History of West Coast Rap

Putting California On the Map!

In every form of music there is a history behind it. There is a reason for the flow of the beat being a certain way. And most times there usually is a story to tell. It’s the same thing when it comes to the history of West Coast Rap.

West Coast Rap was actually originated from East Coast Rap back in the early 1980′s. Our now; so famous West Coast Rap actually originated when from the East Coast when various DJ’s began to decide to travel from New York to Los Angeles to broaden the rap industry from one side of the United States to the next.

Two very well known DJ’s that helped build the foundation of today’s West Coast Rap was DJ Michael “Mixxing” Moore and DJ Tony Joseph. DJ Michael “Mixxing” Moore and DJ Tony Joseph had various radio shows in Los Angeles, like “The Traffic Jam”, “The Saturday Night Jam, and the “L.A. Sunday”. Their radio shows ended up being the most popular radio shows on KACE and KJLH in Los Angeles.

The majority of the West Coast Rap labels back in the early 1980′s weren’t actual large groups or organizations like the ones today. Back in the early 1980′s the majority of the West Coast Rappers helped to broadcasts or in other words; promoted their songs and music by starting their own labels.

Freak Beat Records is one of the many early record labels, it is actually considered to be one of the record labels that basically set the stage for the start of the changing of early West Coast Rap. Freak Beat record label came about by Roger Clayton. Roger Clayton had actually had the talent of spinning records since he was a young boy; about the age of thirteen he had began to show his talent by throwing parties. Before the creation of Freak Beat Records he had also been the founder of his DJ group called “Unique Dreams Entertainment” which consisted of him and one of his friends from school; Gid Martin in 1978. But during the time when West Coast Rap had began to become so popular they changed their name to “Uncle Jamms Army”.

There are many other popular labels that were started as well such as , Rappers Rapp, Techno Hop, Kru Cut, Egyptian Empire, and Macola. There are plenty of other people to give recognition to like Ice-T, the Spin Masters, DJ Egyptian Lover, Dr. Dre, Kid Frost, World Class Wreckin Cru, and DJ “The Glove”.

The growth of West Coast Rap brought fame to California as a state and made people proud to be from the streets of Compton and other neighborhoods that these rappers presented in their music.

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