The history of L.A. rap involves a balancing act between the cold-blooded gangsta-rap sagas of Ruthless Records and Death Row and the crossover pop whims of Hollywood's big-money music industry. At its best these contradictions are effortlessly reconciled—whether it's Compton's YG teaming up with the likes of Drake and Mariah Carey, Watts' 03 Greedo recruiting Atlanta hitmaker Rich The Kid, or multiracial outlaw phenoms Shoreline Mafia, who seemingly spawned from a 7-Eleven parking lot to conquer the land. Our editors regularly update this playlist—if you hear something you like, add it to your library.