Inside The Bay Area Hyphy MovementAsk people in the Bay Area what the Hyphy movement is all about and you will get many different meanings and perspectives. So who can truly explain what it's all about?In search of such a person, we heard about one emerging Hyphy artist getting ready to release a new album with guest appearances from Too Short, San Quinn, J Diggs, among others. This artist certainly tells it like it is, so we gave him a chance to explain the Hyphy movement. Driving around the Bay Area in a custom made limousine with the words "Hyphy Train" painted across the rear window, this emerging artist calls himself Greenie. Whether he means to or not, his deep, raspy voice carries a Hyphy tone that encapulates this Bay Area movement. (THAT'S HYPHY: Press play to hear Greenie's "We Hit the Block") Greenie recently took a break from the studio to talk about the Hyphy movement & what rap music is missing: Interview: Part 1Bay Area Hyphy Movement (BAHM): From what we understand, Hyphy can be crazy dance moves or just smashing someone in the face. How would you define Hyphy?Greenie: Hyphy as I understand it literally means hyper and fly, but really its how all da homies from the Bay get down when we listen to our Bay style music. BAHM: Some might say the Hyphy Movement is just a fad? Can it last? Greenie: Thats like asking is hiphop or rap a fad, hell no it aint a fad, its a lifestle/music. I think it will evolve and take different forms, but now when we refer to hyphy, we are talking bout Bay style, Bay area rap. BAHM: What does the Hyphy movement mean to the Bay Area? Greenie: Well, its just like I said rap/hip-hop started in Queens. It evolved took different forms. Today, the South would refer to there style of rap as crunk, the Bay would refer to its Style as hyphy. But not everyone who is from the Bay raps with a hyphy style. I for one only have three songs on my album that I would classify as "hyphy" the rest are just normal rap. E-40's last album every song was hyphy, kick drum slumping hard, beats per minute slightly sped up, and e-40 spittin somethin vicious, THATS HYPHY at its core, and everybody in the Bay is down with it so its important for the Bay in that it brings us all together. BAHM: So tell us about the new album. What should fans expect, who are some of the guest appearances? Greenie: First off I'd like to say that I am a huge fan of rap first before ever being an artist. The game is missing a classic element in that people are rapping whole songs and aren't saying shit. It's look what I got, whereas before you could pickup a dope record and actually learn a lot of street shit. In this album you could pick it up and learn a lot of shit about Northern California and this sick ass place we call the Bay Area. I brought several of my favorite artists from the Bay Area and LA together to make this dope album. Look for Too $hort San Quinn, J diggs, and Roscoe of the Dogg Pound, to name a few, and classic producers like One Drop Scott who has worked with Mac Dre, and Gennessee, who has a ridiculous roster. To get part 2 of this interview, just enter your E-Mail Address & click the "Send Me This Stuff Now" button on the upper right hand side of this page. |
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In the studio: Too Short and Greenie working
on the track "Kaiser" which will be released
this August. Note: We hate SPAM! We won't share, show, rent or sell your e-mail address with any unauthorized 3rd party, ever. |
