Whether to flex your Rolex, your yacht in St. Tropez, or your friendship with an NBA All-Star, showing off and shouting out your lavish lifestyle through a little namedropping is a time-honored tradition in hip-hop.
Today, we’ve got five rap songs that specifically call out Sacramento in their lyrics.
“California Love” — 2Pac and Dr. Dre
This is an obvious inclusion on our list — even if we don’t agree with ‘Pac calling it “Sactown,” we do agree that Cali is, indeed, where they put their mack down.
“Area Codes” — Ludacris and Nate Dogg
Before he was one part of the “Fast & Furious” family, Luda informed listeners that he was acquainted with many women whose phone numbers had Sacramento area codes. That’s the most family-friendly way we can describe this particular song.
“I Don’t F*** With You” — Big Sean and E-40
We’ve had some recent misunderstandings with the Ambassador of the Bay, but this feature sees the E-Pheezy rapping about driving to Sacramento (presumably from his home base in the Bay Area) late at night in a rental car.
“Fantasy (Bad Boy Remix)” — Mariah Carey and Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Straight from the slums of Shaolin and into the City of Trees, Wu-Tang alum ODB shouts out Sacramento at the beginning of the track as one of the many cities that are “in the house.”
“Hotta Den Steam” — Mac Dre
The Oakland-based rapper is credited as one of the progenitors of the Hyphy Movement. He moved to Sacramento in the late 1990s, subsequently founding his record label Thizz Ent. and giving us the legendary line: Not a Celtic or a Laker, I’m a King / Find me on Florin with a mouth full of bling.
Have a favorite song that references Sacramento? Let us know.
