West Coast
Early hip-hop on the West Coast centered on DJing. West Coast hip-hop originated from electro-rap party music and eventually transformed into the more familiar gangsta rap sound that reverberated through stereos in the 1980s and 1990s. One of the foundations for the popularity of West Coast hip hop was N.W.A., a rap group featuring artists including Dr. Dre, Eazy E, and Ice Cube. This group depicted life in Compton, California, and popularized the style of gangsta rap. Their seminal hit "Fuck Tha Police" centered on police brutality and racism in Los Angeles. Additionally, California-based Tupac Shakur released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991 which addressed pertinent issues such as poverty and social injustice. DJ Screw loved the sound of West Coast hip hop and frequently utilized artists such as 2Pac, E-40, and Too Short on his tapes. DJ Screw's legacy continues on the West Coast; in 2014, Compton-based rapper Kendrick Lamar paid tribute to Screw by freestyling over June 27th.
