Southern hip-hop

Southern hip-hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip-hop, or dirty south, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip-hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida—often titled "The Big 5," five states which constitute the "Southern Network" in rap music.

The music was a reaction to the 1980s flow of hip-hop culture from New York City and the Los Angeles area and can be considered the third major American hip-hop scene, alongside East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. Many early Southern rap artists released their music independently or on mixtapes after encountering difficulty securing record-label contracts in the 1990s. By the early 2000s, many Southern artists had attained success, and as the decade went on, both mainstream and underground varieties of Southern hip-hop became among the most popular and influential of the entire genre.

History

thumb|New Orleans rapper [[Lil Wayne]]

alt=Uncle Luke|thumb|Miami rapper [[Uncle Luke, considered one of the pioneers of southern hip-hop.]]

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the American hip-hop music market was primarily dominated by artists from the East Coast and West Coast; New York City and Los Angeles were respectively the two main cities where hip-hop was receiving widespread attention. The West Coast was mainly represented by groups like N.W.A, Death Row Records, and the East Coast had people like the Notorious B.I.G., Nas and groups like the Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and Bad Boy Records. In the mid-1980s, cities throughout the Southern United States began to catch on to hip-hop.

By the early-1990s, Miami became the birthplace of Southern hip-hop. Local hip-hop groups such as 2 Live Crew and 69 Boyz played a huge part in helping the South become a center for hip-hop music. Murder Dog magazine and Ozone magazine presented information about gangsta rap.

A defining moment for Southern rap was at the 1995 Source Awards. The duo Outkast had just been awarded Best New Artist, and within the tension that was the East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry, member André 3000 came up on stage followed by boos and said, "I'm tired of them closed minded folks, it's like we gotta demo tape but don't nobody want to hear it. But it's like this: the South got something to say, that's all I got to say." As stated by Southern rapper T.I., "Outkast, period. Outkast. That's when it changed. That was the first time when people began to take Southern rap seriously." Former co-owner of the magazine The Source Benzino took credit for the incident in an interview from April 2023, saying "they gave Outkast 4.5 mics (out of 5)... and it got back to Outkast... I didn't understand the music and I was wrong." Both scenes borrowed heavily from a production style first introduced by way of the obscure late-1980s New York rap group the Showboys, heavily sampling the beats from their song "Drag Rap". By the early 2000s, these scenes found mainstream success through Disturbing tha Peace in Atlanta, Cash Money Records and No Limit Records out of New Orleans, and Hypnotize Minds out of Memphis, revolutionizing financial structures and strategies for independent Southern rap labels. According to HipHopDX, "Not only is the South on the radar, but now the region that was an underdog is the barometer for rap music and hip-hop culture."

By the early to mid-2000s, artists from the South had begun to develop mainstream popularity with artists like Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, and Lil Keke from Houston; T.I., Ludacris, Lil Jon, Gucci Mane and Jeezy from Atlanta; Trick Daddy and Rick Ross from Miami; Master P, B.G., Lil Wayne and Juvenile from New Orleans, and Three 6 Mafia and Yo Gotti from Memphis all becoming major label stars during this time.

Southern hip-hop peaked in popularity from 2002 through 2004. In 2002, Southern hip-hop artists accounted for 50 to 60 percent of the singles on hip-hop music charts. On the week of December 13, 2003, Southern urban artists, labels and producers accounted for six of the top 10 slots on the Billboard Hot 100: Outkast (with two singles), Ludacris, Kelis (produced by the Neptunes), Beyoncé and Chingy (on Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace label). Additionally, from October 2003 through December 2004, the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart was held by a Southern urban artist for 58 out of 62 weeks. This was capped by the week of December 11, 2004 when seven out of the top ten songs on the chart were held by or featured Southern urban artists. In 2004, Vibe magazine reported that Southern artists accounted for 43.6% of the airplay on urban radio stations (compared to 29.7% for the Midwest, 24.1% for the East Coast and 2.5% for the West coast). It was during the Dirty Decade that Southern hip-hop gained prominence on a national scale. The genre's influences are diverse, drawing from regional cultural elements and blending them with traditional hip-hop elements. Artists who rose to prominence during this era, such as Outkast, Ludacris, and Lil Wayne, continued to shape the contemporary hip-hop landscape.

