Interviews
LA Hip-Hop Pioneers
Hip-Hop Day LA Editorial
Before West Coast Hip-Hop had global superstars, a generation of Los Angeles pioneers built the sound, scene, stages, and culture that made everything after them possible.
Los Angeles Hip-Hop didn't begin with the artists who eventually took West Coast music around the world. A generation of pioneers had already built the foundation.
Figures including Rodger Clayton and Uncle Jamm's Army, Egyptian Lover, The Unknown DJ, Chris “The Glove” Taylor, Ice-T, World Class Wreckin' Cru, Toddy Tee, King Tee, DJ Bobcat, DJ Pooh, DJ Battlecat, Tony G, Julio G, and KDAY's Greg Mack helped establish an early ecosystem of parties, clubs, radio, independent records, DJ crews, and live performances.
Their music reflected LA's unique mix of funk, electro, street culture, dance, cars, technology, and neighborhood identity. More importantly, they demonstrated that LA could create, distribute, promote, and support its own Hip-Hop cultural economy.
The generations that followed would take West Coast Hip-Hop to extraordinary heights. But before there were legends, there were pioneers who paved the way.
