1 Umbrella (ALLBLACK, 22nd Jim, Etc.) Release “Pretty”
Earlier this month, ALLBLACK, Lil Bean, 22nd Jim, ZayBang & Lil Yee joined forces to form 1 Umbrella, a new supergroup dedicated to uniting the Bay Area under the banner of heartfelt street music. This weekend, the NorCal Fab Five released a video for “Pretty,” a romantic highlight from 1 Umbrella, their debut album as a group. Produced by Reece Beats, “Pretty” rides a fluttery R&B sample that inspires Lil Yee and Lil Bean to get romantic. Lil Yee kicks off the song with lilting melodies, expressing his belief that Saggitarius is the “best one” of the Zodiac signs, before Bean spits a flirtatious verse of his own: “Dangerous we in love, singin’ to you while I drive/All these pretty girls, you the best one alive,” sings Bean. In the video, Yee and Bean pour Moet and kick back with the women of their desires.
All five 1 Umbrella rappers are among the most respected artists in the Bay, with long track records of success and a history of fiery collaborations. ALLBLACK and 22nd Jim hail from the same neighborhood in Oakland, while ZayBang, Lil Bean, and Lil Yee hail from across the bridge, in San Francisco, a city with a rich, if less-heralded, hip-hop history than its East Bay cousin. Furthering a spirit of Bay Area pride, 1 Umbrella made their debut album a family affair. Spanning 15 tracks, 1 Umbrella features all five rappers in various combinations, including true posse cuts like “CODE,” “The Blueprint” ft. DaBoii, and the Passion of the Weiss-praised “Baller Blockin.”
The group welcomes guests from across the region, including SF’s Larry June, Vallejo’s DaBoii (formerly of SOB x RBE), Berkeley-born melodic mastermind Rexx Life Raj, and East Oakland storyteller 1100 Himself. Featuring additional guest appearances from Lingo and Dooder, and production from Bay Area sound architects like Brutal Money, Reece Beats, EazyDrez, DrinkJuice, B’Lon, and DJ Idea, 1 Umbrella is available on all platforms via EMPIRE.
1 Umbrella’s album arrived just in time for the worlds of music and sports to converge on California, with the Super Bowl in Santa Clara and the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The 1 Umbrella rappers were outside during both weekends, sitting courtside at a Golden State Warriors game during Super Bowl weekend, then jetting to Los Angeles to film a music video for album highlight “Off Top” with Larry June. The group hosted a meet-and-greet at EMPIRE’s HQ in San Francisco, and launched a special pop-up on Montgomery Street during the album’s release weekend.
1 Umbrella has released their debut album, but they are far from finished. Keep an eye on the new group as they look to make the most of a big moment for Bay Area rap
music.
