Introduction
The hip-hop scene has a rich history of boom-and-bust cycles, legends, and myths. West Coast rap is one of the most influential styles to come out of this movement. The genre started in the early 1980s when gangs and drug dealing were widespread on Compton’s streets (Baker 42). In this area of California, youngsters were often recruited into the crew as teenagers to protect their younger siblings who could not join the crew. The first crew member in this region was DJ D-noy, who gained popularity among young people due to his fast-rapping technique (Baker 45). His unique style of playing rap over beats at parties and clubs in Los Angeles, CA, became the basis of the sound of West Coast rap.
The music on the West Coast of America has a distinct style. It can be seen in the music videos, mostly about the gang culture and leisure activities involving guns and drugs. The music is different from other rap music and any other music genre. The first song in the genre was “8 Million Stories” by Los Angeles Rebels, released in 1981 (Kelley 85). This album sold about 300,000 copies despite receiving negative reviews from critics (Kelley 88). West Coast Rap is one of the most iconic and impactful genres in the music world because it has a long history and unique music traditions, influences modern hip-hop artists, and spreads its message of equality and empowerment.
History of West Coast Rap
Of all the genres of music, West Coast Rap is the most well-known and significant. It is primarily associated with the Los Angeles area but has also spread to other cities in California and Nevada (Baker 45). It has a long history, including early pioneers like Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Hammer (Borthwick and Ron Moy 56). However, in the late 1980s, West Coast rap became a genre with its own identity and style.
In 1981, Duffy Hooks founded Rappers Rapp Records, the first hip-hop label on the West Coast. It is believed that the feud between the East Coast and West Coast rappers began then. As tricky and harsh as this period was, it defined the development of West Coast rap. It arose in opposition to East Coast rap, so its performers always tried to outdo each other. The conflict continued until Diddy and Snoop Dogg appeared on the same television show, where they shook hands as a sign of reconciliation.
The most important aspect of this region’s musical history is how it shapes the work of contemporary hip-hop musicians like Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg today. In the mid-1990s, hip-hop artists began incorporating elements of country music into their lyrics, which led some critics to call West Coast Rap “Country Rap” (Tsitsos 272). Today, most artists who use the genre are from Southern California. However, some Texas and New York City artists have become popular within the genre. Some critics believe that this is mainly because many people associate Southern California with beaches, while they associate New York with crime and poverty (Borthwick and Ron Moy 73).
Critics have further argued that West Coast Rap should not be considered a legitimate form of hip hop because it does not adhere strictly to traditional rules about rhymes or cadence (Borthwick and Ron Moy 82). Modern West Coast rap marked a new era in the history of Los Angeles rap. Its iconic figures, such as Tyler, the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar, are blowing up the Internet and music charts with their music videos. It is customary to experiment with voices, tonalities, and musical techniques in modern rap. Topics usually include street gangs, drugs, and domestic violence in the context of the city and its constant growth.
The Most Important Features and Characteristic Pieces
The main characteristics of this genre are its upbeat tempo, rhythmic structure, and lyrics that are often focused on drug use and sex. The first songs to come out of West Coast Rap were the early 1980s gangsta rap songs, which were inspired by the growing popularity of hip-hop in the United States at that time. One of the first artists who popularized gangsta rap was Ice-T (Ian Dante Thomas), who released his first album in 1981 called Rhinestone Cowboy (Borthwick and Ron Moy 94). This album’s swift tempo featured lyrics about drug use, violence, and sex. In 1983, Ice-T released another album called Power, which also had a fast tempo and featured themes similar to those of Rhinestone Cowboy. In 1985, he released the album Body Count, which became an instant success because it contained different types of music, including rap verses over rock music beats and even some country music songs mixed with gangsta rap lyrics.
In addition, artists would incorporate funk and jazz elements into their music to create something new and exciting. In the 1980s and early 1990s, artists like N.W.A., Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre began developing a style of rap music that was distinct from what most other rappers were doing at the time (Kelley 85). It was also a lot more violent than other forms of hip-hop music, resulting from the gangsta rap scene emerging then and a reaction to Reaganomics. Moreover, West Coast Rap is characterized by its use of synthesizers and 808 drums instead of guitars or other instruments, which sets it apart from other hip-hop music like East Coast Rap, which usually uses more traditional tools. These two styles came together in 1992 when Tupac Shakur released his album All Eyez On Me (Kelley 87).
