He jumped right back in the studio and recorded "The Hustle Continues" under Get Low/ Priority Records. At age 18, Quinn had been featured on multiple Gold Certified albums, put out 3 solo albums, and was part of the group: G.L.P. Quinn was at a turning point when he released "17 Reasons" in 1997 which featured a star cast of bay area all stars. The album sold 65,000 units independently. After the success of the compilation he and his cousin Messy Marv joined together and put out Explosive Mode in 1998. The album sold 20,000 independently and gained a lot of respect throughout the industry. For the next couple years he went on tour and performed with names like Jay-Z, Master P, and Monica.
Quinn's mission became clear- he decided to do whatever it took to bring San Francisco and the bay area to the forefront of the music industry. In 1998 he started Done Deal Entertainment with Charles Kelley. In 2001 Quinn put out "The Mighty Quinn" under Champeli Entertainment. The album featured the song "Give It Up" which brought back the resurgence of radio play in the bay area. Then, "Come See Us" with KNT and "Welcome to the Bay" with Bailey, Willie Hen, and Big Rich. Done Deal Entertainment started putting out mixtapes and collaboration albums to bring their buzz up even more. In 2004, Done Deal collaborated with NBA superstar and longtime friend J.R. Rider to release "I Give U My Word". It sold over 13,000 copies to date, which was very impressive because they had no distribution for the album. Quinn's success has translated not only into record sales, but record breaking, as well - Quinn is actually featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for appearing on the most albums of any rap artist.
Quinn recently released the highly anticipated album: "The Rock-Pressure Makes Diamonds." of the album, he says "The Rock is a defining moment in San Francisco rap history. I feel like the timing's right and my situation's right and I made an album that reflects that." When asked about the title, the rapper responds "That's how I feel - isolated, standing alone out in the Bay Area. All these hard muthafucka's done came up off that rock (Alcatraz) and I breathe the same air." And like diamonds, the album shines.
Northern California
San Quinn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the rappers are affiliated everywhere you look
Too short 85, girl that's your life smoking on that glass pipe
Had me paying attention my cousin loosing weight fast
Like apartments crooked in Lakeview, Grandma stayed across the street
Playing hoop in the gym when I heard the Cougar speak
Voice deep spitting rap said he was rolling dip and sick
I was nine, then came eighty nine
Then came Richey Rich and d-loc
Oakland's 415
Groupie ass bitch tried to get a baller from the sideshow
And tried to be apart of MC Hammer's stage show
Hammer had MTV locked before Nelly and Will
I'm telling you this is real
He sold seventeen mil
Digital Underground Money B, Fuse, and Shock
Refuel the rap world by introducing Pac
From the same spot slang rocks wrote raps on the same soil
Check the next verse I'll spit more game for you
It's Northern California cranking off the hook
Where the rappers are affiliated everywhere you look
They juke, hit banks and rank high in the pen
Rest in peace to every one that's not here
Richey Rich got cracked early nineties with a half a thing
Heavy in that rap game still getting that dough
MC Hammer bought helicopters from the cops from the O
Probably pushing that shit (shhhh), probably keeping it low
Mac Dre put Vallejo on the map first in the bay
You can tell me something good, if you know what to say
A Richmond cat named Filthy Phil made player hating a statement
Then he got even more famous
When he gave it to a cop trying to stop him
On some true bay thug shit, pulled his shit quick and popped him
I watch him on America's Most
I watch him put out a tape called the Manhunt and the nigga got ghost
Mac Dre still doing his thang, instead his Romper Room gang
Was robbing banks, media tried to ruin his name
Got convicted seven year in the feds
And about this time started writing them rhymes
And about this time the year was ninety one
I'm in the studio laying raps only for fun
Selling crack doing strong armed robberies at ATM's
Ninth grade high school always in the gym
My verses getting props in the bleachers
Spitting verbal heaters finna be on the shelf next season
Check the next verse I got more to say
About the real element going down in the bay