Florida

Miami Bass

Miami bass is a booming, bass-heavy hip-hop music style that developed in the mid-1980s in Miami. The genre is known for its fast dance beats, deep bass, and often explicit lyrics focused on themes such as parties, sex, drugs, and luxury.

Early innovators included DJ Laz, while the genre gained widespread prominence through 2 Live Crew, led by Luther Campbell. The single "Throw The D" (1986) by 2 Live Crew is widely considered the first Miami bass song. According to Fresh Kid Ice (Christopher Wong Won), the track was inspired by a popular Miami dance that emerged when "Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly and Life was played.

In 1989, 2 Live Crew released As Nasty As They Wanna Be, which became highly controversial due to its sexually explicit lyrics. The album was ruled legally obscene by a judge, leading to prosecutions of retailers and even arrests of group members for performing its songs. However, 2 Live Crew successfully appealed the ruling, marking a significant legal victory for artistic expression in music. The case helped establish broader acceptance of explicit content in hip-hop, though parental advisory labels became standard.

Members Luke Campbell and David Hobbs played a key role in popularizing Miami bass through both their music and the controversies surrounding it. The group drew influence from early Three 6 Mafia and helped popularize darker, lo-fi production styles later adopted by artists such as ASAP Mob and Drake.

Members and affiliates including Denzel Curry, Chris Travis, and Xavier Wulf were instrumental in pioneering the SoundCloud Rap movement.

Later artists such as XXXTentacion, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, and Wifisfuneral brought SoundCloud Rap into the mainstream during the mid-to-late 2010s.

XXXTentacion was killed in Broward County in 2018 at the age of 20 after attempting to purchase a motorcycle.

Additional Florida rappers include Trick Daddy, Kodak Black, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Plies, Trina, Rod Wave, Cool & Dre, Flo Rida, Jacki-O, stic.man, Dead Prez, Pitbull, YNW Melly, BossMan Dlow, M-1, and BLP Kosher.

Tennessee

Three 6 Mafia, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous, Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo, La Chat, Project Pat, Indo G, Playa Fly, Eightball and MJG, Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, NLE Choppa, Pooh Shiesty, Blac Youngsta and Young Dolph all came from Memphis, Tennessee.

Tennessee hip-hop blends the style of southern rap, and funk. The Tennessee rap scene popularized musical subgenres within the community, such as Memphis Rap, and Memphis horror-core. Arrested Development's debut album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... had the song Tennessee in 1992, which is thought to have been the first rap song to release from the state.

Alabama

The gangsta rap group Dirty is from Montgomery, Alabama. Codie G was the manager to G-side and became a mentor to many Alabamian people in the rap community. His involvement spear-headed the genre into popularity within the state of Alabama. In 1999, The group Dirty Boyz debuted with the album Country Versatile thus solidifying hip-hop's place in the state.

Georgia

In 2009, the New York Times called Atlanta "hip-hop's center of gravity", and the city is home to many famous hip-hop, R&B and neo soul musicians.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Atlanta's hip-hop scene was characterized by a local variant of Miami bass, with stars like Kilo Ali and DJ Smurf (later Mr. Collipark).

Notable artists from Georgia include Lil Baby, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Gunna, Future, Latto and Migos.

By the mid-1990s, the rise of Outkast, Goodie Mob and the production collective Organized Noize, let to the development of the Dirty South style of hip-hop and of Atlanta gaining a reputation for "soul-minded hip-hop eccentrics", contrasting with other regional styles. On August 3, 1995, Outkast received the award for Best New Artist in New York City at the Source Awards. At the time, the primary hip-hop heard nationally was from artists on the East and West Coasts, due at least partly to high- profile disputes between rappers from each coast. It was groups such as Outkast who were determined to let the world know that the South had something to say.