Effective Communication in Visual Formats
Music became a means of communication when it went beyond the boundaries of salons and family concerts and went to a new level of listening through recordings. Thus, given the individuality of choice and listening, rap is not an easy-to-use tool of influence; it is independent and extremely powerful (Tsitsos 273). It is mainly the youth audience that creates the rules for functioning musical influence. For example, young people show their protest with a song associated with a movement for social change and, therefore, part of a broader category of topical songs.
2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, N.W.A., Snoop Dogg became legends. Rap lyrics could not be indifferent to people; for example, 2Pac’s mother was an activist of the radical left. Containing certain roughness and aggressiveness, rap was a very masculine genre. Nevertheless, women, whose rap hits were heard around the clock and are heard everywhere, are ready to argue with this: MC Lyte and Queen Latifah were the standards for female MCs, and they became symbols of feminism in the hip-hop environment. Moreover, music is becoming a powerful means of identification among young people.
Rap is further used by political movements such as Black Lives Matter (B.L.M.). B.L.M. uses rap music to promote the themes of fairness and self-empowerment in a way that people can understand because they use language that matches their experiences (Tsitsos 274). Overall, no matter what genre or style of music one enjoys listening to, whether it is hip-hop or classical, it is crucial to know where their favorite artists got their start to understand what they are saying.
Social Implications Related to West Coast Rap
The West Coast Rap genre has developed from several different sources. First, it is a cultural movement driven by the presence of African Americans in suburban areas (Tsitsos 276). It reflects the issues surrounding race, class, and poverty in America’s inner cities (Tsitsos 277). In other words, West Coast Rap brings to light the problems many people living in urban areas face.
Another implication is that West Coast Rap is also a product of its period. In particular, it was first popularized when hip-hop became mainstream and songs were recorded on inexpensive equipment. Thus, it represents an evolution in music production techniques that helped pave the way for future developments like sampling and digital file-sharing networks (Baker 105). Thirdly, West Coast Rap is further connected with politics because it reflects social tensions between police officers and minorities.
Overall, the West Coast Rap scene was born from a combination of factors: The crack epidemic that swept through Los Angeles during this period, gang-related violence, and racial tensions between black Americans and Mexican immigrants. It led to a rise in gang violence and crime rates across Los Angeles County during this period, which lasted well into the 1990s. It also made young people more interested in making money than building community relationships through education or work opportunities. Therefore, rap, as a tool for forming mass consciousness, deals with values that the young generation professes. Rap music is believed to be a mouthpiece for social issues.
Conclusion
Rap music is primarily an African American-produced kind of music, but with the coming of West Coast Rap, it has become a more independent and culturally diverse music genre. It changed the rap music world and its processes. Hip-hop used to be based solely on what was happening in the streets and neighborhoods. However, rappers can produce rap songs about their cultural lives, such as traditions, family life, language, and religious beliefs. West Coast Rap has brought some real change to this particular genre of music.
In addition, West Coast Rap has evolved, altering its sound, lyrics, and fashion. Although many different types of music fall into hip-hop, the West Coast style is one of the most distinct. The weather and scenery are like no other, so it has always been a magnet for artists. The genre has inspired many to become rappers and MCs despite their location.
By looking at the history of West Coast Rap, it is clear that there is no need to travel to the West Coast to enjoy this culture because its roots are planted deeply in every city across the country. Moreover, as more rappers join the industry, their styles change how people view rap. The use of instruments, audio mixing, and vocal mixing are three main ways music has changed today.
Works Cited
Baker, Soren. The History of Gangster Rap: From Schoolly D to Kendrick Lamar, the Rise of a Great American Art Form. Abrams, 2018.
Borthwick, Stuart, and Ron Moy. Popular music genres: An introduction. Routledge, 2020.
Kelley, Robin DG. “Kickin’Reality, Kickin’Ballistics: “Gangsta Rap” and postindustrial Los Angeles.” Crime, inequality, and the state. Routledge, 2020. 84-91. Web.
Tsitsos, William. “Race, class, and place in the origins of techno and rap music.” Popular Music and Society 41.3 (2018): 270-282.