the East Coast is not NYC

like I said in my original post, the MO was release a single, make a video

i have a YO MTV! raps compilation album from 89', and Life Is Too Short was on there along with Ice-T's High Roller
2 of my favorite songs on that CD actually
also Fresh Prince and Steady B had cuts on there, so that's 4 out of 11 cuts that are from acts outside of NYC

yeah, i remember the "Hammer, you ain't hittin in NY" line, FROM THE VIDEO
he was on YO, so he was getting played nationally
and there are East Coast cities that resent NY, so that probably gained him fans
and let's not act like Hammer was pop from day #1
turn this motha out was big out here
we're all in the same gang, the final verses are him passing the mic to Eazy E
which reminds me

Tone Loc, wild thing, funky cold medina, big records out here
Digital Underground, the humpty dance, huge record
Young MC, bust a move, uh huh

the Chronic didn't break down that barrier, the Chronic took the #1 spot from NY
followed by Doggystyle, the West had the crown for a minute

if that was what was going on in LA, i'll have to take your word for it
but out here, everything was definitely coming out of NY, in the beginning
but by the end of the 80s, you have groups breaking nationally from every region
and from someone who is NOT from NYC, we bought it, we weren't threatened and/or hating on it
WE WERE FANS