West Coast hip-hop is a type of hip-hop music that includes artists and songs from the West Coast of the United States. This style became popular through radio and sales during the early to mid-1990s. It started with the development of G-funk and the creation of record labels such as Death Row Records, Lench Mob Records, Ruthless Records, and Aftermath Entertainment. While the term "West Coast hip-hop" can sometimes refer to music from other parts of the Western U.S., it is most closely connected to the state of California, particularly Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

History

In the 1980s, African American communities in the Bay Area and southern California became important centers for hip-hop culture. Hispanics in Los Angeles also played a key role in developing West Coast hip-hop.

Before the rise of famous West Coast rappers like Ice-T, Mellow Man Ace, Too Short, Kid Frost, and Eazy-E, and even before rap music itself appeared, several events helped shape West Coast hip-hop. Syd Caesar said the Watts riots of 1965 were a major event that helped start hip-hop in the West. In 1967, Budd Schulberg created the Watts Writers Workshop in Los Angeles to help people in the Watts neighborhood express themselves. One group that came from this workshop was The Watts Prophets, an early rap group.

During the 1960s and 1970s, political and social justice movements in the San Francisco Bay Area helped hip-hop culture grow there. The Bay Area developed a unique style of break dancing, and graffiti art appeared on city streets and buildings, similar to what was seen in The Bronx. Hip-hop music in the Bay was influenced by funk music and the Black Panther Party, which was founded in Oakland.

In the late 1970s, Alonzo Williams, a young DJ from Compton, California, partnered with Rodger Clayton from Los Angeles to start a promotion company called Unique Dreams. Williams later formed the group World Class Wreckin' Cru and became a DJ at Eve's After Dark, a local nightclub. Clayton created Uncle Jamm's Army, a successful mobile DJ crew that hosted large parties. Unlike East Coast hip-hop, West Coast hip-hop in Southern California had a faster pace and was influenced by electronic music. This focus on DJing helped create a dance subculture that became popular nationally through movies like Breakin'. Breakdancing, popping, and locking helped give the Los Angeles music scene recognition outside the region. Uncle Jamm's Army also invited East Coast artists like Whodini and Run-DMC to their events.

In 1981, Duffy Hooks started the first West Coast rap label, Rappers Rapp Records, inspired by New York’s Sugar Hill Records. The label’s first act was the duo Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp, whose song "The Gigolo Rapp" was released in 1981. Other West Coast hip-hop songs from the early 1980s received little radio play. In 1983, Captain Rapp released "Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)," a politically aware song that responded to Grandmaster Flash’s "The Message." Uncle Jamm's Army released their first single, "Dial-a-Freak," and in 1984, Egyptian Lover released the album On the Nile, which included the popular single "Egypt Egypt." Members of Uncle Jamm's Army and World Class Wreckin' Cru, including Dr. Dre, Ice-T, and Kid Frost, later helped shape West Coast hip-hop in the 1980s.

During this time, the radio station 1580 KDAY AM played rap/hip-hop music 24 hours a day, thanks to Greg "Mack Attack" Mack, who worked there.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Bay Area artists popularized the "pimp rap" subgenre, which had rhythmic, funky beats. Artists like Too Short emerged from this movement, which later influenced the hyphy movement of the 2000s.

Ice-T is known as a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop and gangsta rap. His 1986 song "6 in the Mornin'" showed the West Coast style. In 1988, Ice-T released the R&B hit "I'm Your Pusher," and Too Short’s debut album Life is… Too Short was released in 1989. Tone Loc’s album Lōc-ed After Dark reached number one on the Billboard 200, with the single "Wild Thing" peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two days later, N.W.A released their debut album Straight Outta Compton, which focused on life in Compton, California. The album’s song "Fuck tha Police" caused controversy and drew media attention. After N.W.A broke up, members like Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Ren became successful solo artists in the 1990s. Ice Cube released critically acclaimed albums like AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Death Certificate, and appeared in films like Boyz n the Hood.

In 1991, Tupac Shakur released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now, which addressed social issues like racism, police brutality, and poverty. The album’s singles "Brenda's Got a Baby," "Trapped," and "If My Homie Calls" were widely recognized. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1995. Tupac’s music was influenced by the Black Panther Party and other social movements. He sold over 75 million records and is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time.

In 1991, Suge Knight founded Death Row Records, a powerful record label in the 1990s. In 1992, Dr. Dre released his solo debut The Chronic, which introduced the G-funk sound that became a key part of West Coast hip-hop. The album’s lead single "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the early 1990s, Long Beach entered the hip-hop scene with artists like Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound, who were signed to Death Row Records. Their albums Doggystyle (1993) and Dogg Food (1995) were critically acclaimed and helped establish Long Beach in hip-hop. Warren G also helped promote Long Beach with his 1994 album Regulate… G Funk Era and founded the record label G-Funk Entertainment in 1995.