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Southern hip hop

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"Dirty south" redirects here. For the Australian DJ, see Dirty South (DJ).
Southern rap
Stylistic originsHip hop, other influences
Cultural originsHouston, Texas
Typical instrumentsProminent drum machine - Turntable - rapping - Sampler - synthesizer - human beatboxing
Subgenres
Dirty South - Crunk - Snap Music - Memphis rap - New Orleans Rap - Chopped & Screwed - Houston Rap - Miami bass - Bounce music - Jigg Music - Jook music
(complete list)
Regional scenes
Alabama - Atlanta - Florida(Tampa - Miami) - Memphis Mississippi - Louisiana(New Orleans- Baton Rouge) - Dallas - Houston

Southern hip hop is a form of American hip hop music that emerged from a club oriented vibe in the late-1990s as a popular force from cities including, but not limited to, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Memphis, Bowling Green, Shreveport, New Orleans, Miami, and Baton Rouge. In the 1980s, the rise and spread of hip hop culture from New York City and California spurred cities in the Southern United States to develop and nurture their own respective hip hop scenes. Southern rap artists were forced to release their music independently, since their music was ignored in the early years despite being one of the most popular forms of Hip Hop music at the moment. The mixtape scene has factored largely in the success of many of today's southern rap artists.

Genres

Dirty South

The biggest and most popular genre of southern rap, Dirty South rap is largely characterized by its bouncy, upbeat, exuberant, club-friendly tunes and simple, heavily rhythmic lyrical delivery. "Dirty South " was first used by southern rap group Goodie Mob on their debut album Soul Food (1995). Dirty South is often confused with Southern Rap. The name isn't a synonym of Southern Rap, as many think. Southern Rap is just a general term for Rap made in the South. The situation is further complicated by the emergence of "Dirty South" as a term for the South minus any states whose Southern character is debatable; in other words, the South unmitigated (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and the Carolinas).

Miami Bass

Main article: Miami Bass

Miami Bass is a popular style of music from the Miami area of South Florida and is the first style of southern rap music started in the south. And has also embodied by the musical style of local rap stars such as Trick Daddy.[1] Miami Bass is a part of the robust music scene in the South Florida metropolitan area, which consists of cities such as Miami, Pompano Beach, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.

In Miami, the distinctive bass-heavy scene of Miami bass evolved out of electro hop and similar hip hop-influenced dance scenes in Miami, including Luther Campbell and his group, 2 Live Crew. 2 Live Crew became infamous after their album, Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989), was banned in a Florida town and the group was subsequently arrested on obscenity charges after performing; the charges were eventually dismissed. The Miami Bass scene that 2 Live Crew typified is simply one form of southern rap and Miami Bass' club-oriented sound garnered little respect from hip hop fans. But the 2 Live Crew is not the only music artist in Miami. The first all Hip-Hop label from South Florida was the Broward County based Big Baller Records & Films. Founded by Mr. Frank "Cash" Murray. Big Baller was the first true Hip-Hop label in South Florida to sign a major multi-million dollar deal with Sony Music. Big Baller was also the first label in the entire state of Florida to produce and film their own movie. Mr. Murray has repeatedly given credit for any so called success to Master P and Jermaine Dupri and his favorite, Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell. This city also holds Trick Daddy, DJ Uncle Al, Rick Ross, Flo rida, Trina, Poison Clan, Jacki-O, Pitbull, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, JT Money, Smitty,Pleasure P, Brisco, Pretty Ricky, Plies and many more. Miami rapper Trick Daddy also lived in the Pork N'Beans Projects of Miami's notorious Liberty City, one of the city's and America's infamous areas. The city of Miami is also home to the label Slip "N" Slide Records. Later Miami Bass artists also had success, though it usually was short lived and only based on a few singles. Artists like 69 Boyz, Tag Team, Quad City DJ's, 95 South, and Freak Nasty all scored some major hits in the 1990s using a Miami Bass sound, albeit with a far less explicit style than previously used by Campbell and the 2 Live Crew. Many of these artists were also based not necessarily in Miami but usually within its influence. 95 South, 69 Boyz, and Quad City DJ's all hailed from Jacksonville, Florida.

