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B.A.Y. (Bay Area Youngstas) and independent record label Rapshack Records stand strong as a growing product of the Bay Area music scene. From their hometown of Vallejo, California, B.A.Y. consists of members D-Weez, J-Dub, Junco G., JustinKase, Shye Boss, Smith Andrews, and TY Woodz. Each group member provides their own style of rapping, producing, or singing soulfully. Also as the founders of an independent record label, B.A.Y. possesses the self-sufficient, entrepreneurial qualities needed for success in the music industry. Since 2002, three full length projects, Shoes Strapped Tight/All Jokes Aside, a fully self-produced album titled Bay Area Youngstas, and their latest mixtape Crack Music: The Mixdisc have been released under the independent label, Rapshack Records. Selling their music in the streets, at shows, in local stores and over the internet, B.A.Y. is increasingly adding more fans to their fanbase each day. "Our original plan is to get in, then transfer the game to what we want," said Shorty, rapper and producer-in-training. "Right now Bay Area got the whole hyphy movement, so our singles lean towards that. Once your established people will listen to you without second guessing."

The group's new album is laden with hyphy tracks like the single "DumDiDumDumb," a raucous ode to the Bay Area sound that earned air-time on San Francisco's WiLD 94.9, but don't miss a couple tracks that strike out in different directions. On the track "Weekend," the group puts a Bay Area spin on Debbie Deb's "Lookout Weekend," capturing a distinctly club-vibe, and "Me Against the World" leaves hyphy far behind for a smooth early-'90s R&B feel.

Credit the sound to the ever-growing membership of the group's label "Rapshack Records" - a diverse array of backgrounds that lends itself to the group's growing creative confidence. "We call it 'Rapshack' because that's our style. We could pull off a rock single," Shorty said sporting a green Rapshack hoodie. The label boasts a total of 13 members - seven making up Bay Area Youngstas, with four producers and two producers in training, the group said. Rapshack isn't literally a shack, instead it's a roving studio with humble beginnings.

"We used to do other people's studios, but we realized we can do it better, so we started doing it ourselves," said TY WOODZ, who splits time between making music and studying digital media at Sacramento State. "We started off in my bedroom, nine people in one little bedroom."

The group of 20- and 21-year-olds includes a wide range of ethnicities. Junco-G grew up in the Philippines where his mother and father were singers traveling to places like Japan and Saipan to perform. Now he raps, sings and plays guitar for B.A.Y.

J-Dub chose hip-hop as an alternative to joining the Bloods who lived down the street growing up in Richmond and the Crips that surround him now in Northern Vallejo, he said. "I seen people in my family make those mistakes, so I went my own way," J-Dub said. Willing to go anywhere for their music, the group packed nine people into a van and traveled 400 miles for a show in Salt Lake City, the group said. "They hit us up on the MySpace, paid for hotel and gas, and we made it crackin' - and that was it," said Shye Boss, who is responsible for some of the hooks on the album.

In 2005, MySpace helped them make a significant jump with their second mix tape, "Crack Music," connecting them to a fan base of more than 25,000 on their page - www.myspace.com/BAY. Sales from their 2004 album and 2005 mix tape through MySpace or by hand on the street, helped the boys buy a commercial spot on BET for their new album - but the group isn't satisfied. "I'm trying to be on BET, not commercials, on the awards. I wanna be at the Grammys," TY WOODZ said.

With their upbeat tracks and innovative style, B.A.Y. is bound to pick up where 2Pac left off in West Coast music with down to earth realism while also keeping the clubs buzzing 'til the morning. Natives of the recent Hyphy Movement in the Bay Area rap scene, B.A.Y. has not only reached fans of this new genre, but is simultaneously maintaining their originality in an often tainted music industry. B.A.Y. is increasingly gaining more exposure, leaving fans of all facets wanting more of their dynamically-styled music. With growing potential, B.A.Y. is sure to continue supplying fans with good music in their bright future, making the Bay Area Youngstas a household name in years to come....

Click here for an article in the Vallejo Times Herald published magazine "CODE 707":
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B.A.Y. has also been listed as a notable artist in Vallejo on VallejoAgents.com
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Releases to date:

2002- “Shoes Strapped Tight/All Jokes Aside” Mixtape<p>
2004- "Bay Area Youngstas" Full-Length Album<p>
2005- "Crack Music" Mixtape<p>
2007- "Grind: Intent 2 Sell" Full Length Album featuring guest appearances from MISTAH F.A.B.<p>

Past Performance History:

July 22nd, 2005 - “OurTV” – Local Television (CH. 26) <p>
September 16th, 2005 - “OurTV” – Local Television (CH. 26) <p>
November 15th, 2005 - “Annual Thizz Party: Blue Jeans & High Heels” <p>
January 7th, 2006 – Arizabal Family Cotillion – Vallejo Elk’s Club <p>
February 15th, 2006 – “Love Jones” – Santa Clara University <p>
April 8th, 2006 – “Local Talent Showcase” -Vacaville Cultural Center <p>
May 27th, 2006 – Vanessa’s Quincenera – Vallejo Elk’s Club <p>
June 13th 2006 = Quincenera – South Vallejo Cultural Center <p>
July 29th 2006 – “Play in the Plaza” – Great America – Santa Clara, CA <p>
December 28th 2006 – “ Club Night Performance”– Café Fez – Modesto, CA <p>
December 31st 2006 – “Phat Cat New Years Party” – Modesto, CA <p>


<p>For more information about B.A.Y. and for booking information visit:
[WWW.RAPSHACK.NET] & [WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BAY]