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Darkroom Familia

Darkroom Familia: Northern California Chicano rap collective formed in 1988, known for Homicide Kings and the all-Spanish Los Traficantes… Matan Mi Gente.

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Origins

Darkroom Familia is a Chicano rap collective with members from across Northern California; AllMusic places it in Hayward, near Oakland. Founding member Duke has said he, Crooked and Sir Dyno put out their first recordings in 1988, at 16. The name came from the garage studio the members built, which stayed dark for lack of a light fixture.

Selling it themselves

With major labels uninterested in gangsta rap acts, the members took their tapes to record stores personally, and their following grew by word of mouth, the same independent route the Bay's Black artists were taking. Releases came out on the group's own Darkroom Studios and on labels including Dogday, Brown Power, Explicit Entertainment and Sumo Records.

A prolific run

Darkroom became one of rap's most prolific crews, releasing group albums, solo records and side projects such as Temporary Insanity, Los Traficantes, Connected and Brown Area. AllMusic counts eight albums between 1999 and 2001 alone, including Veteranos, Homicide Kings, Smile Now Cry Later and Men of Honor, plus the compilation Barrio Classics 88-98. Los Traficantes... Matan Mi Gente is cited as one of the first all-Spanish rap albums.

The familia

Members and affiliates over the years include Sir Dyno, Crooked, Duke, Oso, J-Loc, Dub, A.L.G., K.I.D., Young D, Young G and Lil' Sapo. The group has kept releasing music through Darkroom Studios, including That Was Then This Is Now in 2023.

Read the story: Mobb Music and Murder Dog: Northern California's Independent Rap Machine

Press play

Watch

WatchDarkroom Familia "Valley To The Bay" Official Music Video
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Darkroom Familia "Valley To The Bay" Official Music Video
Music videoDarkroom Familia "Valley To The Bay" Official Music Videoofficialdarkroom
DARKROOM FAMILIA Connected By Honor Official Music Video
Music video, Connected By Honor (2000)DARKROOM FAMILIA Connected By Honor Official Music Videoofficialdarkroom
Every record

Discography

Pulled from Discogs. Titles in yellow have a full page on Breakbeat Archive.

Studio albums 23

  1. 1999Gang Stories - The DarkRoom UncensoredDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  2. 1999Los Traficantes... Matan Mi GenteDogday RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1999VeteranosDogday RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 2000Homicide KingsDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  5. 2001Men Of HonorBrown Power RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 2001Smile Now Cry LaterDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  7. 2002Los Traficantes: No Paraemos Hasta La Muerte & Matan Mi HenteBrown Power RecordseBayDiscogs
  8. 20021988-2002 Exit The Darkroom: End Of A DynastyBrown Power RecordseBayDiscogs
  9. 2005Family ReunionDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  10. 2005Tha AppearancesBrown Power RecordseBayDiscogs
  11. 2006Northern Cali's FinestDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  12. 2007Last Vets StandingDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  13. 2007North PoleDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  14. 2007North Pole 2Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  15. 2008ConnectionzDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  16. 2009North Pole 2009Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  17. 2010Norcal NarcoticsDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  18. 2011North Pole 4Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  19. 2012Until There Is No EnemyDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  20. 2012Norcal Narcotics IIDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  21. 2013North Pole 5Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  22. 2014North Pole 2014Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  23. 2023That Was Then This Is NowDarkroom StudioseBayDiscogs

Collaborative albums 8

  1. 1997Barrio LoveThe DarkRoom Family* · Explicit EntertainmenteBayDiscogs
  2. 1998Apocalypse BrownThe Darkroom Family* · Explicit RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 2000Power N NumbersDarkroom Familia Presents Brown Area · Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  4. 2001California LatinsBrown Area of Darkroom Familia · Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  5. 2003Number 4Darkroom Familia Presents Brown Area · Brown Power RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 2007Addicted To The HustleDarkroom Familia Presents Unknown · Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  7. 2008Conecta Del NorteLos Traficantes De Darkroom Familia · Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs
  8. 2010Northern Cali LifestyleYoung D* of Darkroom Familia · Darkroom StudioseBayDiscogs

Compilations 2

  1. 1998Penitentiary ChancesDogday RecordseBayDiscogs
  2. 1999Por VidaDogday RecordseBayDiscogs
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Albums on Breakbeat Archive

AlbumLos Traficantes… Matan Mi GenteDarkroom Familia · 1999AlbumHomicide KingsDarkroom Familia · 2000
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