Jook Music

Jook music is the music style of Tampa, Florida. This music and its artists are mostly found in the East Tampa, Jackson Heights, and West Tampa. An artist that has made it to the mainstream with this style is Khia, with her single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" hitting #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the UK singles charts. Other artists that make Jook music include Tampa Tony, Strizzo, Tom G and Yo Majesty. Record label Thug Misses Entertainment is located in Tampa and is a distributor of Jook music.

Southern hardcore

The first rap group to gain national notice for hardcore southern rap music (similar to the gangsta rap then coming out of the West Coast) were the Geto Boys. The Geto Boys hailed from Houston, and consisted of Willie D, Bushwick Bill, and Scarface. Houston was the first major city outside of New York City and Los Angeles to attract attention from the rap world; the Geto Boy's 1989 local debut, Grip It! On That Other Level, garnered the attention of Def Jam founder Rick Rubin to executive produce and release their 1990 nationwide debut.

However, it was the Geto Boys' 1991 hit, "Mind Playin' Tricks on Me", that began to break down the barrier for southern rap. The raw and unforgiving lyrics about paranoia and losing one's mind were a huge change from what most hip hop fans expected coming from the South. The song would go on to influence several other acts that would popularize the Southern rap scene; for example, while hosting BET's Top 25 countdown in 2004, OutKast's André 3000 remarked that "Mind Playin' Tricks on Me" "put Southern rap on the map." The Geto Boy's Scarface later launched a successful solo career and is referred to by some as the original "King of the South."

Soon after the Geto Boys' success, Houston became a main center of Southern hip hop. Now-popular groups such as UGK (from Port Arthur, Texas) and 8 Ball & MJG (from Memphis) moved to Houston in the late 80s to begin their musical careers. Both groups went on to release influential albums such as UGK's Too Hard to Swallow (1992) and 8 Ball & MJG's Comin' Out Hard (1993). Houston is also home to Rap-A-Lot Records, the first successful Southern rap label, coincidentally headed by Scarface and J. Prince.

Today that deep dark sound can be heard from Southwest Houston rappers Trae and Z-Ro, Chamillionaire, as well as Sunny Black from North Carolina, Lil Boosie from Baton Rouge, Yung Wun from Atlanta, Mystikal, B.G. from New Orleans, Young Buck from Nashville and Young Jeezy from Atlanta.

Spirituality

Atlanta based rap group Arrested Development released their album five months after "Mind Playin' Tricks on Me." Their brand of lighthearted and spiritual party singles from their platinum debut LP, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..., was a world apart from the sexually explicit, bass heavy party music of Miami and the gangsta rap bravado of Houston, but the group gained both commercial success and critical acclaim. While Arrested Development was not able to keep their momentum going, their success did set the stage for Atlanta's OutKast and Goodie Mob.

These two groups, both a part of the collective the Dungeon Family, debuted in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Their musical basis was alternately heavy-bassed funk over which were party raps, and slow introspective songs about poverty, promiscuity and racism. OutKast and Goodie Mob were the first groups to popularize Atlanta, Georgia in the South and coin the term "Dirty South". They were among the first acts from the South, recording on a major label, to gain national recognition.

New Orleans Project Rap

By the late 1990s, Atlanta had emerged as a major city in hip hop and the city's success and influence in the rap world continues on today. While OutKast, Goodie Mob, and a number of other Atlanta-based acts (several of them part of Organized Noize the Dungeon Family collective) balanced critical and commercial success, New Orleans rapper/label mogul Master P popularized a bounce-based sound that focused more on commercial appeal than artistry.

The late 1990s also saw the emergence of New Orleans as a hotbed for rap music. Master P's No Limit Records popularized rappers such as Mystikal, TRU, Mia X, C-Murder, and Silkk the Shocker and became home to highly popular West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg; the competing Cash Money label presented acts such as The Hot Boys (The B.G., Juvenile, Lil Wayne, and Turk).

