Andre Nickatina | Blue Moose Tap House | 9:00 p.m. | $15
When San Francisco’s Andre Nickatina released his debut album under the stage name Dre Dog in 1993, the Bay Area hip hop scene was experiencing a gilded age of sorts. E-40 had just released his first studio album, Mac Dre–a dear friend–was coming off his first LP and Too $hort’s infamous “Blowjob Betty” was the hot new track following the release of his soon-to-be-platinum album Get in Where You Fit In.
It was a good time for the Bay Area hip hop scene, largely due to the organic nature in which it developed. Many of the newer hip hop movements–crunk in the south, hyphy in Bay Area to name a couple–hadn’t quite been branded. There weren’t as many buzzwords to rally around, or regional sub-genres to represent on the national stage. Bay Area rappers were less interested in finding the next thing to throw the word “movement” behind and were more interested in writing strong lyrical hooks to carry across hazy, pounding West Coast beats.
And through the thick of it all was Dre Dog, later kown as Andre Nickatina, real name Andre Adams. Nickatina’s hard-hitting lyrical flow never quite reached the level of popularity that many of his Bay Area collaborators enjoyed despite consistent praise from fellow rappers and critics alike. He knows this. He’s okay with it.
Nickatina may not sell out 20,000 seat arenas, but he has been active for the last 20 years, collaborating heavily with Mac Dre, San Quinn and countless others. He launched his own record label in the mid ’90s and has executive-produced 18 albums since. His name is known in the Bay Area. He earns respect. But more recently, Nickatina has been earning the adoration of college students across the country, touring from campus to campus.
Nickatina comes to the Blue Moose Tap House Saturday at 9:00 p.m. as part of his new North American tour titled “The Nickatina Experience,” featuring Roach Gigz, MUMBLS, Drug Muzic and Chandla. Doors for this 19+ event open at 8:00 p.m. with tickets going for $15. Check out Nickatina’s newest music video below and get your sneakers on.
http://youtu.be/o8TXpoi-goE
