Long overdue…
by Andrew Mason
UNDRGRND Magazine | Dec 5, 2021 | by Andrew Mason
January 2022 marks two years since we dropped the first ever UNDRGRND Magazine. Reflecting on where UNDRGRND fit into the grand scheme of 805 hip-hop culture, we were much smaller than I had realized at the time. Admittedly, I didn’t even know The 805 expanded farther north than Santa Barbara County when we initially began this whole movement.
But throughout the process of putting together our first three issues, UNDRGRND’s scope of California’s underground rap communities inevitably grew. It became quickly apparent that we no longer could ignore the buzzing rap scene of the “Central Coast”—the 805-claimed coastal territory stretching roughly from Point Mugu to Monterey Bay.
Most of UNDRGRND’s earliest connections with Central Coast artists came at the hands of Santa Maria-based rapper BOBBYBEENFRESH (Issue 2), who became the first artist from the region to grace the cover of UNDRGRND Magazine with the release of our second issue. The 26 year old introduced us to eventual Issue 3 fan-favorites Trey Anthony (Santa Maria) and FYAMOJI (Orcutt), as well as Issue 5’s very own KaceyFamily.
At the same time, UNDRGRND’s co-owner Michael Pofsky and I met other important Northern 805 hip-hop figures. Lorde Sanctus and $horty DuWop of Connect the Coast came to our “UNDRGRND Concert Auditions,” held in Ventura in February 2020. FYAMOJI told me I needed to check out this young blood Big Ray The Don who went to Righetti High School with him back in the day. At our July 2021 “Bridge The Gap” show in San Luis Obispo, I met two people in the crowd who went by the stage names of Marie Flows and Endless. And this high-energy dude from Lompoc by the name of FG ThrillA demanded everyone’s attention with his impressive music videos and subsequently popular social media content.
Slowly, the earliest mold of a Central Coast issue began taking its shape.
Issue 5: “The Central Coast” boasts our smallest cast to date—five artists who represent different cliques of the Coast’s current scene as well as anyone. I am confident that, while small, this group can go toe to toe with any squad of artists you can throw at me. KaceyFamily’s delivery and veteran presence. FG ThrillA’s uncanny ability to make hits. Marie Flow’s artistic versatility. Endless’ lyrics and commitment to true hip-hop. Big Ray’s contagious positivity and confidence. This is our most well-rounded issue yet, so take your time going through it—there’s a lot to take in.
The Central Coast in itself is such an interesting recurring character throughout this magazine. Geographically, it sits in the middle of California, and has an identity that doesn’t exactly fit with Los Angeles or San Francisco cultures. It’s a community that contrasts a progressive and rising hip-hop world with an old-head mentality still actively pushing back. Never in my career at UNDRGRND have I talked to artists who are so proud of the place they live. Central Coast rappers aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves, and most share a charming desire to help put their underground world on the music map.
After wrapping up our fourth issue in Las Vegas this past August, the team and I couldn’t be more excited to take the magazine focus back to The 805. Five talented artists all representing small towns along the Coast who you need on your hip-hop radar.
And while the future of this current Northern 805 rap wave remains unclear, one thing is for sure—an UNDRGRND x Central Coast collab was long overdue. Enjoy y’all, and welcome back to The 805.