Down South Preview: Summer 2003

Just like Long Beach in the early 90s and the Bay in the mid 90s, The South is the hottest region in Hip-Hop music right now. The difference is these boys are taking advantage of the spotlight by signing big deals, making big money and producing hits.

Though The Geto Boys, 2 Live Crew and Outkast put their respective spots below the Mason-Dixon on the map, there is a new movement in southern music, one that cannot be denied. Over the next few paragraphs I will spotlight whets really crackin in the dirty and whats about to be crackin in the very near future.

The Southeast (Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi and Alabama): Everybody has seen and/or heard Bonecrushers never scared and David Banners Like A Pimp but these dudes are not new jacks. Bonecrusher has been putting it down in the ATL for years as a member of Lyrical Giants before signing with JDs So So Def/Arista label. Banner on the other hand has seen his fair share of major label drama before finally hitting it big his current single. He was a member of Crooked Lettaz; he along with Kamikaze released the critically acclaimed Grey Skies CD on the now defunct Penalty Records.

Crusher and Banner are just the tip of the Iceberg, T.I. (Tip) is another artist making big noise out of the A, and he recently shot a video for 24s and is getting crazy spins down here in the South. He was signed to Arista a couple years ago but due to disagreements with LA he was dropped, turns out thats the best thing that could have happened he took it back to the streets doing features and releasing underground CDs with his Pimp Squad Click crew which led to classics like Dope Boys In the Trap. Tip recently signed a big deal with Atlantic and is set to drop Trap Music later this summer. And to top it all off hes still lacing the streets with the In Da Streets Mix CDs.

In the DJ element of Hip-Hop the collective known as Superfriends are making a lot of noise down under on the club/party front as well as in the boardroom, members, Trauma, Doc and Mars recently inked a deal with So So Def for their Black Vinyl label. Also The Head Honcho DJ Drama is flooding the south with his Gangsta Grillz series of Mixes and his partner in crime DJ Sense is doing a groundbreaking Def Jam South Mix DVD.

Also on the horizon is Da Connect a 4 man group made up of Blvd Troncoso, Meathead, ChamDon and Infinique brought to you by Rico Wade of Organized Noize. All 4 emcees have been seasoned by the Dungeon Family and they are poised to make their mark on the industry with their upcoming release featuring Ludacris (Georgia Dome) and Pastor Troy (Papi Chulo).

Speaking of Troy, who released the underground Hell To Pay recently, will be pulling the famed rap move and putting his crew DSGB out July 1st. One of the most underrated and talented crews in rap; the Big Oomph Camp are set to finally gain some national exposure when their youngest in charge, Baby D releases his Epic Debut.

With albums from Big Gipp, Outkast, Lil Jon protgs Trillville, Ying Yang Twins, Nappy Roots and Three 6 Mafia (Word on the street is that La Chat is pissed at Paul and company over money and her release date, stay tuned.) this run could go on for some time.

Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana)
Right now Houston is reminding me so much of Atlanta in the mid 90s they are just on the brink of some really big things and they will win because they have a lot of talent and they support their own.

Of course Lil Flips success has major labels scouring H-Town for the next big thing but takers are few and far between, these cats are about that independent cheese. One of the most promising dudes is HAWK, who is the late Fat Pats little brother, he is getting more spins that 50 on radio in Houston with his hit You Already Know. Also getting major love from radio and consumers is E.S.G & Slimm Thug whos Boss Hogg Outlaws CD has been out for sometime but the Throw Your Hands Up cut is still putting in work in the clubs. I even had a major label executive tell me that his company had been trying to sign Slimm Thug for two years.

Since the untimely death of the revolutionary DJ Screw it seems that everybody has been trying to stake their claim on screwed up music but like Pac many have emulated but none authentically duplicated.

Okay now that I got that off my chest, one more group that is doing it real enormous is Paul Wall and Chamillionire, these boys are young but as business savvy as vets in the game. Representing the Swisha House their 1st CD Get Ya Mind Correct, firmly placed them on the map and this summer they are set to release solo albums Paul Wall The Chick Magnet and Chamillionaire Color Changing Click.

Further down the road in Dallas, Texas Silverback Records is doing it with the legendary D.O.C. but they have some young cats that are packing heat like the oven door, most notably 6 2Two who was featured on Dr. Dres 2001 and on Duece, this cat has the makings of a superstar and with a rumored deal between Silverback and a powerhouse rap label anything is possible.

Its damn near impossible to spotlight all of the talented artist in the South and these are just a few of the new millennium spitters set to take the game over. The game has changed and these cats are at the forefront of bringing a new sound that is sure to change the face of this ever evolving thing we call Hip-Hop once again.