The No Limit/Cash Money formula was also successfully co-opted by Miami's Slip-N-Slide label, which included Trick Daddy and Trina. Labels such as these also caused Dirty South music to be associated with "mass produced" albums released in rapid succession. The CD packaging for these releases typically featured brightly-colored, heavily Photoshopped "bling bling"-style album covers; and a whole page of the liner notes for each LP was usually devoted to advertising its follow-ups.

Dallas

The Dallas style of hip-hop was developed in the early 2000s. This style of hip-hop includes a combination of many hip-hop sounds. Prominent Dallas hip-hop artists include Big Tuck, Tum Tum, Play-n-Skillz, Steve Austin, Kottonmouth, Mr. Pookie, B.Hardy and Two Scoop of Hi-Rollaz Entertainment. A slogan of Dallas area hip-hop is Dallas Got Next which refers to the belief that Dallas will become the next big rap city. Tum Tum's hit single Caprice Musik put the Dallas Style into the national spotlight for the first time. This paved way for Steve Austin to release his Billboard Top-Ten single of Bussa Move that peaked to number three in Single-Sales on the Billboard charts. In late 2007, rap group, The Trap Starz Clik, released their hit single "Get it Big" which quickly skyrocketed in popularity. Within a few months of the song being released they were able to get a record deal with Universal Records. Following their record deal they signed they released the music video to "Get it Big" which quickly made it to BET. With the Trap Starz Clik gaining popularity fast, it looks like the Dallas rap scene is about one tick away from blowing up and releasing its greatness upon the U.S.A, and challenging Atlanta's dominancy in the rap game.

Dallas, Tx has also begun to emerge as force with artists such as Big Tuck, Tum Tum, Play N Skillz, Mr. Pookie and Mr Lucci. In recent months, The Trap Starz Clik, a fairly new group from Dallas have released their hit single "Get it Big" which quickly skyrocketed in popularity. Within a few months of the song being released they were able to get a record deal with Universal Records and their music video on BET.

Dallas has also produced numerous undergroup artists and has a thriving undergroud rap game. Some of these artists include Steve Austin, Kottonmouth, Mr. Pookie, B.Hardy and Two Scoop of Hi-Rollaz Entertainment.

Recently Dallas has produced another major rapper named Lil Wil. His hit single My Dougie was an underground hit in Dallas that went straight to the top. Now a remix has been created that feature Soulja Boy. Lil Wil should be the first truly big rapper out of Dallas.

Dallas also has a very large underground hiphop scene with some of the most ground breaking artist to ever emerge from the south like Pikahsso who was once part of the Dallas underground hiphop magazine Starvyn signed to one of the first labels in Dallas to get a major distribution deal with Street Pride Private I Mercury Records back in 98 and Pikahsso was also part of one of the biggest hiphop groups to ever come out of Dallas called PPT which stands for Pikahsso, Picnic and Tahiti who wrote the theme song for the Dallas Mavericks in 2006 play off season called Rowdy Loud and proud they debut cd Tres Monos In Love was released nationally by local independent label Idol Records which is distributed thru KOCH and it has a dvd which features a video for each song on the album. After that PPT released one of the most ground breaking cds not only coming out of Dallas but the world period called Denglish in which they did 80 percent of the cd in British accents. Pikahsso and Tahiti currently do hiphop movie reviews for one of the most popular papers in the city called Quick and you can see them every other Thursday @ www.quickdfw.com Pikahsso is one of the most ecclectic and eccentric hiphop artist to come out of Dallas who experiments with harmonies, scatting and his style he calls Celestial Brain Phunk and has released 2 of the most innovative songs and videos you will ever see from the south one being VERB and the other being Faleyuh which recieved a fair amount of tv and video play. Pikahsso is also featured on the E.P. by Bavu Blakes called Extra Plair on a song called Smiley Faces produced by S1 Of The Strange Fruit Project this song was featured on XXL Magazine Soundcheck Section In May 28th 2008. Pikahsso has the Amercian Wierdo Pixtape Kuming Sune


Money Waters who currently does music and shows with Young Bleed, Strange Fruit Project who have done songs with Erykah Badu which have been featured and video played on VH1, Verbal Seed, King Ashoka, Bavu Blakes, Mad Flava, Hydroponic Sound System, Headkrack, Slump, Six 2 who was featured on Dr Dre's Chronic 2001, Twisted Black, Gylo, Kabaal and a host of others. Dallas is a undiscovered Gold mine waiting to be seen, heard and found.

