ESTABLISHED IN 1996, BAY ROOT IS THE COLLECTIVE WORK FROM A FAMILY OF MUSIC MAKERS, DJ’S, AND MC’S.

THE NAME BAY ROOT WAS CREATED BY BAY AREA NATIVE MATT REYES (AKA REY DUB) IN THE EARLY 90’s.   MATT KNEW THEN HE HAD A CREATIVE SOUL AND A LOVE FOR HIP HOP.  HE WANTED TO INCREASE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF RECORDING AND DECIDED TO HEAD UP NORTH TO ATTEND THE ART INSTITUTE IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON.  WHILE ATTENDING, HE ENLISTED THE TALENTS OF JUSTIN GILBERT (AKA JUST KAUSE) AND GLENN JORDAN (AKA GOMEZ BEATS) WHO WERE ALSO ATTENDING THE SAME SCHOOL AND LIVING IN THE SAME DORM.  EVERY NIGHT THEY’D MEET UP AND CREATE BEATS ON AN ASR-10.  THIS WAS THE FOUNDATION OF BAY ROOT PRODUCTIONS.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN BUT THE CREW REMAINS DETERMINED TO BRING A UNIQUE SIDE TO HIP HOP MUSIC THAT YOU DON’T HEAR EVERY DAY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, FELLOW ARTISANS, AND SUPPORTERS. YOU ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS CREATIVITY. WHO BETTER THAN A FAN OF OUR MUSIC TO DESCRIBE OUR SOUND.

“HI, JUST HAVE TO SAY.. BAYROOT YOU HAVE THE BEST MUSIC IVE EVER LISTENED TO. SCIENTISTS SAY THAT CLASSICAL MUSIC STIMULATES THE FRONTAL LOBE OF THE BRAIN, WHICH IN TURN ENHANCES LEARNING AND COGNITIVE CAPABILITY. IF MOZZART CAN HAVE THIS EFFECT ON ITS LISTENERS.. I AM POSITIVE THAT BAY ROOT IS NOT ONLY MAKING ITS LISTENERS MORE AWARE THROUGH ITS BRILLIANT LYRICS, BUT ALSO THE BEAT IN GENERAL STIMULATES THE BRAIN. I OFTEN NEED SOMETHING TO GET ME FOCUSED AND CONCENTRATED ON MY UNIVERSITY PAPERS. BAY ROOT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR ME TO ACHEIVE THIS. AS THE BAY ROOT GUYS WOULD SAY”.. “GO THROUGH A LOOKING-GLASS INTO ANOTHER KIND OF PERCEPTION, WHERE YOU HAVE THAT SENSE OF BEING UNITED TO ALL THINGS, AND SUDDENLY, YOU UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.”

BAY ROOT FAMILY IS ALSO STURDY KNUCKLES, INSANE MIDDLE EASTERN, DJ ETHIK, JOEY GOLAW, DIALECT HD, METAPHYSICAL, ELEMENT, LEFTY ROSE, RAW, BAMBOO THE FRESH, UNDIVIDED, APPRENTICE, DORM ROOM MUZIK AND MORE.

TAKEN AT GAS WORKS PARK IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON 1999.  PHOTO BY KIM RYAN