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San Francisco Chronicle
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
NASCAR legend and Bay Area rap pioneer reportedly linked by unexpected hobby
NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and rap legend Mac Dre were in a Bay Area breakdance crew together as teenagers, according to local rapper Baby Bash. The 'Suga Suga' rapper, whose real name is Ronald Ray Bryant, claims that he attended Springstown Junior High School with Gordon and Mac Dre, in Vallejo, where the three men grew up. 'Here they are in the Springstown Jr High Yearbook together,' he posted to Instagram on Tuesday, July 1, along with a black and white photo of a yearbook page that includes Gordon on the second row and the 'Feelin' Myself' rapper, whose real name was Andrew Louis Hicks, in the bottom right corner. 'Odd couple right?? Lol but its Real Facts!!' Though there is not currently a Springstown Junior High in Vallejo, a Springstowne Middle School previously operated at 2833 Tennessee St. In 2011, the Vallejo City Unified School District restructured its schools, relocating Springstowne Middle School to the former Hogan High School campus at 850 Rosewood Ave. The school was subsequently renamed Hogan Middle School. The original Tennessee Street site is now occupied by Vallejo Charter School. It is unclear if Springstowne Middle School is the same institution that Bryant was referring to on Instagram, but the timeline and location suggest a possible connection. Bryant also noted in the comment section of his post that he was not in the photo because he was a grade above Hicks, who was a highly influential pioneer of the hyphy movement, and Gordon, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019. 'I got stories for days,' he added. Gordon retired from racing full-time in 2015, in part due to the physical toll the sport took on his body. Mac Dre died in 2004 after he was fatally shot by an unknown individual while traveling with his crew. The Chronicle has reached out to Gordon and Baby Bash for comment. Bryant first drew attention to Gordon and Mac Dre's unique connection in March 2024, sharing a composite image of the two men to Instagram overlaid with the text 'What do Mac Dre & Jeff Gordon have n common? (Besides both from Vallejo). They were both in a breakdancing group in the 8th grade called 'unique street dancers' facts.' While Gordon has yet to officially confirm Bryant's claim, he did speak about his hip-hop past in a recently resurfaced 2016 conversation Oakland native Sway Calloway on Eminem's SiriusXM hip-hop station, Shade 45. 'At school with my friends, yo, I was breakdancing and listening to hip-hop,' Gordon said during the interview in promotion of his autobiography, 'Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive & Destiny.' He also revealed that his breakdance name was Baby Smurf, noting that he even had a jacket with the name on it. 'I was like on the ground spinning … my back is old these days,' he said, pulling out a few moves with his arms while seated during the radio interview. Since retiring, Gordon has served as vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, continuing to work within the world of racing. He briefly returned to race in 2016 as a substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was suffering concussion symptoms.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
From Eminem to E-40, Nickatina to Zeppelin, what goes into Giants' signature sounds?
