The bay area has a long hiphop tradition founded by the likes of Too Short and E40 and more recently endorsed by hyphy. However one rapper has been working underground in the bay since 1993, Dre Dog aka Andre Nickatina. While you have probably heard his crack anthem ayo for yayo, the dre dog is far from a one hit wonder with a whopping 16 albums (at my last count) under his belt. Some of his catalogue has a tendency to be a little repetitive in style (not unlike Too Short or E40), there are only so many ways to rap about slanging high quality coke, some of his records are very conceptual and dramatized. He weaves a range of stories, from gritty street scenes to deeply introspective moments where he seems to be battling the devil in the studio. Even more impressive is the wide range of production he spits over, new school p funk, barren cocaine beats, and dramatic strings. Plus this amazing cover art.
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