Legendary California rapper Too Short was recently honored with a street sign and his own holiday in Oakland.
According to TMZ, Too Short, whose real name is Todd Anthony Shaw, was honored with a portion of Foothill Boulevard–located in his hometown–named after him. The three-block stretch, situated between High Street and 47th Ave, was officially renamed “Too Short Way” during a special ceremony.
The area is reportedly just outside of Fremont High School, where the rapper attended after moving to East Oakland from L.A. in the ’80s.
“I have felt like I owe a debt to Oakland and that nothing I do will ever repay it because of the life that I was given through Oakland,” he told SFGate. “There’s a few things that happened in my life that, if they didn’t happen, Too Short wouldn’t happen, and going to Fremont High is one of those things. It was like our home base; we’d meet up at school, and then we’d go to the house and make tapes, then we’d go out into the neighborhoods and sell the tapes.”
Mayor Libby Schaaf additionally announced Dec. 10 as “Too Short Day” at the ceremony.
“You have told the stories of Oakland’s streets, so it’s only right that Oakland gives you a street!!!” she exclaimed.
Fellow legendary L.A. rapper Ice Cube and Oakland OGs Mistah F.A.B. and Sway Calloway also reportedly stopped by to show love and support to Too Short.
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“I was standing up on a foundation that was already solid. It was already built,” the musician added, gushing over his new street sign. “So I really had to uphold the legacy of Oakland and the bay. It wasn’t like it was me who was starting this for the first time–big things had happened in the bay, it had a rich history. I’m not taking it lightly.”
The California musician first burst onto the scene in 1985 with his debut album, “Don’t Stop Rappin’.” He’s since dropped a string of West Coast hits, including the 2006 record, Blow The Whistle.
