S
an Francisco has always boasted a diverse population and culture, even if it tends to get overlooked by its neighbors in Oakland. Hoping to shed a more direct light on the SFC, Frisco heavy hitters San Quinn, Big Rich and Boo Banger have united to form All City. ”We’re repping for everyone-for all who are with our movement, from the Filipinos to the Samoans to the Blacks,” says Quinn, adding that the trio had already been a crew for a while. “We got love from everyone, and here everyone gets down with one another. We are living in a major melting pot, an area where the rich and poor live and work next to each other.” Working next to each other is something that even the group itself is still working on. With all three members already being established solo artists, coming together as a team could not have been an easy task. But with each of them being on different levels of the spectrum, it’s allowed room for everybody to do them.
“Quinn’s the legend, I am the All-Star and Boo Banger is the Rookie of the Year,” says Big Rich about the groups hierarchy, mentioning that he actually grew up listening to Quinn. “We’re covering all bases of the game,” adds Boo Banger. “This project is stretching and covering the streets of Frisco and branching out.” Powered by the infectious single “SF Anthem,” All City’s self-titled album seems poised to accomplish the goal of being “in demand like Comcast,” just like the song says. Produced by Traxamillion, the song samples Scott McKenzie’s 1967 hit “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” and captures the same kind of unifying energy the original track did when it was released in the “summer of love.” But with hippies being a thing of the past, All City plans to use the rest of the album to show the harsher side of Bay living. “People are always saying some shit about Frisco having hella gay people, but last time I checked, there’s gay people everywhere,” blasts Quinn. “All I know is that there are some real niggas out here, running shit and holding it down. You get to see what San Francisco is about and our history, and see how we live. Get a view of the gangsta side and understand that you really won’t make it out of this muthafucka if you come out here.” // Words by Jacky Johnson & Maurice G. Garland Photo by D-Ray
12 // OZONE WEST