HIP-HOP IN OAKLAND
Morgan's Playlist
Conversation With the Devil - Andre Nickatina
Andre Nickatina is originally from San Francisco but resided in Oakland while launching his music career. His integration and acceptance in the East Bay music scene is demonstrated through his close friendship with the beloved Oakland born Mac Dre, releasing songs they worked on together in an album entitled A Tale of Two Andres (2008) after Mac Dre's untimely death.
Proper Aim - Souls of Mischief
Members Tajai and A-plus connected through hip-hop music as early as elementary school and brought in members Phesto and Opio through middle school and high school. Going on to become listed in The Source as one of the best 100 hip-hop albums with their release of '93 Til Infinity, Souls of Mischief embody the opportunities that can result from youth collaboration and exposure to the arts.
Fat Cats, Bigga Fish - The Coup
Politics and social activism have always been central themes in music from The Coup, especially surrounding white supremacy and police brutality. Frontman Boots Riley continued on to become a successful producer and screenwriter and is most widely known for writing the screenplay for Sorry to Bother You (2018) that is based on his own experiences.
Too Much - Zion I ft. The Grouch
Zion I was founded by frontman Baba Zumbi with members Amp Live and K. Genius. The group continued to collaborate with artists such as The Grouch (another Oakland native that is featured on this track), successful underground East Coast rapper Talib Kweli, and Portland based Aesop Rock. The group has since disbanded, yet I was privileged enough to have witnessed them perform at Oakland's Art and Soul festival.
If You Must - Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien is an Oakland born artist and a key founder to the Hieroglyphics, one of the most celebrated collaborative hip-hop groups in the history of Bay Area music. His unique style in the incorporation of comedy into his lyrics and his extensive list of collaborative projects solidifies Del as a pillar of Oakland hip-hop.
Glamorous Lifestyle - The Jacka ft. Andre Nickatina
Along with contemporaries Andre Nickatina and Mac Dre, The Jacka grew up in the periphery of Oakland yet recognized the city as a gateway to hip-hop success. The Jacka is one of the few artists on this playlist that achieved national radio recognition with this Andre Nickatina collaboration and was at the height of his career before unfortunately meeting his demise.