This is what Wikipedia has to say:

East Coast Hip-hop

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In contrast to the simplistic rhyme pattern and scheme utilized in old school hip hop, or the call and response style exhibited in the crunk genre, East Coast hip hop has been noted for its emphasis on lyrical dexterity.[2] It has also been characterized by multi-syllabic rhymes, complex wordplay, a continuous free-flowing delivery and intricate metaphors.[2] While East Coast hip hop does not have a uniform sound or standard style, it tends to gravitate to aggressive beats and sample collages.[1] The aggressive and hard-hitting beats of the form were emphasized by such acts as EPMD and Public Enemy, while artists such as Eric B. & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions, and Slick Rick were noted for their lyrical skill.

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This is what I consider to be a perfect example of East Coast hip-hop.  The beat is grimy and in a way I guess you could describe east coast hip-hop as fairly aggressive.

West Coast Hip-hop

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West Coast rap in a new direction,[26] influenced strongly by P funk artists, melding sleazy funk beats with slowly drawled lyrics. This came to be known as G-funk and dominated mainstream hip hop for several years through a roster of artists on Death Row Records including Snoop Dogg, whose Doggystyle included the songs "What's My Name" and "Gin and Juice," both top ten hits.

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That right there is the exact definition of a G-funk beat.  Dr. Dre really turned the West Coast around and added some individuality to the state of Cali.  The beat is just so much more up-beat and "hell yeah lets party to this" instead of the Grimy east raps where you're like "man fuck the government!"

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And it doesn't even stop there, you've got the south and the midwest both forming their own styles throughout history.... Now days the differences arn't so clear cut unless you're into the underground stuff.  The south pretty much dominates, but there are still west and east coast rappers who stick to the roots.  

People like Eminem in the midwest arn't so clear cut because of the range of differences between artists like Bone Thugs and Tech N9ne but for the most part the Midwest was derived on fast paced songs with darker beats.

Found this quote thought it was interesting...

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One characteristic of Midwest hip hop is that beat tempos can range from 90 to about 180, while East Coast's beat tempo is 90-120, West Coast is 100-120, and Southern rap is 80-110

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West coast people are laid back, as is their music.

East coast rappers get to business and don't sugar anything.

It just works like the people, I guess?

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Sucking too hard on your lollipop,
Hey love is going to get you down.
Say love, say love oh love is going to get you down...

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It just works like the people, I guess?

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Exactly.  I just started taking this social psychology course and it made me think about this.  The music is definitely formed based on social influence of their environment.  The east is hard, cold, straight to business.  Where like you said, the west is laid back, chill.  It's just really cool how that works.

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Quote: from akallen at 10:45 pm on Sep. 1, 2009

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 It just works like the people, I guess?

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Exactly. I just started taking this social psychology course and it made me think about this. The music is definitely formed based on social influence of their environment. The east is hard, cold, straight to business. Where like you said, the west is laid back, chill. It's just really cool how that works.

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A lot of people don't own cars in New York - but there is a distinctive car culture in many areas of the south. Someone put it to me like this - NY rappers make music for the ipod - music that you're supposed to sit and think about on the train; southern rappers make music for the car - where the beat is SUPPOSED to overshadow the emcee.  So in the north, the beat is largely irrelevant when compared to the rapper - while in the South, the beat and the emcee are co-partners or extensions of each other.

This is why people often complain that NY rappers have terrible beat selection, and that Southern rappers lack lyrical ability and are carried by their beats.

And then the musical styles that were popular in these regions when they made their emergence onto the rap scene is also important - look at the history of crunk, g-funk, and so forth - all based in different musical traditions found in their respective regions

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Sudo's Town
I got it 4 cheap

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look at the people that make up those regions.  

A lot of people don't own cars in New York - but there is a distinctive car culture in many areas of the south.  Someone put it to me like this - NY rappers make music for the ipod - music that you're supposed to sit and think about on the train; southern rappers make music for the car - where the beat is SUPPOSED to overshadow the emcee. So in the north, the beat is largely irrelevant when compared to the rapper - while in the South, the beat and the emcee are co-partners or extensions of each other.

This is why people often complain that NY rappers have terrible beat selection, and that Southern rappers lack lyrical ability and are carried by their beats.

And then the musical styles that were popular in these regions when they made their emergence onto the rap scene is also important - look at the history of crunk, g-funk, and so forth - all based in different musical traditions found in their respective regions

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look at the people that make up those regions.  

A lot of people don't own cars in New York - but there is a distinctive car culture in many areas of the south.  Someone put it to me like this - NY rappers make music for the ipod - music that you're supposed to sit and think about on the train; southern rappers make music for the car - where the beat is SUPPOSED to overshadow the emcee. So in the north, the beat is largely irrelevant when compared to the rapper - while in the South, the beat and the emcee are co-partners or extensions of each other.

This is why people often complain that NY rappers have terrible beat selection, and that Southern rappers lack lyrical ability and are carried by their beats.

And then the musical styles that were popular in these regions when they made their emergence onto the rap scene is also important - look at the history of crunk, g-funk, and so forth - all based in different musical traditions found in their respective regions

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Truth