Final 5 Winners — Area Code Contest

The 209 — Final 5

The Area Code Contest ran across the Bay Area's area codes; readers voted for their favorite local artists, and each page presents the final five winners for one area code, with a short scout write-up on each artist.

Christo Lit Mob

The fact of being able to provide for his family inspires the artist Christo. Born in Redwood and raised in Modesto. You can find his most recent song “Sometimes” everywhere online. He would like to work with Kanye West in the future and before that statement he additionally told us Dr. Dre is [his] favorite producer. Give him a follow on Instagram: @CHRISTOLITMOB.

Black Krown

With Juggalo Beats as their producer, Black Krown has been putting in work for 9 years straight. They find the inspiration to keep striving from their motivating and loyal fans. You can find more of their work like “Run With Us Or Run From Us” on YouTube, Datpiff, SoundCloud, or snippets on Instagram. Follow them: @BlackKrown209.

Tone Gunz

Tone Gunz, who just recently released a video to his song “Trap Life”, has been writing music since he was 12. We asked him for his favorite producer and [he] chose his talented friend Livin Proof. You can find more of his work on Revenue Recovery, Datpiff, SoundCloud, or YouTube. Follow him on Instagram as well: @ToneGunz209.

P. Ocean

“Oceans 11 (Street Tape)”, the mixtape by P. Ocean, has a lot of inspiration from real authentic music and 10 years of experience behind it. P. Ocean in the future finds himself interested in getting in the studio with B-Legit. You can find more songs from P. Ocean on all digital retailers, especially iTunes. Follow him on Instagram too: @P.Ocean.

Big Bo$$

For the past few years you could find tracks like “Side Bitch” by Big Bo$$ on SoundCloud or YouTube. Seasoned in the game for the past few years, Big Bo$$ is musically inspired by his hardworking friend David a.k.a. Contraband Cash. @Itz_Jeffee.

The 916 — Final 5

Buddie The Stunna

Buddie The Stunna from Sacramento finds the environment he grew up in as inspiration to make songs like “Go Crazy”. In the future he is interested in working with E-40, and you might be lucky enough to catch his favorite producer JuneOnnaBeat on the track as well. Follow him on Instagram @BuddieDanigg.

Yung Prince

Born & raised in Fairfield but now living and creating in Sac Town. Yung Prince is musically inspired by his haters and is going hard everyday so he can drop songs like “Like Me” featuring Hunnid P. DJ Fresh a.k.a. The World’s Freshest is Yung Prince’s favorite producer. Follow him on Instagram @MurdaGang_YP.

J-Creep

J-Creep from Sacramento is fresh off his duo project “The Kush Hour” featuring his older brother Clumcee. He says life and everything that comes with it inspires him. If he could work with one person in the future he says he would do a track with DJ Fresh. You can find his work on SoundCloud, Facebook, & Instagram: @Creepkool916.

JuneOnnaBeat

JuneOnnaBeat is one of the hottest producers out right [now] reppin the 916. He has collaborated with many respected artists from the Bay and is creating a legacy with his [own] style of beats. JuneOnnaBeat’s most recent release was with IAMSU! featuring Dej Loaf & K Camp on the song “Famous”. Go give him a follow @JUNEONNABEAT_X2.

YD

Rapper YD straight from The City Of Trees says you can find other hot songs from him like “Beneficial” on SoundCloud or YouTube. He’s interested in working with Sage The Gemini, and the list could go forever of talented artists he would like to make music with in the future; he also mentioned Dr. Dre as his favorite producer. Follow YD’s Instagram @YD_TheReal.

The 650 — Final 5

P-Noe

P-Noe from Mountain View comes at us with his new release “Ain’t Bout’ Shyt...” He is musically inspired by the ability to go back on his music and see where he elevated. P-Noe can’t pinpoint his favorite producer; he’s been making music for about 14 years now. You can locate other songs by him on YouTube and follow him on Instagram: @P_Noe.

Flyboy Stewie

Flyboy Stewie has been making music for 14 years now. He gives credit to the Mekanix as his favorite producer, but calling to all major Bay artists, he is open to offers on a feature. You can find songs like his latest single “Loving Life” featuring Devine Dollamob and Victoria Bratton on iTunes, YouTube, Google Play, & Spotify. @FlyBoyStewie650.

Jon Dolla

Jon Dolla has been making magic in the studio since his first release in 2011. He finds inspiration from telling his own story [and] sharing his various [points] of views. Jon Dolla in the future would like to musically work with Immortal Technique. You can find more music from Jon Dolla on SoundCloud, YouTube, Spotify, iTunes. @jondolla.