Northern California where the rappers crooks
Rappers locked down for years got they fame took
We made game made niggaz put the world in fear
You better know that it's real out here
Spice One ninety one ninety two had the east bay shining
Spitting about that killing that jacking and that grinding
Then came 40 I'm tired of being stepped on
Mr. Flamboyant, here our respect come
Tupac dropped Tupacalypse now nine one
Brenda got a baby girl my age had a son
Real shit from a real nigga who ya'll mocked
Real game from a real place it's about to be hot
Since Too Short we sold tapes out of the trunk
And we never gave parties without having funk
It was 40 and the click, Dru Down and the Luniz
Too Short and the Dangerous Crew, here come the City
JT and the GLP, RBL Posse, Cougnut, Cellski, and IMP
X-raided out in Sac, Brother Lynch, and C-Bo
Totally Insane, Shawn from Palo Alto
Murder capitol nineteen ninety two
You niggaz perpetrate the rhymes I rap are true
One cat on Rap-A-Lot named C from the East-O
The bay was on fire recognize it my people
Had deals on the table another verse to write
Let the world know the bay is worthy of the hype
From the bay to Sac, I testify on this track
So we can get back on track as I spit these raps
It's Northern California cranking off the hook
Where the rappers are affiliated everywhere you look
They juke, hit banks, rank high in the pen
Rest in peace to every one that's not here
X-Raided went to jail, for killing somebody's momma
Up in Sac, with that blood and crip drama
Forty selling thousands of records got a deal with Jive
Worth about three point five
Don't give me no bammer weed
We don't smoke that shit in the SFC
See bone and AWOL playing with change ya'll
Trips to Atlanta, twenty deep on the plane dog
JT hooked four up with EMI
We sat back for a year and we seen him fly
Tupac sentenced for rape in ninety four
After being shot in skantless ass New York
Master P emerging hard up out of Richmond
Playing real tuff but he's only a sixth man
Luniz really put your eyes on him
When they dissed him on the flip side of five on it
GLP signed in ninety five along with Master P
Things about to change fast as can be
Short gave a picnic in Fairfield
Niggaz busting a thousand people trying to find a shield
Death Row and Southern Cal running the rap game
Niggaz got big deals (while) we fucking off big change
C-Bo in and out of jail parole violating and such
The whole nation is biting our stuff
Farrakhan million man march
Half a million guns spark
Tupac released on bail Shug Knight bought him
He told us the east would hate instead of jocking our style
On radio shows, commercials knocking us down
In the City RBL signed a deal at the end of the nine fifth
Then Mister C from RBL was shot dead
January first nineteen ninety six
And they say the bay isn't sick
Northern California cranking off the hook
Where the rappers are affiliated everywhere you look
They juke, hit banks, rank high in the pen
Rest in peace to the ones that's not here
Coming strait from Northern California where the rappers crooks
Rappers locked down for years got they fame took
We made dank, made millions put the world in fear
You got to know that it's real out here
In Northern California???
The song "Northern California" by San Quinn is a tribute to the rap scene in the Bay Area. The lyrics describe the rise of various influential rappers and their impact on the rap industry. San Quinn paints a picture of the gritty, street-wise environment where many of these artists came from, referencing drugs, violence, and run-ins with the law. He also acknowledges the negative attention the Bay Area scene received from the media and other regions in the rap world. Overall, the song celebrates the unique contributions of Northern California rappers while acknowledging the harsh realities of their upbringing.
San Quinn's lyrics in this song reference a number of important rappers and landmarks in the Northern California rap scene. His nod to Too Short's "Freaky Tales" and MC Hammer's MTV popularity highlights the diversity and range of the Bay Area rap scene. He also makes mention of notable area gangs and the impact of the crack cocaine epidemic on the community. In addition, San Quinn acknowledges the important role of women in the rap industry by referencing Brenda's Got a Baby, a song by Tupac Shakur that tells the story of a young mother's struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Yah, yah it's northern California cranking off the hook
San Quinn is beginning his song about Northern California.
