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An Occasion for the Arts

VA UNLOCKED: A Sound Walk of Virginia Hip-Hop History

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Something has been brewing in Virginia’s backyard for decades.


VA Unlocked is an immersive sound walk exploring the voices, stories, places, and people that helped shape Virginia hip-hop culture. Through oral histories and firsthand accounts, experience a history that has lived in our communities long before the world was watching.


The stories are here. The history is ours.

Voices in VA Unlocked

Featuring

  • Sam McDonald — A writer chronicling Virginia’s music and popular culture.
  • Malcolm Venable — A journalist who has written about Virginia’s music and culture.
  • Doug “DJ Teddy Bear” Perry — A longtime voice in Virginia radio, associated with Hot 91.1 FM.
  • Magoo — The Virginia Beach rapper who made up one half of Timbaland & Magoo.
  • Jarrod “J-Rod” Tanner — A former personality at WNSB’s Hot 91.1 FM.
  • Big B — A member of the Boodah Brothers, whose radio work helped grow hip-hop culture across Virginia.
  • Rachael Faunce — A Suffolk-raised marketing and public relations professional who has worked with music and entertainment artists.
  • Regan Sommer McCoy — Founder of the Mixtape Museum and a longtime mixtape culture advocate.
  • Lisa Lee — A hip-hop pioneer and founding member of Soulsonic Force and Cosmic Force, featured in Wild Style and Beat Street.
  • Larry “Live” Lyons — A Virginia hip-hop voice whose stories touch on radio, breaking, and the local scene.

Host and writer
Cymandye Russell

Interviews conducted by the William & Mary Hip Hop Collection
Edited, mixed, and produced by Brendan Reed at Bounce House

VA Unlocked: A Sound Walk of Virginia Hip-Hop History includes music excerpts highlighting Virginia’s artists and musical legacy. All rights to the featured compositions and recordings remain with their respective copyright owners. Inclusion does not imply artist or rights-holder endorsement of the project or its promotional materials.

Music Credits

  • “Doo Doo Brown” — 2 Hyped Brothers & A Dog. From Ya Rollin’ Doo Doo (1991). Written by Stanley Evans Jr. and Frank Ski.
  • “N.Y. State of Mind” — Nas.
  • “Lovelee Dae” — Blaze. Written by Kevin Hedge and Josh Milan.
  • “Eric B. Is President” — Eric B. & Rakim.
  • “Dirty South” — Goodie Mob featuring Big Boi and Cool Breeze.
  • “Work the Walls” — Rare Essence.
  • “Before I Let You Go” — Blackstreet.
  • “Sock It 2 Me” — Missy Elliott featuring Da Brat.
  • “Demo Tape” — S.B.I. (Surrounded by Idiots; Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Magoo), 1991.
  • “Luv 2 Luv Ya” — Timbaland & Magoo.
  • “That Girl” — Pharrell Williams featuring Snoop Dogg.
  • “Hot Damn” — Clipse featuring Ab-Liva, Pharrell Williams, and Rosco P. Coldchain.
  • “The Boodah Brothers on 103 JAMZ, Norfolk, VA” — The Boodah Brothers (Kool DJ Law and Big B), radio recording.
  • “Skull Caps & Striped Shirts” — S.B.I. (Surrounded by Idiots; Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Magoo), demo recording.
  • “Mercy” — Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz.
  • “Grindin’” — Clipse.
  • “Just Having Fun (Bonus Lesson #1)” — Doug E. Fresh featuring D.J. Chill Will and D.J. Barry Bee.
  • “Fresh (Vocal ’83)” — Fresh 3 MCs.
  • “The Original Human Beat Box” — Doug E. Fresh.
  • “Especial” — DJ Red Alert / 45 King (1988 edit).
  • “Search Me Lord” — E. S. Silvertones.
  • “Seven Day Weekend” — Gary U.S. Bonds.
  • “Hey Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean” (live) — Ruth Brown.
  • “Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone” — Pearl Bailey.
  • “Dream a Little Dream of Me” — Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong.
  • “It’s Like That” — S.B.I. (Surrounded by Idiots; Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Magoo), demo recording.
  • “Ralontom” — Zachary Hines II.
  • “Pockets” — Zachary Hines II.
  • “Mahgerita” — Zachary Hines II.