If Old School NYC Hip-hop is kind of weird, then the first few years of West Coast rappers in the early 1980's were -- well -- even weirder. With jump suits, diamond earrings, Jheri-curled hair, and robotic dance steps, West Coast crews combined the electro-funk sensibilities of Bambaataa with personalities and stage costumes that looked as though the Village People tour bus had collided with a high school track team. And despite that, they still tried to look mean and impressive, as this early shot of the World Class Wreckin' Cru shows. Of course, West Coasters had one difficulty that crews from the South Bronx or Brooklyn never experienced; the fear that, despite their prodigious originality, they would just be seen as copies or imitations of a seemingly more "authentic" East Coast school.
They needn't have worried. There was no one in NYC to rival characters like the Egyptian Lover, a veteran of Uncle Jamm's Army who made it big with one of his very first singles, 1982's "Egypt Egypt," or "Captain Rapp"who rocked the mic with "Gigolo Rapp," long before he recorded "Bad Times (I Can't Stand It)," widely regarded as the earliest overtly political rap from the "other" coast. Even some artists we've come to know and love, such as Ice T, started out with embarrassing cold-wind sound effects in "The Coldest Rap" before finally breaking out with the gangsta-flavored "6 in the Morning." Latino rappers, this time with a Mexican rather than a Puerto Rican background, made their mark; who can forget Kid Frost, the original "Hispanic Causing Panic," or Mellow Man Ace, the "Brother with Two Tongues"?
Of course, it's the World Class Wreckin' Cru that looms largest, since their members formed the core of N.W.A., and launched the careers of of Dre and Ice Cube. But boy, it's a long long way from "Calling Dr. Dre to Surgery" to "Straight Outta Compton."
The image posted above made me actually laugh out loud - the look of the metallic jumpsuit and so called "mean" look on their faces is actually comical. It is interesting to see where the rappers that I, oh ye of little Hip Hop knowledge, recognize. The sounds of Ice T’s first songs are different from now, and that’s a testament to how he (and other rappers) have grown and changed through time.
ReplyDeleteWow, that Dr. Dre video is fantastic!!!!! The one thing that entered my mind when watching the older West coast videos was this is nothing like what the artists are like now. So I got to thinking and I'm curious if the West coast rappers were keeping it real or not. Are the older personas who the rappers really are? Or are they manufactured? Are the newer, more familiar personas real or manufactured? They are very interesting questions when you take into account that rappers are all about being original and "gangster?" Does authenticity matter then? Just food for thought...and I'm really happy that electro-rap-funk didn't stick around very long.
ReplyDeleteI found some interesting information stating that, most of the west-coast rappers, got their influence and started out by being break dancers, which is consistent with the wave of transition to the west coast we say in the break dancing film. The World Class Recking crew was very influential I agree as well that Ice-T paved the way for alot of content and his style has been emulated many times, Greg Mac should also be mentioned in the early stages of west coast development.
ReplyDeletehip Hop Apsara - I found this to be an interesting article on how true it is that new music can affect a person like love does sometimes. If physical intimacy is the next step after balancing out emotional feelings then dancing or breakdancing was and is the next step once new music becomes a bit familiar and the rhythm and feel of it are imbibed in the mind and body. This is why it is so important for music to constantly 'reinvent itself,' so that, like love, the freshness and renewal works to keep the interest of the people. Even love gets boring if it is filled with monotony.
ReplyDeleteCory P Kirk
While Tupac did grow up on the East Coast I think it would be going to far by stating he is not a west coast rapper. Not only would I consider him a west coast rapper but I would Put him in the top five (in my books he is #1) of all time. His collaboration with Dr.Dre in the making of the hit song “California Love” showed his passion for the west coast and California specifically. His song “To live and Die in L.A.” expresses his true love of the west coast, and for that I have always considered him a west coast rapper. His passion for the west and his passion for music make him in my books one of the greatest rappers in time. No one has come through with more passion and love for the game then he did.
ReplyDeleteIn learning of the Rap of the West coast I have come to greatly appreciate listening of the Bambaataa aspects of it. This is new to my palate of music and have enjoyed it much.. It showed me another side of the west coast. I before typically portrayed it more of a "Gangsta-rap" scene. Another thing for me coming to mind with the west coast is the skill of beatboxing. In my experience this is something skillfully done on the west coast. Although we see it hear I do feel the talent is far less sufficient.
ReplyDeleteI also have to agree with Jason, as I had gone back and taken a look at the Dr. Dre video. This is one artist that I have to say I have been more faithful to then others. I had never seen this video, nor knew of this time period of him. I have to agree on the video and am happy to be taken back to the time period and reintroduced to Dr. Dre.
DeleteLORNA CIARLO