I'm Another Title
Teren Delvon Jones
I'm a Title
Blackbird Blackbird
The Bay Area has fostered a number of prominent names in a variety of genres. From electronic to punk, Bay Area cities such as San Francisco and Oakland have produced some of the best names in music.
The Best of The Bay
Coming out of San Francisco, Mikey Maramag produces ethereal electronic grooves that calm and relax the listener. His album Summer Heart features a plethora of songs that provide easy listening. Standout songs are “Pure” and “So Sorry Girl,” both featuring ghost-like vocals accompanied by a funky and uplifting beats.
While listeners looking for defined vocals may be disappointed, Blackbird Blackbird will satisfy the craving of those with an electronic taste.
Teren Delvon Jones has been rapping since the early ‘90s. Perhaps most famous for his album Deltron 3030, he is also featured in a number of other projects, including Souls of Mischief and Gorillaz. Much of his music reminds the listener of tracks from the ‘90s, but his style can also broaden itself as far out as futuristic, as is the case with Deltron 3030. As a whole, his rapping is more laid back, with smooth, definitive lyrics and rhymes ranging from hilarious to just plain weird.
Another icon of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Jefferson Airplane was founded in San Francisco in the ‘60s and became an leader of the psychedelic rock movement. Lead singer Grace Slick’s vocals guide the listener on a journey through space and time. Songs like “White Rabbit” pay homage to the ‘60s San Francisco culture with references to Alice in Wonderland and magic mushrooms. Other songs offer more socially acceptable themes, though.
Oakland has always had a stellar musicians. For example, Andre Hicks, better known as “Mac Dre” initiated the “hyphy” movement that took the bay by storm. With a heavy emphasis on “thizz” he took gangster rap to a whole new level. Tracks such as “Feelin Myself,” “Thizzle Dance” and “Get Stupid” highlight his focus on partying and having fun. While Mac Dre himself is dead now, his legacy lives on. Bay Area artists like E-40 continue to pay homage to Hicks’s legacy.
I'm Another Title
Jefferson Airplane
I'm Another Title
I'm Another Title
Mac Dre
Grateful Dead
Pioneering the hippy movement of the ‘60s, the Grateful Dead are immortal among fans of classic rock. Hailing from Palo Alto, they are synonymous with San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury and LSD. However, don’t let the idea of hippies jamming on guitars scare you though, their style is closer to bluegrass than rock. Their album, American Beauty is a great starting point, featuring three of their most famous songs, “Box of Rain,” “Friend of the Devil” and “Truckin.” Considering the fact that two of the bands members attended Palo Alto High School, you should check them out.
Punk-rock legends, the Dead Kennedy’s were the head of the San Francisco punk scene in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Their album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables includes many of the songs that made them such a prominent force in the punk movement. Their songs often mocked businessmen, politicians and suburbia. Many of their hits portray these themes or rebellion. Moreover, they accompany controversial song titles with with controversial lyrics, “Holiday in Cambodia” and “When ya gonna get drafted” are examples of their more provocative songs, criticizing the government for being too concerned with war and not in touch with people.
Dead Kennedy's
By Nolan Perla-Ward
