‘Hyphy Kids Got Trauma’ Podcast Series Explores the Pain Behind the Music

Two of the biggest songs to come out of the Bay Area’s hip hop scene – Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle” and E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go” – dropped in 2006. That year turned out to be a pivotal one as hyphy captured audiences nationwide with its uptempo beats, flashy fashion and distinctive dance styles. But in its place of origin, the Bay Area, people were dealing with the turmoil of displacement, economic uncertainty and friends dying in the streets. KQED’s Pendarvis Harshaw joins us to talk about the context, complexities and contradictions of the music and the era that he explored through a new Rightnowish podcast series called Hyphy Kids Got Trauma.

Guests:

Rich Iyala, Bay Area musician who coined the phrase, "Hyphy Kids Got Trauma"

D-Ray, Oakland-based hip hop photographer

Pendarvis "Pen" Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts; host, KQED's "Rightnowish" podcast

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