Lex N Lur

[Write-up partially illegible in the scan.] He let it be known that he is working with Nano from Livewire to bring you guys “Earthquakes, Paper, N Ammunition”. @LexN.Lur.

iL

iL, from Redwood City, is inspired to make music by the authenticity of some of his favorite artists. Go check out his “Six Filthy City Limit The Mixtape Vol. 2”, his recent project with 18 pure slappers. He would like to give a shout out to his people from Little Compton to Little Mex, NFOD, Vera, East Side and to all my rich folks in the hills. Go follow him on Instagram @sixfilthyent.

The 408 — Final 5

Deeh

A whole 365 deep in the game, Deeh, a San Jose rapper, says she gets her inspiration from the energy of making music. She favors the sound of Dizzy Wright & Hopsin; she hopes to work with them in the future as well. She may not have any projects as of now but you can still go and check her cyphers and freestyles out on YouTube or Instagram: @DirtyyDeeh.

Tamba

Tamba has been releasing magic for 8 years strong. Tamba from San Jose says his favorite producer is #BoilDa and in the future he is interested in working with Aloe Blacc & Jay Z. You can find not only the hot track “One Shot” featuring Curtis Young but many others on 48hrhustlas.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Instagram @Americanbornafrican.

Mike The Hippie

San Jose’s Mike The Hippie finds himself aspiring to work with HBK in the future. He credits P-Lo as his favorite producer & has been working hard [on] his songs like “What That Shit Do” for 4 years now. The love of music [is] what keeps Mike motivated, alongside his family & success. You can find his music on SoundCloud and follow him on Instagram: @Mike_The_Hippie.

Durrty D

[Inspired] by his streets & the gift to communicate with all kinds of people, Durrty D has been in music for well over 10 years and would rather be the artist others wanna work with. You can find his work on YouTube, Thizzler, iTunes, & every other online store. You can also follow him on Instagram: @Dakiddurrty.

Young Bubbz

Young Bubbz from East San Jose, reppin the 408, Badlandz CA, makes music for his fans and anyone in the struggle. He is inspired by his come up and the experiences he has been through. Go check a single he dropped with Mozzy titled “Talking Bout” and follow him on Instagram @b95127.

The 707 — Final 5

Smooth

West Fairfield has a bunch of talent to choose from, but the voters chose the one and only Smooth to be a part of our contest winners. He has a single he just released named “Chris Tucker”. Smooth says his struggle, hustle, and favorite rap artists are big inspirations for him to step the game up, do good, and be good at it. Go give a follow on Instagram: @Smooth_MWM.

Choco Taco

Santa Rosa’s own, Choco Taco, comes at you today with his new release “Pray For Me” with features from Taj He Spits, Tha Jacka (R.I.P.), & Feddy Hustle. Choco Taco credits his producers from Moneys Island/Thizz Latin 707 and his friend Mac N Ric as his favorite producer. Follow him on Instagram: @Chocotaco707.

Big C Style

Vacaville-raised Big C Style’s latest album release is called “Thizz Soprano”. Big C is inspired by everyday occurrences in which he’s learned a lesson. Big C likes Smooth’s sound but his favorite producer is Lazie Locz. You can find Big C Style on digital download sites, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, YouTube, & Instagram. @BigCStyle707.

Indecent The Slapmaster

Indecent The Slapmaster from the 707, Vallejo to be exact, is inspired to release songs like “Player Of The Year” from the real life events that he experiences. Slapmaster’s favorite producers are DJ Quik and Danny Brown from Detroit. Don’t forget to follow him on Instagram: @Slapmaster.

Nef The Pharaoh

Nef The Pharaoh out of the 707 has been on a hot streak lately, bringing the Bay a hit song “Big Tymin”. Nef [is] signed to Sic Wid It Records, and has been inspired by his son and city to grind and do big things with his music. Nef’s most recent release is “You Know It” by DJ Mustard. Go give him a follow on Instagram @nefthepharaoh.

The 415 — Final 5

Footz The Beast

Footz The Beast out of San Francisco, fresh off his released single “Never Goin Broke”, gets his inspiration from the grind of the Bay Area music scene as well as his friends and family. He would like to get on tracks with E-40 and Kevin Gates in the future of his career. Go give him a follow @footz415.

Alma Rosae

Alma Rosae, the artist behind the track “No Love”, originates straight out of San Francisco. She’s been creating music since before she could remember. Now she works mainly with KontrabandBeatz. Don’t forget to press the follow button for her on Instagram: @Almarosae415music.

