Dirty South
tagStarted 1995Peak 1998-2006Last big hit still activeFrom US South, United States
Located in 1 route
Umbrella term for soulful, bass-heavy Southern rap with thick low-end, gospel and funk-tinged production, and proud regional storytelling. Encompasses Atlanta's funk-soul, New Orleans' bounce-driven Cash Money/No Limit sound, and the broader assertion that the South had its own voice, slang, and groove distinct from the coasts.
History
Goodie Mob's 1995 song 'Dirty South' named the movement, and OutKast's 1995 declaration that 'the South got something to say' galvanized it. No Limit and Cash Money in New Orleans, So So Def and LaFace in Atlanta, and Suave House in Memphis built regional empires, turning the late-'90s and 2000s into an era of Southern chart dominance.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Dirty South — Goodie Mob feat. Big Boi & Cool BreezeSpotifyYouTube
- Make 'Em Say Uhh! — Master P feat. Fiend, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X & MystikalSpotifyYouTube
- Back That Azz Up — Juvenile feat. Mannie Fresh & Lil WayneSpotifyYouTube
- Ms. Jackson — OutKastSpotifyYouTube
- Southern Hospitality — LudacrisSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dirty South (song)
- UH Libraries: Dirty South exhibit
- AUC Woodruff Library: The Dirty South guide
- The Black 90s: Origins of the Dirty South