The Bay Area rap scene has been important to hip hop ever since the genre was born. The region has spawned some of the most groundbreaking and influential rap music of all times. OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, recently made a list of its recommendations for the best Bay Area rap albums of all-time. Not only were the choices specific and interesting, the list managed to capture the creativity and diversity of Bay Area rap.
The list offered classics such as Deltron 3030, a collaboration between two Bay Area legends and a Canadian, though it is not strictly a Bay Area album. The Coup’s 1991 EP was also highlighted; although just an EP, its frontman and Town activist, Boots Riley, gained wide recognition as a filmmaker with his latest script, “I’m a Virgo” which was premiered at this year’s SFFILM. Hyphy Hitz, a compilation of hyphy anthems was also included, along with The Jacka Presents: The A.R. Street Album, a 2012 label showcase. Of course, E-40’s In A Major Way also made the list and is still played frequently many Bay Area fans, including me.
While there were some questionable mixes, the list overall showed a vast array of styles that make up the Bay Area rap. It included political anthems to hyphy anthems and underground sounds, a platform for many street legends who have since passed on. If you weren’t aware that this list was put together by a computer, it still might have gave the impression of being put together by an expert.
The chatbot was created by OpenAI, a nonprofit research company backed by the likes of Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel to promote the development of artificial intelligence technologies. It uses machine learning to generate human-like utterances and increase the value of natural language processing across different domains. The chatbot also helps users with their daily queries so they can use it to find music, videos, restaurants, services, and more. It is a great tool for any tech enthusiast who wants to explore the potential of AI.
