Bay Area Hip Hop 2006 in review/ 2007 preview

The Bay Area hip hop hasn't had the mainstreams attention for something like 10 years. This changed in 2006 when E-40 teamed up with Lil Jon and introduced "hyphy" to the world. By the start of summer, the Bay Area had a lot of buzz. Everyone was asking, "what is hyphy?" The buzz gave Bay Area artists attention from major hip hop publications as well as major labels. The buzz has pretty much died (for now) because no bay area artist has dropped and album on a major label (meaning no bay artist has been pushed in the mainstream) since E-40's release back in March 2006 (other than Too Short, but i'm excluding him because....because I feel like it!). There has however been a lot of quality material released independantly that almost none of you have heard. So....if you're open minded and dont wanna miss out on some good music, read on. If you're wanna hate without listening to this shit, you're ignorant and i feel sorry for your momma. If you wanna hate after giving this shit a chance, feel free to do so.

2006 Bay Area Year in Review

E-40 "My Ghetto Report Card": You pretty much know what's up with this album already. This album was huge for the bay, but dont think its the best we have to offer. Songs to check out: Yay Area, Tell Me When To Go, Muscle Cars, White Gurl.

The Team "World Premier": This album was going to be released through Universal, but the deal didn't work out for whatever reason, so the wold missed out on this sick album. The beats are sick, they just talk about their lives (which include a lot of drugs and females), they dont really sound like anything else out there. This is Clyde Carson's group, you may have heard about him since he fucks with Black Wall Street. Songs to check out: Bottles Up, Top Of The World, Just Go, Hyphy Juice, It's Getting Hot.

Dem Hoodstarz "Band Aid & Scoot": This is a hyphy-ish album. Some good party tracks on here, not really any replay value for me because there isn't much more than good party songs. Songs to check out: Diamonds, How We Do, Get Ya Grown Man On, Gwap

San Quinn "The Rock: Pressure Makes Diamonds": Quinn has been around for years. He's out of San Francisco, and as most rappers from the city, his style is universal (basically, non "hyphy"). This album doesn't have many tracks that'll make you say WOW, but this is a solid album (i only skip 2 songs). Songs to check out: Hell Yeah!, Look What I've Done For Them, Kick Yo' Ass, The Hunter.

Bailey "Champ Bailey": Bailey, part of the Done Deal family with San Quinn (above) and Big Rich (below), dropped his debut album this year. I didnt feel it as much as most people out here, but still, it was a solid release. Tracks to check out: U C IT, Fuck Yo Couch, If These Walls Could Talk.

Big Rich "Block Tested, Hood Approved": Big Rich surprised me, I wasn't expecting much from this fat dude. Although he's not a lyrical beast, the beats are sick, and the image he portrays is beleivable. This is an album that people from the East should like, he even has several east coast features. Tracks to check out: Thats The Business, Where I'm From, Lay It Down, Block Tested Hood Approved

Bullys Wit Fullys (Messy Marv and Guce) "The Infrastructure": I played the shit outta this album. This isn't any sugarcoated candy shop shit, its an album for the streets. Messy Marv is real sick, Guce is average. Tracks to check out: So Hood, Real Talk, Cracker Jacks, any fucking song off this album.

Other 2006 albums to check out..Balance "Young and Restless": Song to check out:Let the Bass Go
Equipto "Behind the Rhyme": Song to check out: Dangerous

There a lot more out there, but those are the local artists getting radio play out here (except equipto). 2007 is here, and this is what mainstream hip hop fans should expect to see come outta the Bay.

The Federation: With Rick Rock on the beats, the album should be nice. Their last album didn't sell...but you can put it on in a club and play it straight, the beats were that good.

Mistah Fab: I expect him to get a lot of hate after the mainstream gets hold of his first single because he dumbs down his lyrics so much for singles. His album i supposed to be a double cd, one for the party/hyphy tracks, one of the deep/real songs. F.A.B. is one of the best when it comes to freestyling, he'll go 10 minutes+ off the top of the head, using topics that the crowd throws at him. His album should get a good push since he has a deal with Atlantic.

Clyde Carson- He has a deal with Capitol, he is also affiliated with Black Wall Street. You might have heard him on Game's mixtapes, and his single "2 Step is getting radio play. He has a smooth flow that should appeal to most.

Ya Boy- He's built a nice buzz for himself. I dont really beleive the shit he says, but he's creative and sick with his mataphors. He dropped Rookie Of The Year in 2005 and that album was crazy. He's going to make a lot of new fans this year.

The Pack- Will they be one hit wonders with their "Vans" song, or will they have another hit? I dont know...

Keak Da Sneak- Most people won't give him a chance because of the way he sounds, but he's sick as fuck, or he used to be (not really feeling much of his more recent stuff).

Yukmouth- One of the Bay's best, gotta see if he still has it with his next album.

Other Names To Look Out For:Andre Nickatina, The Jacka, Messy Marv to tired from typing to think of more.