Bay Area Rappers 2023

Bay Area Rappers You Can’t Sleep on in 2023

There’s a lot more to the California Bay Area than meets the eye. You might be familiar with the vibrancy surrounding the Hyphy movement, but that’s just one aspect of the region’s music culture. San FranciscoOakland and its surrounding areas have hosted some of the most exciting hip-hop artists of the modern era, and it’s time we show them the love they deserve. 

There’s a whole lot going on in California, so keep in mind that the state’s creative domain isn’t restricted to Los Angeles. We don’t want you to regret sleeping on the Bay Area hip-hop scene, and the following rappers will catch you up to speed.

These Rappers from the Bay Area Have Our Attention

Su’Lan

This power duo from Oakland comprises rappers Saunsu (Su) and Emahalani (Lan). The two crossed paths when they were modeling and immediately hit it off because of their passion for music. It wasn’t long before they pivoted careers and shifted their focus to what they were always destined to do. Inspired by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa, Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj, the pair has become one of the strongest forces to emerge from the Bay Area and we’re here to watch them blow up.

Caleborate

Caleb Parker aka Caleborate is one of Berkeley’s most prized artists. With a focus on storytelling, he runs his bars through a melodic filter to create a sound so buttery you can’t help but pay attention. Ever since he collaborated with East Bay’s G-Eazy on “Want It All”, Parker has been on the rise. Considering he’s a spectacular live performer in addition to his undeniable skill, the odds are in his favor. 

Kamaiyah

Kamaiyah is a platinum-certified MC with over 250 million streams to her credit, but it doesn’t stop there. She used her success to help others on the same grind as her and founded Keep It Lit Records — she’s as fluent in business as she is on the mic, and we commend that. She’s a Bay Area superhero and has the accolades to back it up. From features with YG to starring in a Sprite commercial with LeBron James, Kamaiyah has a stacked resume. Given what she’s done for the culture, we had to throw her name on here!

Capolow

Born and raised in East Oakland, Capolow navigated his way through a rough childhood in the ghetto and came out the other side glowing. Forever devoted to creating music, he made his first songs at the age of 12 and hasn’t stopped since! After forming the Trill Youngins with fellow hip-hop enthusiasts from his area, he began releasing tracks as a solo artist and took on his final form. Despite legal issues and the loss of loved ones posing challenges along his journey, Capolow remained focused and it’s finally starting to pay off. 

LaRussell

Devoted to restoring the balance in hip-hop, LaRussell takes a great deal of pride in his ethics and authenticity. This reflects in his music as he emphasizes the importance of building a community. His work with the Good Compenny collective focuses on providing independent Bay Area artists with a platform while encouraging them to retain ownership of their art. Furthermore, LaRussell lets his fans decides how they wish to support him and doesn’t put a price on his tickets, music and merchandise — it’s up to the people and sure enough, they always do the right thing!

Philthy Rich

We got another one from East Oakland and he’s filthy behind the mic. He outlived his own life expectancy and blossomed in his mid-twenties. Take a minute to absorb that: he exceeded his own expectations. Now, his material is as wise as it is aggressive, and rightfully so. Philthy Rich has paid his dues and is now reaping the benefits. For that reason, he has earned the respect of Bay Area legends such as E-40, Too $hort and Keak da Sneak via collaborations. The co-signs speak for themselves!

Lil Kayla

Let’s talk bars … let’s talk Lil Kayla. Most artists communicate their success through numbers, features and money, but all she needs is her music. Constantly on the grind, Kayla’s incentive is to realize her vision and stay consistent in her artistry. She is still fighting to get the recognition she is entitled to, but it’s only a matter of time before she gets the appropriate backing. In the meantime, here’s our endorsement for her.

Cookie Money

Soon after his father went to jail, Oakland’s Cookie Money heightened his sensibilities to negotiate a life on the streets. If that wasn’t enough, he witnessed the death of his best friend at the hands of gun violence. All the signs posed an urgency for him to make it out of the trenches before he suffered a similar fate. His grandparents telling him that “drug dealers don’t retire” was the final signal before he got his act together and began thriving as an artist. The results speak for themselves.

Show Banga

Show Banga’s been rapping since he was a kid, and he’s as Bay Area as it gets. The quintessence of the culture, he began his career with the San Francisco group Go Gettaz and came into his own soon after. Through a range of solo releases, cyphers and support from the community, he came out on top. He gained traction online as soon as he began giving music his all, and the rest is history.

Ozer

San Francisco’s Ozer has been channeling his emotions through music since he was only six years old. He has since honed his skill to an elite level, offering the world a catalog of rich and thought-provoking lyricism. “As I started to get older, I started getting into more underground artists such as J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Nipsey Hussle, that’s when the actual words started to inspire me,” he says about his influences and how they gave him direction. Today, he is set on a path to becoming a poetic great like his idols.

Berner

Straight from San Francisco’s underground, Berner made his way past the stages of struggle with a range of fire mixtapes. Soon after establishing himself, he signed with Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang Records and went on to collaborate with all-stars such as Young Dolph, Curren$y, B-Real and Cam’ron. Aside from spitting, he also co-founded Cookies, a cannabis franchise that also sells clothing and lifestyle accessories. At Respect My Region, we always keep an eye out for those who fuse hip-hop with weed, and this Bay Area legend has our support for mastering it.

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