Created by: Larry Madrigal, Jason O'Mahony & Ryan McDowell
WE WERE HYPHY
A DOCUMENTARY FILM
On February 1st, 2006, the Bay Area was alive...
On February 1st, 2006, the Bay Area was alive with scrapers turning tight ones, dreadlocks shaking, thizzles being popped and people going hella dummy with their stunna shades on. The smell of burnt rubber and “purple” marijuana blunts filled the air. E-40’s “Tell Me When To Go” had just dropped and the hyphy movement was at its peak.
The hyphy movement was a moment in time that would go on to shape the Bay Area for years to come. The slang, the dances, the fashion, the music and the culture of those few years molded an entire generation of Bay Areans, from rappers like G-Eazy and Kamaiyah; Broadway and film stars like Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal; viral car culture fanatics like Sideshow Tone; and even blockbuster film directors like Ryan Coogler.
To this day, playing Keak Da Sneak’s “Super Hyphy”, Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle” or Mac Dre’s “Feelin Myself” at any party in the Bay Area will instantly get the crowd moving. Slang like “getting hyphy” and “going dumb” has not only outlived the era locally, but has been used worldwide in film and in TV shows. We were hyphy, and hyphy isn’t dead - the legacy is being carried on by a new breed of culture creators that are determined to keep it going, in any form they can.
ABOUT THE DOC
We Were
Hyphy Is:
A love song to the artists, dance, music, slang, clothes and, most importantly of all, the people who came of age during the Hyphy Movement.
We were there, we were hyphy.
This is a story about a generation that created and experienced something very special, the kind of something that only happens once in a lifetime, and how those hyphy roots have influenced them as they’ve grown in their lives and careers.
As filmmakers, we want We Were Hyphy to recreate the excitement of the times while showing the impact they had on millions of people in the Bay Area and beyond. The film is a fun, nostalgic experience for those lucky enough to experience Hyphy the first time around, and a tantalizing introduction to those discovering it now. But whether you went dumb or have no idea what that means, We Were Hyphy is a documentary that will excite, entice and entertain you!
ABOUT THE CREW
We Are:
Larry Madrigal Director & Editor
Jason O'Mahony Producer
Ryan McDowell Director of Photography
Stephanie Benjamin Associate Producer
Matt Werner Executive Producer
Ernesto Melero Associate Producer
Kyle Doan Cinematographer
This is a story about a community, told by a community...
Video & Photos
Send us old footage or pictures of you and your friends going dumb! Or at sideshows! Or just being hyphy!
GET INVOLVED
Were you there? Are you you still Hyphy? We need your help...
Stories
Send us your stories - we would love to hear them! And, who knows, maybe interview you!
Music
Send us your most hyphy music - please - we would LOVE to hear it! And possibly feature it in the doc!
Side Stories
Beyond the documentary...
When we started out we had little idea how to create a documentary about the Hyphy movement. We knew we loved the music. But we had no idea if anyone would share our passion. All along the creative journey, we bumped into people that fascinated us with their stories. We’ve included some excerpts of those stories here. They’re not all exclusively about Hyphy but we met such open, interesting folks that we thought we’d share some of their stories too!
Falcon Dave
Oakland has a bad reputation and while there’s no denying that it - like all urban centers - has a dark side, there’s far more to the city than you might expect from most media articles. The legendary Falcon Dave of the Falcon Boys took us for a ride to show us that Oakland has its light side too. And it does. Go along to a First Friday and be amazed at all the city has to offer.