Where the rappers are affiliated everywhere you look
The rap scene in Northern California is vast and connected.
Too short 85, girl that's your life smoking on that glass pipe
San Quinn notes the ubiquity of drug use in Northern California, particularly crack cocaine.
Had me paying attention my cousin loosing weight fast
San Quinn learned about the dangers of drug addiction from watching a family member suffer.
Like apartments crooked in Lakeview, Grandma stayed across the street
San Quinn is reminiscing about his childhood in Northern California.
Playing hoop in the gym when I heard the Cougar speak
San Quinn is recalling a pivotal moment in his life when he first discovered rap music.
Voice deep spitting rap said he was rolling dip and sick
A rapper known as the Cougar impressed San Quinn with his music.
Snake skin on top of the vill and that was eighty six
San Quinn remembers an iconic fashion trend from the 1980s.
I was nine, then came eighty nine
San Quinn is taking us through his life story, highlighting important years.
Then came Richey Rich and d-loc/Oakland's 415
San Quinn is tracing the history of Northern California rap, mentioning influential artists.
Groupie ass bitch tried to get a baller from the sideshow/And tried to be apart of MC Hammer's stage show
San Quinn notes the groupie culture surrounding rap music and highlights an incident involving MC Hammer.
Hammer had MTV locked before Nelly and Will/I'm telling you this is real/He sold seventeen mil
San Quinn is acknowledging MC Hammer's incredible success in the rap industry.
Digital Underground Money B, Fuse, and Shock/Refuel the rap world by introducing Pac
San Quinn is recognizing the contribution of Digital Underground in launching the career of Tupac.
From the same spot slang rocks wrote raps on the same soil
San Quinn is acknowledging the close connection between drugs and rap music in Northern California.
Check the next verse I'll spit more game for you/It's Northern California cranking off the hook
San Quinn is giving a preview of what's to come in the rest of the song.
They juke, hit banks and rank high in the pen/Rest in peace to every one that's not here
San Quinn acknowledges the high crime rate and incarceration rate in Northern California.
Richey Rich got cracked early nineties with a half a thing/Heavy in that rap game still getting that dough
San Quinn notes the connection between drug dealing and rap music in Northern California, showcasing the resilience of some artists despite their legal woes.
MC Hammer bought helicopters from the cops from the O/Probably pushing that shit (shhhh), probably keeping it low
San Quinn suggests that MC Hammer may have been involved in shady business practices.
Mac Dre put Vallejo on the map first in the bay/You can tell me something good, if you know what to say
San Quinn recognizes Mac Dre as an influential Northern California rapper.
A Richmond cat named Filthy Phil made player hating a statement/Then he got even more famous/When he gave it to a cop trying to stop him/On some true bay thug shit, pulled his shit quick and popped him
San Quinn is recounting a notorious incident involving a rapper named Filthy Phil.
I watch him on America's Most/I watch him put out a tape called the Manhunt and the nigga got ghost
San Quinn remembers Filthy Phil being featured on a popular TV show.
Mac Dre still doing his thang, instead his Romper Room gang/Was robbing banks, media tried to ruin his name/Got convicted seven year in the feds/And about this time started writing them rhymes
San Quinn highlights Mac Dre's criminal background and how he began to turn to rap while in prison.
And about this time the year was ninety one/I'm in the studio laying raps only for fun/Selling crack doing strong armed robberies at ATM's/Ninth grade high school always in the gym/My verses getting props in the bleachers/Spitting verbal heaters finna be on the shelf next season/Check the next verse I got more to say/About the real element going down in the bay
San Quinn is walking us through his life story, showing how he began getting into rap music while living a dangerous life on the streets of Northern California.
Rest in peace to the ones that's not here/Coming strait from Northern California where the rappers crooks/We made dank, made millions put the world in fear/You got to know that it's real out here
San Quinn concludes his song by acknowledging the reality of Northern California's rap scene, including the illegal and dangerous activities of some of its artists.
Contributed by Liam I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.