Video: Discussion: What Is The New Bay?

For all of you who don't have Twitter, there has been a growing movement known as the #NewBay brewing. This consists of artists such as Jay Ant, iamSU!, Kool John, and many many more. If you've been following the Bay Area Hip-Hop scene for a while you know that at one point a few years ago there was another movement called the “New Bay.” Although the majority of those artists have reached some individual notoriety, the movement never really took flight. Perhaps because “the movement” was deemed more adversarial in nature than it was positive.

 

So Big Rich, one of the artists from the original New Bay, decided to have a group discussion with the younger generation to discuss what the New Bay is, who is a part of it, and what it says about the "Old" Bay. Some questions are answered and others are still left in the air, but it's an interesting discussion and a chance for the younger artists to speak for themselves. 

Part 1 and Part 2 are after the jump, along with Coolhand's thoughts on the subject. Enjoi

Coolhand Luke’s Post Script:

I suppose 38thnotes’s contribution to the discussion would be to say that we hear both sides. It sounds like the term New Bay is more confrontational in name than intent. These dudes aren’t trying to pick a fight with anyone, they’re about building community, but as Rich notes, anything New will be assumed to have something “old” and dated behind it. That’s just how the mind works. But given that their motivation seems to be inclusive, I’d say that a more inclusive name or hashtag wouldn’t be the worst idea ever. B. Younger proposed #WholeBay, and that works for us. But ultimately the titles and affiliations are less important than the intent, impact and talent behind them.

We just all have to remember that Bay Area artists have a history of picking fights over scraps. Our staff has lived in LA, Chicago, New York and abroad, and outsiders are amused that a bunch of people they have never heard of are fighting over mere crumbs.  I know that the point isn't to cause a rift, but making ambiguous categorizations can create this dynamic regardless of what the intent was, and so we need to keep this mind.

38thnotes exists because we love local music. Because when we lived elsewhere, no one took The Bay seriously. Because as a region we have so much to offer those that refuse to listen. 38thnotes loves all of you for what you’re contributing and the family atmosphere that is being cultivated, but remember that just because someone doesn’t roll with that title, it doesn’t mean they aren’t supportive of the movement. 

On the other side, more established artists shouldn't get butt hurt  if they don't belong under the umbrella. #NewBay is merely a new vehicle trying to get The Whole Bay to the same destination. Car pool when necessary, and roll solo when you feel like it– just be sure to stay on the path and limit the road rage.

As Rossi notes in the second video, part of our appeal is our diversity. We are dope because of our variety. HBK, Livewire, Honor Roll, Get It Back fam, Get:Back Crew, E-Team, Mob Figaz, Monsters Ink, Sic Wit It, Thizz Ent, Red Planet, Out Crowd, Swtbrds, Hiero, Moe Doe, Done Deal, FNM, SNF, APB, Attik, plus the unaffiliated, emcees, producers, RnBay singers and all the other camps/crews/labels that are eluding me right now (my apologies), comprise the Bay Area urban music scene. That goes for the blogs and websites too. 38thnotes, Thizzler, The Bay Is Back, We The West, FrontOfficeMG, Oakland Local, The East Bay Express, etc. are equally relevant to this conversation. We are dope because we are all different; because we bring different things to the table; because we are unique while still contributing to a broader movement.

We are too small to squabble, so props to Rich and all yall that spoke on behalf of the #NewBay for hashing it out in greater detail and being motivated by unity and positivity beyond music. Just remember that The Bay Area is small. Let’s not be so worried about which box everyone here fits in, and be more focused on producing good music and expanding beyond our borders. 

All the labels we put on things is extra. We are dope not because of our affiliations, but because we are creatively expressing our truths and illustrating the world as we know it and wish to see it. As long as you are being you and invested in building us, then it doesn’t matter whether you're old or young, male or female, Black, Latino or Pinoy, or #NewBay, #OldBay or #WholeBay. 

Shout out to all of you motivated by love and unity. We're sending those vibes right back atcha! One