Ariana Harris

Ariana Harris, fresh out of San Francisco, is motivated to work with E-40 and “soak up some game” from him in the future of her music career. She tells us her inspiration comes from life’s lessons. Ariana’s song “Roll Up” featuring So Vicious can be found on YouTube, SoundCloud, & ReverbNation. You can additionally keep up with Ariana on Instagram: @Nonelikeari.

Ron Reez

[Fresh off] the mixtape “Spunk Season”, San Francisco’s own Ron Reez of Y.N.H has been creating music with his brother J-Mizz (R.I.P.) since he was a kid. Ron is musically inspired by 2Pac, E-40, & The Hot Boys. You can find his new mixtape with all kinds of hot features online. You can find Ron Reez on Instagram: @RealMizzTeam.

Self Thuggah

Self Thuggah from the 415, reppin that Bred Up movement, has been spitting since detention. He gets inspired to make music by his fans and the OG’s that [came] before him. Go check him out on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube: @selfthuggah.

The 925 — Final 5

Jared Oakes

Jared Oakes from Walnut Creek has only been making music for two years and still managed to place in the top five in our Area Code Contest. Fresh off of his release of “Clock In”, a single he released with features from Smoovie Baby and Milla. Go give him a follow on Instagram: @itsjaredoakes.

Sly Paso

Sly Paso is a seasoned rapper out of Pittsburg that you probably have heard of if you are attentive to Bay Area blog sites. Sly Paso is inspired by the struggle and the different life paths that we all take. His favorite producer is Uwetrapdaddy aka Joe Kool. Go give him a follow on Instagram: @slypayso.

Mike Sherm

Mike Sherm started out as an engineer for his cousin G-Bo Lean and now is revealing his own rap talent to the Bay. His recent release “Bros Over Hoes” showcases this talent and the movement they have started in his hometown of Antioch. Go give him a follow on Instagram: @mike_sherm.

Twayze

Twayze, a rapper out of the 925 repping Pittsburg California, has been rapping since he was a youngin in elementary school. Twayze just released a slap single titled “Main Rookie” that is definitely putting on for his city. He would like to work with YG, Lil Boosie, Show Banga, and DJ Mustard in the future. You can find his music on his YouTube channel “Twayze”.

Reezy

Reezy, fresh off of his released single titled “Im Coo”, gets inspired to write music from everyday experiences that make him feel some type of way. Reezy has been making music for 4 years and likes to support his favorite producer and long time friend ArodMadeThat, who has produced most of his beats. You can find his music on his YouTube channel “officialreezy”.

The 510 — Final 5

Pyrex Pissy

From Richmond, California, Pyrex Pissy finds inspiration from the hood to create songs like “Amen”, [being] 4 years in the game now. He favors Mannie Fresh as a producer and would like to work with “B.G. — Free B.G. — That Original Hot Boyz.” You can find his music on YouTube & SoundCloud. Follow him on Instagram: @Rubberbandz_Shawty19_Upt.

Fonk

West Oakland Cypress Village Projects 10th Street’s finest, Fonk, is proud of where he was born and raised. [With] “Holl Bxtch” as his last single, he says he finds inspiration from gospel music despite his explicit lyrics to keep going. You can find his music on SoundCloud, YouTube, Datpiff, & Hulkshare. You can find Fonk on Instagram too: @TheFonkShow.

Lena Ro

Lena Ro from Richmond is fresh off her track “Love Goodness”. She feels her experiences are what inspires her. Lena’s interest is in creating music in the future with Trey Songz, Beyoncé, & many other talented artists. You can find her radio station on Pandora, SoundCloud, or you can buy her music on iTunes. Follow her on Instagram: @iAmLenaRo.

Gamed Up

[The 510’s] finest, Gamed Up, comes at us today after just releasing “7th Letter Series Vol. 3” hosted by Tha Jacka (R.I.P.). The experiences in their life is what really inspires them to keep going. They been making music since ’09 when a very supportive uncle hooked them up with K-Loc (GorillaPits). Find their music on Google Play & iTunes. @ItsDoobieRich, @DoojieGamedUp.

Julian Cruze

After just dropping his mixtape “My Life Is Real, Season [1]”, which was sponsored by Datpiff, Julian Cruze feels [his] greatest inspiration is knowing that he’s making a positive impact on someone’s life. He is interested in doing future work with E-40, Ryan Leslie, and other talented artists. Find him at juliancruze.com or [on] IG.