Biggin’ Up the Bay – Spread Love, It’s the Brooklyn Way

 •  Bloggers  •  by XXL Staff  •  28 Comments

I got a call last night from my homie in Oakland asking me why a certain Harlem rapper was beefing about XXL’s Freshmen ’10 cover. After explaining that opinions like that (no matter how crazy they may sound) are to be expected when you do a list of this kind. Then, the Bay homie and I started to catch up on the old times when I was living out West, getting educated on the region’s slept-on rap talent.

While some people might make a case for talent from their hometown missing from this year’s Freshmen cover, the Bay could possibly make that argument damn near every year. I don’t even have to mention how a veteran like E-40 is still underappreciated by the wider rap populous.

Now that’s not to undermine this year’s class and the staffs picks, but instead of people whining about the situation, and belittling the accomplishments of others as a means to make their case, they should just show love and keep it moving. Matter of fact, I’ma spread love to the Yay and showcase some of the Bay Area artists that don’t get enough shine.

Who are some of your favorite underappreciated artists? —Rondell Conway

Ric Lew, Yung Vik & L.G. Tha Great “Up In The Bay”

Jacka “Traffickin’”
This dude is hands down my favorite in the Bay right now!

J Stalin “Rock Day”

Turf Talk “Put Up Or Shut Up”

Messy Marv “I’m From The Bay”

Mistah F.A.B. ”Streets Of The Bay”

Erk The Jerk “Right Here”

Moe Green “Non Title Match”

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  • http://myspace.com/kidpistol Kid Pistol

    I like this post. All artists still doing their thing, XXL showing respect. Dope.

    PS That Moe Green video AND song goes hard!!! ha

  • BayAllDay

    Good Shit XXL for giving credit where credit is SLEPT on!!! Jacka performed out in Tracy, CA last weekend and brought out AP9 and also the greatness of Freeway!! yea Jacka and Freeway at lil ol Tracy CA!!! Freeway and Jack much love. Them too need to do a whole album together!!!!J-Stalin too keep doing your thang!!

  • http://myspace.com/hempzfromgcf L.RIVAS

    MUCH LOVE TO BAY AREA 408 BABY CENTRAL COAST 831 TO MANY UP N COMERS TO MENTION THE BAY FULL A TALENT DONT SLEE ON US XXL CHECK OUT THIS LOCAL CAT HEMPZ HE HOT SHIT FOR THE STREETS MYSPACE.COM/HEMPZFROMGCF

  • http://blackcaesarworld.blogspot.com blackcaesar

    They been sleepin’ on the bay since the beginning of the rap universe them niggas is sick and their environment is sicker I can’t wait to see them blow up again. I just saw E40 in Daygo 2 weeks ago….. That fat nigga can still serve you at a show be careful!

    REad my shit blackcae$arworld.blogspot.com

    Interview with Wendy Day, blogs, and black history follow me on twitter @caesarthemind or @thediamondpack

  • Anonymous

    The bay been slept on since the beginning of the rap universe…. Them niggas is sick and their environment is sicker! I can’t wait for them to blow up again…. I just say E40 in Daygo like 2 weeks ago that big body nigga will still serve you on stage so be careful youngstas…..

    REad my shit blackcae$arworld.blogspot.com

    Interview with Wendy Day, blogs, and black history follow me on twitter @caesarthemind or @thediamondpack

  • YayTL

    You can’t forget WILLIE JOE!!! One of the from the Bay that came out to ATL and did his thing and then went back. Always represented for his hometown and is still rocking!!!

    Get em, get em, get em, got em, got em, good

  • http://twitter.com/aquma aquma

    Bay Areaaaa!!!

  • brownwonda

    where the hell is p.u.t.s.

  • C Bo

    Ive always been a fan of San Quinn, another 1 reppin the bay who was slept on

  • http://www.facebook.com/maxprofit Max Profit

    Shout out To The Bay!!!!

  • sparkcity911

    WHATEVER THEM NIGGAS IN THE 1st VIDEO BEEN SNORTIN…YOUR BOY NEED SOME OF THAT…
    GOOD BLOW WILL MAKE YOUR NECK SNAP LIKE THAT..

  • http://www.emcdl.com EmCDL

    The Bay always had talent, Mista FAB go hard! Check out that cat Dutch too, dude got flow for days!

  • BW

    what about Andre Nickatina?

  • Oaklandhardhitter510

    where is hoodstarz shady nate video’s where is my bruh d-lo at what about el negro and dboi my richb4rich niggas XXL yall sleepin

  • Anonymous

    good shit but u forgot one san quinn is the best

  • KLETEWOOD

    Coming from the BAY…your missing some heat.

    Yeeeeeeeeeeee

  • Anonymous

    E-40 go hard also. And XXl should show some love to the Midwest. Like KCMO for instance

  • mpopper

    CLIPSE
    CHAMILLIONAIRE
    LLOYD BANKS

  • http://xxlmag.com bang

    e40 nu shit slaaaps!! j stalin nu shit slaaaps!! jacka da nigg rite now..messy marv dope..mob figaz too raw..its hella othas niggaz aint knowin bout..bay stand up tho!!!

  • Anonymous

    Show love to the Midwest?
    Fuck KC
    R.I.P. Mac Dre

    • steve toney

      yo we got talent out here to in the wicked midwest it aint bout kc so respect da midwest cuz we goin hard allday every damn day!

  • John P

    WHAT ABOUT HUSALAH!!??
    Hes the dopest in the bay right now…
    AND THATS STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH! 510 to 925 f*ck wit ya boy

  • Jhon da Analyst

    S.O.M.

  • Realist

    Is it me or are the only people who commented on this from the Bay?

  • NOLA

    If you know your rap history. the Bay is the birth place of the independent rap game. there’s cats in the Bay that’s been rapping for decades that many people outside of Cali have every heard of. But the are still living cool. Ask UGK where they got they style from and they will tell you Too Short. Ask Snoop who he loved listening to as a youngsta. He will tell you Richie Rich and the 415. two things that keeps the bay from blowing up is a serious way. 1) cats make a lot of regional music. 2) cats dont care about going national 3) majors aren’t checking for cats out the bay. 4) they bay doesn’t have to the social seen that LA, ATL, NYC has. 5) people hate on the bay because they are original and creative.

  • DV8

    Hello ALL Independent Artist/ Labels. The Bay Area is the birthplace of Indepentent Rap Hustlin. Ask the South they will tell you. Niggas out here grindin more then you know. If everybody soaked up game instead of being assholes we as a culture can take back whats been taken from us. Quite a few self-made millionares outhere. Including Yukmouth, thats why he can afford a $92,000 piece, while yall out there not knowing about what really goes down in The Bay.

  • Anonymous

    i’m from NYC and i gotta say, this article ain’t even do tha bay justice….current bay king is def STALIN but that ain’t his hardest cut….nickatina NEEDS to be up here, this article is nothing without him. no husalah? and take that moe green fool off here, he’s SOFT. born & raised new yorker and i gotta say ny ain’t got nothing on the bay rap wise right now. check demolition men too, mixtape killers.

  • steve toney

    i got luv and respect fo tha bay and tha west coast period! keep doin wat yall do