Crunk

Main article: Crunk

By the early 2000s, Southern rap was arguably becoming the genre's most popular form. This is due to the mainstream acceptance of the crunk music movement. Rap groups such as Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz, the Youngbloodz, and Three 6 Mafia have had massive mainstream success releasing music focused on the ever-popular club scene. DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia have had a huge impact in the expansion of southern rap.[citation needed] They have launched many artists (Project Pat, Lil Wyte, Chrome, and Gangsta Boo just to name a few) as well as starting a very successful record label, Hypnotize Minds.

Chopped and Screwed

Main article: Chopped and Screwed

The Chopped and Screwed genre was developed in Houston, Texas which remains the location most associated with the style. The late DJ Screw, a South Houston DJ, is credited with the creation of and early experimentation with the genre.[citation needed] DJ Screw began making mixtapes of the slowed-down music in the early 1990s and began the Screwed Up Click. This provided a significant outlet for MCs in the South-Houston area, and helped local rappers such as Big Moe, Lil' Flip, E.S.G., UGK, Lil' Keke and Z-Ro gain regional and sometimes national prominence.

By the time of Screw's death in 2000, the genre had become widely known throughout the southern United States. Currently, the style is exemplified in the music of Swishahouse DJs such as OG Ron C and Michael 5000 Watts. Their work has helped establish current rappers Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Mike Jones and rap groups such as The Color Changin' Click.

New Orleans Bounce

Bounce Music started off in 1986 in New Orleans, LA with the arrival of the Showboys' vinyl record called "Drag Rap" which is also known as "Trigga man." This record was the precursor to the hip hop sub-genre of bounce music. Similar to Miami bass, bounce music uses a call and chant approach to its music, and is a favorite of dance clubs.

Some of the earlier artists of the genre include: TT Tucker, DJ Jubilee, Master P, Juvenile, Tim Smooth, Mannie Fresh, The Showboys, and DJ Jimi while some of the new artists include: Gotty Boi Chris, 10th ward Buck, Hot Boy Ronald, Sissy Nobby, DJ Black n Mild, and Choppa

Baton Rouge Jigg

Jigg Music is a sub-genre of rap music which takes elements from other southern rap sub-genres such as Bounce Music, Crunk, and Bass Music.[citation needed] The sound is very fast paced with loud drum patterns and heavy bass.[citation needed] The music is not intended to be lyrical it is for parties and dancing. It started to rise in popularity after the song "Jiggalatin" was released by Baton Rouge artist Sam I Am. Although many artists like Hurricane Chris and DJ UNK use the jigg style, Jigg music was founded in Baton Rouge, not in Shreveport or Atlanta as some misinformed people think. Baton Rouge is also known for using the drug ecstasy. This is why Baton Rouge is nicknamed Jigga City. Baton Rouge uses this music for block parties, clubs, etc. Jigg music was created in the early 2000s. Jigg music has been spread around the southern states and is rapidly spreading across Louisiana. A few popular jigg producers are Dj Big Wayne, Dj B-Real, Chante', Mouse, and Savage.

Atlanta

Towards the late 90's Atlanta emerged as a Major city in the Hip Hop musical scene, and is one of the most popular Cities in the Hip Hop music Scene today. Many Rappers come from Atlanta such as Ludacris,T.I.,Outkast,Young Jeezy,Yung Joc,The Ying Yang Twins,Gorilla Zoe,Young Bloodz and Jermaine Dupri.

Notable Artists

Notable Labels

References

  1. ^ ""Trick Daddy's Official Website"". Trick Daddy. Retrieved 2006-11-04.


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