Between 1991 and 1992, there was increased abuse of purple drank in Southeast Texas. Purple drank was a major influence in chopped and screwed music due to its effect of slowing down perception. DJ Screw, a known user of purple drank, said that it is not required to enjoy chopped and screwed music and that he came up with the style when high on marijuana. Paul Wall's major label debut, The Peoples Champ, on Swishahouse/Atlantic, was released in September 2005, eventually topping the Billboard 200. Many rappers from Houston began to have mainstream success in the 2000s. In 2005, MTV named Houston the new rap capital of the South.

Notable artists in Houston include Travis Scott, That Mexican OT, Maxo Kream, Sauce Walka, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Bun B, Pimp C, Z-Ro, Big Hawk, Big Moe, Big Mello, Big Steve, Chris Ward, C-Note, Devin The Dude, DJ DMD, E.S.G., Fat Pat, J-Dawg, Killa Kyleon, Kirko Bangz, Lil' Keke, Lil' Flip, Lil' O, Lil' Troy, Mike D, Mike Jones, K-Rino, Al-D, Mr. 3-2, Slim Thug, South Park Mexican, Yungstar, Trae Tha Truth, Scarface and groups such as ABN, Boss Hogg Outlawz, Botany Boyz, Coughee Brothaz, D.E.A., Guerilla Maab, Geto Boys, Herschelwood Hardheadz, M.O.B., Screwed Up Click, South Park Coalition and UGK. The Houston hip-hop scene is known for the chopped and screwed sound invented by Screwed Up Click leader DJ Screw, and remains the location most associated with the style.

Vanilla Ice was born in Dallas, and grew up moving between Dallas and Miami. The D.O.C. is from West Dallas. He worked with Dr. Dre as an artist and writer. Christian hip-hop artist D-Boy Rodriguez received moderate commercial success and was part of the burgeoning Christian hip-hop scene in Dallas and the rest of Texas in the late 80s, until he was murdered in 1990. Other rappers such as Big Lurch, Mr. Pookie, Mr. Lucci, Big Tuck, Dorrough, BigXthaPlug, MO3 and Dondria also hail from Dallas. Rappers such as legends Lil Sin, and P.K.O. as well as Worldwide, Richie Branson, Cadillac Muzik, King Kyle Lee, Mike Dimes, and Megan Thee Stallion all hail from San Antonio.

North Carolina

Around the same time, Ski Beatz (of Greensboro) produced "Dead Presidents" on Jay-Z's album "Reasonable Doubt", which was released in 1996. Also, 9th Wonder (of Winston-Salem) joined a group named Little Brother with fellow members Big Pooh and Phonte (of Durham).(9th Wonder left Little Brother in 2007 to solo produce, becoming one of the top 10 most successful hip-hop producers of all time).

North Carolina did not hit the mainstream hip-hop map until 2001 with Petey Pablo's "Raise Up". This song was successful and helped highlight the North Carolina's burgeoning rap industry, along with some of its prolific rappers from the state: J. Cole, Rapsody, King Mez, Kooley High, Ignite Mindz, Drique London, SkyBlew, Azon Blaze, Donovan McCray, Lazarus, Thee Tom Hardy, Troop 41, Bryce Snow, Lute, Deniro Farrar, Justus League, Edgar Allen Floe, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Kaze, Banknote Mitch, Khrysis, Keaton, Wells, Tucson, Ghost Dog, among others.

Another noteworthy rap artist from North Carolina is DaBaby, hailing from Charlotte, though he was born in Cleveland. Although sometimes drawing attention from self-created controversies, his lyrical skills, mixed with his exposure and unique voice, have made him a reckonable force in hip-hop.

Slang

Among the four coasts, Southern hip-hop is one of the more recent genres compared to the other three coasts, meaning that the slang used in southern hip-hop is more recent than the slang in other coasts. A lot of the iconic southern slang that was used in hip-hop and rap came from five specific cities of the south: Houston, Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, and New Orleans. Of the many slang used in southern hip-hop, the ones that are still being used today are:

Lean, a term used widely in southern hip-hop, is a sprite-codeine-candy mixture that is used like alcohol. The drink originated from Houston in the 1960s; however, back in the 1960s, the word "lean" was not used and the drink had multiple names for it like "sizzurp" or "purple drink". It was not until the 1980s or 1990s that the drink was referred to as lean. The song that popularized the slang term "lean" was called "Sippin' Codeine" by DJ Screw and Big Moe, released in 1996 and has the lyric "It makes a southside playa lean" referring to how the sprite-codeine-candy mixture makes you "lean". The slang is still being used today, some of the most notable examples being "Gucci Gang" by Lil Pump, "Look At Me!" by XXXtentacion, and "I" by Kendrick Lamar, all of these songs being relatively recent.

