" would lose much of its emotional fuel with another artist's presence.
It's hard to ignore Offset's absence on Rocket Power. He's not featured nor mentioned throughout much of the album, but "11.11" provided fans with some clarity on the status of their relationship.
Following the 2022 release of Quavo and Takeoff's collaborative album, Only Built For Infinity Links (which was released just weeks before Takeoff's passing), rumors about a falling out between Quavo and Offset emerged. The two first alleviated reports of their feud — including that they fought backstage at the 2023 GRAMMYs — by reuniting for a performance at the 2023 BET Awards in June.
And nearly two months after their reunion, Quavo further suggests he and Offset are in a better place on "11.11": "5:30 Huncho and Set get up early, and go out and go get that bag together (Set)/ Who the f— gonna put us together, can't nobody put this s— back together/ So stay the f— out of the middle, lil fella/ We always goin' be that/ We fam forever (Migos)."
Throughout the album, Quavo points to his faith as a source of emotional strength and how it's tethered his family together in the wake of recent tragedy. On "Not Done Yet," the artist raps, "Giving it all I got, don't know what God got for me (God)/ Holding my head up high, I hope y'all really proud of me (High)."
While the "Lost" rapper has never shied away from his faith, Rocket Power is the most Quavo has ever melded it into his music. As much as it's a snapshot of his current mental state, the religious references point to the new creative plane Quavo is currently on.
Following Quavo Huncho, some hip-hop fans questioned Quavo's ability to carry an album as a solo artist. But if there were any doubts, drop them. He's unquestionably a star capable of carrying on his own.
While Quavo is credited for his infectious hooks and street hits, Rocket Power proves he can effectively draw from his life experiences and transfer those emotions to create gut-wrenching records. It also proves he can effectively pair these kinds of records together into a larger conceptual project, and expand his artistry beyond his melodic mastery.
Throughout the album, Quavo firmly commands each of the 18 tracks. He delivers a harmonious (and effective) mix of stadium-level anthems, emotion-fueled sentiments, and hard-hitting trap songs — proving that he'll not only continue the legacy he and Takeoff built together, but continue to evolve creatively on his own.
Hip-Hop Just Rang In 50 Years As A Genre. What Will Its Next 50 Years Look Like?
Artists: Artists:Artists:Jersey ClubArtists:Rap RockArtists:Pop RapArtists:Artists:Artists: Artists:Artists:Artists: MC Hammer:Digital Underground:Tupac Shakur:Too $hort:E-40:Mac Dre:Keak Da Sneak:Too $hort - Life Is…Too $hort (1988)MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)Digital Underground - Sex Packets (1990)2Pac - 2Pacalypse Now (1991)Del the Funky Homosapien - "Mistadobalina" (1991)RBL Posse - "Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed" (1992)N2DEEP - "Back to the Hotel" (1992)Souls of Mischief - "93 ‘til Infinity" (1993)The Conscious Daughters - Ear to the Street (1993)Spice 1 - 187 He Wrote (1993)Luniz - "I Got 5 On It (Bay Ballas Vocal Remix)" (1995)DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996)Hieroglyphics - 3rd Eye Vision (1998)Blackalicious - "Alphabet Aerobics" (1999)Mystic - Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom (2001)Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots (2003)Mac Dre - Treal TV DVD and Soundtrack (2004)Mistah F.A.B. - "Super Sic Wit It" (2005)E-40 - My Ghetto Report Card (2006)The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon (2006)Zion I - "Tech $" (2017)Stunnaman02 - "Big Steppin’" (2021)Turntablism:Hyphy:Based:Larry June:P-Lo: Lil Kayla: LARussell:MacArthur Maze: Su’Lan: TotogangzMau:The Album Honors Takeoff's Life From Childhood To The GRAMMY Stage