Leaders Of The New West: 10 Hip-Hop Acts Bringing The West Coast Back - Page 7

10 Hip-Hop Acts Bringing The West Coast Back

From N.W.A. to Dr. Dre’s classic The Chronic, Snoop Dogg’s rise to super stardom and Death Row’s dominant success with Tupac Shakur, Hip-Hop belonged to California during the late ’80’s and early ’90’s.

But since Pac’s murder in 1996, the downfall of Suge Knight and Death Row, and Dr. Dre’s seeming refusal to release Detox, the West lost it’s reign on rap with the emergence of New York crews like Roc-A-Fella and the Ruff Ryders, Southern dynasties like No Limit and Cash Money, and Midwest stars like Eminem, Kanye West and Nelly, who would dominant rap charts through the late ’90’s and new millennium.

Although, what goes around, comes back around, as over the last few years, there has been a resurgence of new blood and fresh rap talent coming out of the Golden State, positioning themselves to bring the Hip-Hop crown back to the West Coast.

From Tyler, The Creator to Lil B, here’s our guide, some artists you may know, others that you need to know, who are the Leaders Of The New West.

Peep the page #’s below to see who got next in the West!

Odd Future
From: Los Angeles, CA
Affiliations: Pharrell, Frank Ocean, Game

Tyler, The Creator and his California collective went from releasing self-produced albums on Tumblr to a label deal with Sony/Red and an Adult Swim TV show.

Lil B
From: Berkeley, CA
Affiliations: The Pack, Soulja Boy

Lil B is probably the most criticized New West rapper of them all, but yet his Based God following is the strongest.

Kreayshawn
From: Oakland, CA
Affiliations: Mistah F.A.B., Lil B, White Girl Mob

Her hit single “Gucci Gucci” led her to a mutli-million dollar deal with Columbia Records. And no she’s not the one that uses the N-word.

The New Boyz
From: Hesperia, California

This duo broke onto the scene with their 2009 hit single “You’re a Jerk,” and although they’re still fighting (literally) for resepct, the New Boyz have had a total of five songs chart on Billboard Hot 100. More than any other new Cali rap artist.

Dom Kennedy
From: Leimert Park, Los Angeles, CA
Affiliations: Pac Div, Casey Veggies

With five mixtapes and one indie album on the streets, Dom Kennedy has been touring and pushing his brand forward without a major deal.

Pac Div
From: Palmdale, CA
Affiliations: Dom Kennedy, Casey Veggies

A slew of critically acclaimed mixtapes lead this rap trio to a deal with Universal in 2008. Although they’re still waiting on their mainstream break, Pac Div fans are anticipating their new EP The DiV later this year.

Casey Veggies
From: Los Angeles, CA
Affiliations: Odd Future, Dom Kennedy, Pac Div

Casey Veggies started his rap career with Odd Future, but left the group to continue his career as a solo artist, which hasn’t been a bad decision for Young Veggies.

Nipsey Hussle
From: Los Angeles, CA
Affiliations: Snoop Dogg, Game

Nipsey has sort of lost this grab atop the New West throne, Hussle is still a favorite amongst Hip-Hop fans waiting on his movement to take that next step.

Jay Rock
From: Watts, Los Angeles, CA
Affiliations: Tech N9ne, Kendrick Lamar, Game

After building a strong indie following along side Top Dawg Entertainment and Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock signed with Tech N9ne’s Strange Music imprint in 2011 and release his debut album Follow Me Home earlier this year.

Kendrick Lamar
From: Compton, CA
Affiliations: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Game, Jay Rock, J. Cole

If co-signs from Dr. Dre, Snoop and Game aren’t enough, Kendrick Lamar released arguably 2011’s best rap album in Section.80.