The San Francisco Bay Area is home to some of the most creative and innovative people around, and has always been a place accepting of peoples’ creative differences. Because of that creative energy, the Bay Area sound and slang is something that has inspired artists from all over. To understand this energy, we must go back to the first rapper to make it big time from the Bay, MC Hammer. Hammer was born and raised in East Oakland, and made his rap debut with his independent album “Feel My Power”. (I bring up the fact that he was independent because that is a common theme amongst many rappers in the Bay Area, and a part of the hustle attitude in the Bay.) He later released “U Can’t Touch This”, which would become the song he is best known for and propel him to be the one of the first pop rap stars ever.

Although the first rapper to make it from the Bay Area, MC Hammer’s music style is not what the Bay is known for. Enter Too Short. Too Short moved to Oakland when he was in high school and started playing drums in the school band. Along with one of his friends, Too Short began making “special tapes” where people would pay him for a custom song that shouted them out on the track. During this time, Too Short’s persona as a rapper became synonymous with the Pimpin’ lifestyle that was prominent in Oakland at the time. Although not officially a pimp himself, he was able to express the pimp life in such a way that earned him the respect of those who did live the life. To this day, Too Short has released 20 solo albums, with his song “Blow the Whistle” being an iconic song for those of us raised in the Bay.

The next rapper, arguably the most influential rapper of all time, is Tupac Shakur. Tupac moved to the Bay Area from the East Coast in 1988 with his mom and sister. His first big appearance on a song came in 1991; when he was with the alternative Hip-Hop group Digital Underground. He was featured on the song “Same Song” after which his skills couldn’t be ignored. It was after this song, that he recorded and released his debut album “2Pacalypse Now” in Richmond, CA, a city 15 minutes north of Oakland. This album has been cited as inspiration by Nas, Eminem, The Game, and many other artists.

Shakur would eventually move to Los Angeles and join Death Row Records with Dr. Dre, and become an icon for West Coast Hip-Hop. Although he is seen by some as a symbol for LA, he would forever claim Oakland, where he learned the game. Oakland became his adopted home, and he became Oakland’s adopted son.