Trap House, another widely used slang term in southern hip-hop, is a house where various illegal drugs are made, bought, sold, or used. The primary drugs that are common in trap houses are heroin, meth, cocaine, and fentanyl. The reason why these drug houses are called trap houses is because the consumer of the drug feel "trapped" in the addiction of the drug, hence the name trap house. The slang term trap house originated in Atlanta from the 1980s when drug addiction was at a rise as an escape from the poor conditions of the neighborhoods and cities. "Trap House" itself is a music genre, though usually just referred to as "trap" in the present day, and the music genre has lyrics that show off the hard life and struggle of being a drug dealer, trying to sell drugs, and living in a poor inner city. One of the most recent example of Trap House being used in a song is by YoungBoy Never Broke Again in his song "Trap House" that released in 2018.

The term Flossin derives from the word floss, and means to show off expensive articles of clothing, or items. The term was birthed in Houston around 1990, originally meaning to have money, but the term developed over time into what it is known today. It was popularized through Southern Rap, being used in songs such as Lil' Flip's Texas Boyz (Screwed) 2002, being used in the following lyrics, "What you know about acting bad, flossin' prowlers? I got seven DVDs, I'm watchin' Austin Powers".

The adjective Ratchet means to be crazy, or off the hook. Ever since the late 1990s, rappers from Shreveport, Louisiana have used the term in their songs. It derives off the Louisianan dialect for Wretched, and is used in songs like, Rapper Lil Boosie's 2005 "Do Da Ratchet", Nicki Minaj's 2012 "Right By My Side", and Juicy J's "Bandz a Make Her Dance".

The phrase "Dirty South" was introduced via the 1995 Goodie Mob track "Dirty South" with the chorus repeating the lyrics "What you niggas know about the Dirty South?"

Southern fashion

thumb|335x335px|Migos

Kris Kross was an American duo from Atlanta, Georgia, which composed of Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith and Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly. At the age of twelve and thirteen, Kris Kross made a fashion choice that never existed in the hip-hop industry, becoming the youngest hip-hop duo to ever gain such a following. The duo wore their clothes backwards, while performing on stage, which became a trend in the 1990s. Their fashion choice helped the youthful duo rise to fame.

Migos were an American hip-hop trio composing of rappers Takeoff, Offset, and Quavo from Lawrenceville, Georgia. Migos have walked the MET Gala carpets, achieved mainstream hip-hop with their hit song Versace and their signature sound. Drake then cosigned the group with verse on the remix, which became popular on the Billboard charts. Not only did a song introduce Migos to the world, but the tune also popularized the Versace fashion brand of the Black community.

thumb|Travis Scott

Travis Scott (Jacques Bermon Webster ll) is an American rapper and record producer from Houston, Texas. Travis worked with numerous brands, including Dover Street Market, McDonald's, PlayStation, Epic Games, and Byredo. He started his career working as an artist who made sneakers for Nike, eventually becoming "a creative consultant" for their company. Christian Dior announced its partnership with Travis Scott as a musical artist for its Spring/Summer '22 line at Paris Fashion Week, Scott appeared on stage together to introduce their further plans.

Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an American rapper and record producer, from North Carolina. J Cole opened his 4 Your Eyez Only tour by wading through a sea of fans in a full orange prison jumpsuit, printed on the back was "Property Of". The look would end up being a centerpiece of the tour that added a new layer of storytelling in Cole's performance.

Crunk

The term crunk is mainly used to denote a musical style that was originated by Three Six Mafia in Memphis, Tennessee, in the mid-to-late 1990s. It was popularized by Atlanta rapper Lil Jon, and gained mainstream popularity in the period 2003–04. A typical crunk track uses a drum machine rhythm, heavy bassline, and shouting vocals, often in call and response manner.