Bound To Be Bold / Cover Story  0%

Kamaiyah

Oakland

Kamaiyah is the 21-year-old rapper who dropped one of the most promising debut mixtapes of the year—A Good Night in the Ghetto. Oakland born and raised, she grew up listening to Bay Area legends E-40 and Too Short, though she also appreciated MC Hammer. Those influences are all over her project, making it a true ode to the city and those before her. Now living in L.A. and touring extensively, there's still no city quite like Oakland. "I feel like the energy in Oakland is different than any place," she says. "Everyone is so bossed up and independent."

Kamaiyah

Venue

Kamaiyah didn't go to too many shows as a kid, save for seeing Sesame Street Live at the Oakland Arena and a Mariah Carey concert somewhere along the way. But she has seen good performances at the Oracle and the Fox Theater. She also remembers her first headlining show at the New Parish in Oakland fondly. Though the venue is a little grimy, "the energy was amazing," she says.

Kamaiyah

Destination

If you're too impatient, or old, to hang on for a night out, check out the day parties at the Endup in Oakland. If you're feeling ambitious, follow that daytime hang with an evening at City Nights, an 18-plus club in San Francisco where they play EDM, hip-hop, and everything in between.

Kamaiyah

Dining Out

After that night out, you will need sustenance, and Kamaiyah says there is no better place to take care of that than Mill's Hoagie and Deli Shop in Oakland. The little place right off the freeway serves up a cheeseburger hoagie that will change your life.