Logan Webb start days have a signature sound. And it is so, so Bay Area. As the San Francisco Giants ' ace strides to the mound, a symphony of whale calls fill Oracle Park underscored by the bump of hard bass. It is the prelude to 'Killa While,' a song by San Francisco-based rapper Andre Nickatina. Since Webb debuted in 2019, the Rocklin native decided it was important to him to make his warm-up song a Bay Area tune. He used to use 'Feelin' Myself,' by Mac Dre, but switched to Nickatina when his results on the mound were lacking. All he knew was he would stay local. Former Giant shortstop Brandon Crawford's walk-up song had been 'Jungle' by Nickatina for his entire career, which inspired Webb. 'I've always listened to Andre Nickatina or Mac Dre or P-Lo,' Webb said. 'I heard Craw's was Jungle by Andre Nickatina and I was like 'Man, that's cool.' Then I listened to Killa Whale, and think it's cool when the whales are going off as I'm running out.' Webb isn't the only Giant who goes local. Kyle Harrison, a Danville native, chose 'Gettin' It' by Too $hort upon his return to the bigs. Willy Adames, new to the Bay Area after signing a seven-year deal this offseason, chose 'Yay Area' by E-40 to embrace his new home and learn more about the culture. The roster's walk-up song playlist is eclectic, ranging from classic Mexican artists – Camilo Doval saunters out of the bullpen to 'El Hijo Desobediente' by Antonio Aguilar – and a good amount of country crooners. Starter Landen Roupp warms to 'Honky Tonk Badonkadonk' by Trace Adkins and closer Ryan Walker takes over with 'Neon Grave' by Tyler Braden blaring. Many Giants go with whatever tune caught their ear, few stick with songs that have become part of their in-game routines while a handful have a full story behind their choice. Wilmer Flores has used 'I'll Be There For You' by the Rembrandts – better known as the 'Friends' theme song – since he was with the New York Mets in 2016. Flores chose the song because it was connected to his all-time favorite show; when his baseball career brought a teenage Flores to the U.S. from Venezuela, he watched 'Friends' on repeat. Not only was it comforting, the dialogue helped him learn English. 'At first I started watching the news, but everything they say on the news is very hardcore,' Flores said. 'It's good to watch the news with subtitles when you're learning another language. But then I started watching ('Friends') and got the sarcasm. If you don't get the sarcasm, you don't get the show because it's your second language. I started getting into it.' Flores has custom cleats with running jokes from the series, including a pair that say 'Pivot' across the back. It's a reference to an episode in which Ross Geller (one of the main characters) is trying to get a couch up the stairs to his apartment. Flores said he has watched the show too many times to count. 'Sometimes it feels like I'm not even watching it,' he said. 'When I'm cleaning or something I'll just put it on. Not even paying attention, just listening to it.' The 33-year-old has been in the league since 2013, chose the song around 2016 and doesn't plan on ever changing it again. 'I still get the same feeling,' he said. 'I don't see myself walking up to the plate and not hearing that song.' Flores' walk-up song reminds him of a comfortable feeling, Mike Yastrzemski 's song has become part of a sensory routine. He's used 'When the Levee Breaks' by Led Zeppelin since his rookie year with the Giants in 2019. While Yastrzemski is thinking over situations that could present themselves in the at-bat, the song's guitar riffs act as a signal for him in the on-deck circle to lock in. 'I hear that song and I already know where I am. I'm going to the box now,' Yastrzemski said. 'I hear that dinner bell and it's 'oop, I know where I am right now. Especially if you're thinking about other things, a play or baserunning or pitch selection. All of the sudden I hear it and it's 'OK, time to dial it in.' I hear the song start and I don't hear anything else. I'm lost right after I hear that song start.' Historically, a walk-up or warm-up song became part of certain players' baseball alter ego and intimidation factor. Think Mariano Rivera using 'Enter Sandman' by Metallica, Trevor Hoffman using AC/DC's 'Hells Bells' or Robb Nenn walking out to 'Smoke on the Water' by Deep Purple. Justin Verlander, a 20-year veteran, has been warming up to ''Til I Collapse' by Eminem since his days with the Detroit Tigers. The song choice couldn't be more appropriate now that Verlander, at age 42, is the oldest active pitcher in the majors – pitching until he can't anymore. Some players change their walk-up song regularly, often depending on performance. Matt Chapman, the current Giants clubhouse DJ, typically switches up his walk-up song when he's in a skid at the plate. Anything that can shift the energy. Chapman has used the Grammy-winning track 'Not Like Us' by Kendrick Lamar since midway last season and stuck with it as he glided into a hot August in which he batted .270 with six home runs. Off to a slow start to start in 2025, Chapman is considering changing things up when the Giants return home from an 11-day road trip through Washington, Detroit and Miami. 'I'll probably change my walk-up song soon,' Chapman said. 'See how today (Wednesday) goes and then I might change it.'
