A
s much as I love hanging out in New York or D.C., partying all night in Miami, ATL, or H-Town, and as much as I love Midwest women and all my Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee homies, I’m still a 100% Cali Nigga. I love being from the West Coast. It’s been over ten years since the nation’s love for West Coast Hip Hop transformed into a hatred that has been analyzed and explained in a million different ways. The most popular version I’ve heard is that the West Coast is just plain whack and we don’t have skills, but I’ve even heard people claim that because we killed Tupac and Biggie there’s a curse on West Coast rap music. But, whatever reasons people have for hating on the West, that isn’t what I want to talk about. I believe if the right artist comes out with the right music, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. The music will speak for itself. Speaking for myself and quite a few other West Coast rappers, we have been eating and continue to eat good off Hip Hop. I’d rather have a long career than one huge hit record and then your career is over. It’s cool with me if you say fuck the West Coast or if you feel that the Dirty South or the East Coast is whack. I don’t have a problem with your opinion because I love Hip Hop period and in my world, there is no regional dominance. I love rap music from everywhere. I’m into the beats, the rhythms, and the subjects, not just whoever the media says is hot. I love originality as well as the same old everyday shit that seems to work over and over again. I just want all of us to acknowledge the fact that the West Coast made some very significant contributions to Hip Hop. Too Short’s pimpin’, Tupac’s tattoos and his swag, Dr. Dre’s production, Snoop’s silky smooth delivery, E-40’s slang and the overall West Coast street game and our dedication to the funk have all influenced Hip Hop. The East Coast gave us Hip Hop, no doubt about that. I heard the Jamaicans invented the whole deejaying and emceeing concepts that Hip Hop was born from. Right now I feel like the Dirty South is making sure Hip Hop stays fun and making sure that we don’t let go of the importance of dancing and rap music. I think the Midwest is making sure the originality and integrity of Hip Hop isn’t lost in the monotony of lately. In the meantime, the East and West Coast artists are attempting to maintain careers and bring fresh new artists to the forefront. Wherever this Hip Hop journey takes us, you can never come to the conclusion that the West Coast was never relevant or the West Coast didn’t contribute to the culture. When and if it’s ever all said and done, I believe every region will be recognized for their advancements and contributions to the Hip Hop culture. So, do me a favor and quit hating on everybody that’s not your homie or your favorite rapper or from your region, and learn to appreciate the good things in our world that aren’t promoted by Corporate America a.k.a. Major Labels. Hit me up on my crackberry at ShortStories@ozonemag.com
6 // OZONE MAG
“the West Coast HAS made some very significant contributions to Hip Hop: Too Short’s pimpin’, Tupac’s tattoos and his swag, Dr. Dre’s production, Snoop’s silky smooth delivery, E-40’s slang and the overall West Coast street game.”