Rasta

Another form of music popular in California is Rasta. Rasta incorporates many different types of music, but the kind I mostly listen to is a combination of rock and reggae and has come about a bit more recently. Many Rasta bands originated in Southern California, but it is equally popular in the Northern parts. Outside of California, many people have no idea what Rasta is. But I have yet to meet a person who says they don’t like it.

Like reggae, Rasta is more of chill-type music. Rather than getting you pumped up or ready to dance, it prepares you for a relaxed day with nothing stressing you out. So here are some tunes to get you through your day:

1.    Another World - Natural Incense

2.    Attention Span - Rebelution

3.    Baby I Like It - Slightly Stoopid

4.    B.O.O.T. - Pepper

5.    Bowl for Two - The Expendables

6.    Chronic - The Holdup

7.    Closer to the Sun - Slightly Stoopid

8.    Collie Man - Slightly Stoopid

9.    Come Around - Collie Buddz

10. Dance Tonight - The Holdup

11. Dreaming - Pacific Dub

12. Drift Away - The Expendable

13. Falling - Iration

14. Green to Black - Rebelution

15. Looking In Your Big Brown Eyes - Bob Marley

16. Sacrifice - The Expendables

17. Safe and Sound - Rebelution

18. Sun Is Shining - Bob Marley

19. This Joint - Slightly Stoopid

These are a few of my personal favorite Rasta songs. I did mix in some straight reggae in there with the songs of Bob Marley, but Rasta is heavily influenced by reggae so it works well. Also, some bands like The Expendables and Pepper lean more towards the rock side, while Slightly Stoopid sounds a little more alternative. However, they all have that chill vibe that makes Rasta music so popular.

Sacrifice – The Expendables

Green to Black – Rebelution

Collie Man – Slightly Stoopid

Come Around – Collie Buddz

Listening to the above songs are a must as they are perfect examples of different expressions of Rasta.

Rebelution is definitely considered one of the pioneers of this kind of newer Rasta music. Created in Santa Barbara, California by five guys, they busted through the music scene in 2007 with their first album Courage to Grow. Their sound was unique and memorable and their fan base quickly grew in California.

The Expendables is another popular band that originated in Santa Cruz, California.  They are a bit older than Rebelution, with the four members coming together in 1997. Their most popular album was Getting’ Filty, containing has the song “Sacrifice,” which was featured on the game Guitar Hero World Tour.

My favorite band on here is Slightly Stoopid. They were formed in 1995 out of Ocean Beach, California. They sound like a combination of Sublime and Rebelution, always incorporating that laid back sound that makes Rasta music so great.

I was first introduced to Rasta in high school and have been listening to it ever since. It’s not really a mainstream genre of music as few bands have mastered the unique sound, but that’s actually one of the things I like about it. Not very many people listen to it so it allows me to spread the music, which is one thing I love doing. 

Yay Area

Being from Northern California or better yet, “NorCal,” I find that it’s only fitting that I dedicate my first post to a genre of music that originated from my part of the Golden State. Cities in this part of NorCal include San Francisco, Vallejo, San Jose, Oakland, Sausalito, Daly City, Berkely, Palo Alto, and Richmond. This type of music I’m talking about is Bay Area hip hop. There are a lot of terms related to this type of hip hop such as stupid, dumb and hyphy, Yay Area and the thizz face. Much of Bay Area hip hop has to do with partying, having fun, and of course, weed. This is like a lot of rap music, but the Bay Area has their own renowned style. What “Crunk” is to Lil Jon and the South, “Hyphy” is to the Bay. Many legends have surfaced from the Bay Area. This includes E-40, Mac Dre, Andre Nickatina, Keak Da Sneak, Traxamillion, Mistah F.A.B. and Too $hort. Even Tupac lived in Northern California throughout high school.

Listening to Bay Area music was one of my first introductions to hip hop and rap, so I have come up with a playlist that contain some of the necessary Yay tracks for those who are unfamiliar with this music:

1.    Blow the Whistle - Too $hort

2.    Get Stupid - Mac Dre

3.    Go Hard or Go Home (f/ Federation) - E-40

4.    Hands Up - Erk Tha Jerk

5.    I Got 5 On It (Remix f/ E-40, Dru Down Digital Underground, Richie Rich, Too $hort & Spice 1) - The Luniz

6.    I Wear My Stunna Glasses - Federation

7.    I'm On One - The Team

8.    It's Getting Hot In Here (Remix) - The Team

9.    Bottles Up - The Team

10. San Francisco Anthem - Traxamillion

11. Sideshow (f/ Too $hort & Mistah F.A.B.) - Traxamillion

12. Tell Me When to Go - E-40

13. That Go - Keak Da Sneak

14. Thizzelle Dance - Mac Dre

15. Up - LoveRance

16. Vans - The Pack

17. Yay Area - E-40

18. Yeah (f/ Messy Marv) - Andre Nickatina

19. 4AM-Bay Bridge Music - Andre Nickatina

20. 18 Dummy - Federation

21. Ghost Ride It - Mistah F.A.B.

22. Fast (Like a Nascar) [f/ Keak Da Sneak] - Kafani

23. Ayo for Yayo - Andre Nickatina

Now, Bay Area hip hop goes much deeper than this. Many of these tracks are the more popular dance/party songs that help newbies get associated with the Yay’s unique sound. And many of these are more recent.

If you listen to more Too $hort, E-40, and Mac Dre, you’ll be able to get more into the old school rap that started it all. Other old school rap artists/groups from the Bay Area include N2Deep, Souls of Mischief, The Conscious Daughters, and Saafir. You might also appreciate other artists such as The Jacka, San Quinn, and Messy Marv, which are less mainstream, but all legends in their own right.

My personal favorites from this list are:

That Go – Keak Da Sneak

I’m On One – The Team

Yeah (f/ Messy Marv) – Andre Nickatina

I never get tired of listening to those songs and they are the top played on my Ipod. Their beats scream Bay Area and I can never keep my body still when they come on. And I’ve never failed to get other people movin right along with me with these songs.

The most popular song on the list is probably “I Got 5 On It (Remix)” by The Luniz. It is often considered one of the greatest Bay Area hip hop songs of all time and I would probably agree. Every time I hear the beginning to that song, I immediately know what song it is and think of home. Not to mention it features a star studded cast of Bay Area greats on the track.

So I hope you check out the tracks on the list and enjoy them because I definitely do. And next time you’re in NorCal, you’ll know a little more about the culture and what people are listening to.