Grabbing up Billy on the quick, and taking you on the wayback machine: there was a place called Leopold where all folks came together for the MUSIC, and no one played any gang bullshit in them walls. Why not? Not totally sure. Could it happen today? Prolly not. Ten years change a world, ten years can erase a street.

The fun and the cameos from old school Leopold Records employees:

Point is, man they had a lot to say about life. Really pure. So, I wish I could embed Kiss Me and I'll Kiss You Back, cause that also had some wonderful staff in it, but whatcha gonna do. Anyway, a shout out to Daria who brought in Hammer when it was tapes in his trunk for comission, and even more so on the long term Yeh Yeah: bringing in the Digital Underground and help blowing them up as well.

Good times, friends. Good times. For those new to the Bay, the scene, whatever you want to call it? Coolest thing was, when Amoeba Berkeley opened up a few blocks from Leopold? It was all love, baby. No sense of competition or us vs. them. How rare is that?? Now, chunklets of us work at Amoeba (woot, wooooooot!) and maybe even own a piece. (Not me, baby!) Kisses to the joynts that do it all for the right reason, including a little shout out to a store in Austin Texas!

You know how they say that the Golden Age of Hip-Hop was the years (approx) 1988 - 1993? Well the Golden Era of Yay Area (da Bay mayn) hip-hop would have been a lil later, namely 1991-1997 a time when major labels and big indies (when they still had money and duplicated CDRs were not even an option) were signing Bay Area artists left, right, and center. It was when  the Luniz (signed to Noo Trybe/Virgin) released their classic "I Got 5 On It" and the even sicker remix featuring Shock G, Richie Rich, and E40 etc. Check the remix video here and if you like these videos, this is just part one of a new series showcasing classic Yay Area Rap videos. Add comments, complaints, feedback below. And be warned that some contain explicit language or images!


And let's not forget the (explicit) Dru Down song "Pimp of the Year" from his first major album -  the one that introduced a young unknown duo called The Luniz (originally Luni Tunz). This is the nasty album version video of "Pimp of the Year" not be confused with the cleaned up and remade for radio "Mack of the Year" - Hence explicit warning!!!!!!!!!!

 
Up next is a video that my boy Chris made for my man Khayree back in the day for the late great Andre Hicks (aka Mac Dre) for his superdope track "California Livin" - one of those classic Yay Area joints that never ages or that I get tired of hearing. Like most West Coast rap videos shot at the time the luxory home scenes were not shot at Mac Dre's crib (he lived in da Crestside of the V-town) which was some rich guy's backyard out in Dublin or somewhere borrowed for the afternoon.. Note this AMOEBLOGGER  appears in this video - dancing by the pool scene. Hint: I'm the white guy :)