Why Did West Coast Music Shake Up The Status Quo/White America More Than East Coast Music?

[summwunn]

.... there was no instant information . . .. no mobile devices . .. . you either waited for a new issue of a magazine that had "news" that was already 2 - 3 months old. . . .. . or you watched MTV . .. . .. . from then til now . . .. Mass-Media Controls the Narrative . .. . . same reason "The South" blew up a few years later .. . . it was a NEW sound that other regions wasnt already exposed to . . . . and now in 2025 thats why everything in the mainstream is digitally gentrified and refined by corporations to appeal to as many demographics as possible. . . . .

 

[JerseyFinest!]

Lyrics were easier to comprehend and straight forward. Not a diss. Still dope

Basically this.

Same reason the South took off eventually

 

[RAX 010]

It was either that or this:

 

[boogers]

it was the aggression and refusal to conform and willingness to challenge what they thought was wrong in society. same appeal as punk+metal

theres a lot of parallels. ice cube and john lydon have a LOT in common.. leaders of their groups who got screwed over, broke out and went solo and put out challenging records... and both sold out and sucked up to MAGA. weird shyt

 

[Controversy]

Philly is the birthplace of gangsta rap

 

[IllmaticDelta]

West Coast had (in the eyes of white people) a more "Rockist" or "Punk" attitude. Run DMC and Public Enemy were seen the same as East Coast acts.

 

[IllmaticDelta]

it was the aggression and refusal to conform and willingness to challenge what they thought was wrong in society. same appeal as punk+metal

you beat me to it!

 

[Scipio]

West Coast/Gangsta Rap was a middle finger tobmiddle class white kids' parents, so it sold well

 

[KillKenny]

Not the one to answer this. I did, however, always think that it's a NYC type thing, what you're saying about the East Coast, because NYC is so multiethnic.

 

[Westbama Heartthrob]

Exhibit A of said knowledge

 

[Ol’Otis]

Exhibit A of said knowledge

 

[R=G]

Westcoast painted a more vivid picture of reality...eastcoast was doing all that lyrical miracle shyt that sounded good to New Yorkers but that was it.

 

[R=G]

The west coast made more catchy music that everyone can dance and bop their heads too.

Nobody was going to play some damn Nas, Wu Tang and boom bap music in the clubs/parties.

Lol...ODB definitely had charisma though...but just listen to DaBrat and Kris Kross...they all emulated westcoast shyt just to try to make a buck.