From the grimy streets of Pine Bluff, Arkansas K-Diamondz began free styling in high school and made his first mix tapes in college. The new rap artist got his first lessons on distribution when he decided to sell his music while he was delivering pizza for Papa Johns. Underground rap had just reached a plateau in the summer of 2002 and he... [+] Read More

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Long before the Cash Money camp became known as Cash Money Millionaires, the label got its start hustling albums by a young teen known as B.G., who eventually scored a national anthem with his track "Bling Bling." Originally known as the Baby Gangsta, B.G. grew up in the dangerous uptown section of New Orleans, among some of the most... [+] Read More

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Queens rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga enjoyed massive street credibility with the release of their debut album, The War Report, which earned them a devoted following in the hardcore rap world. Capone (born Kiam Holley) and Noreaga (born Victor Santiago) grew up in the projects of Queensbridge and LeFrak City, respectively, and endured rough childhoods... [+] Read More

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Devin Copeland aka Devin the Dude was born in St. Petersburg, FL, and later moved to Texas while in the fourth grade. As a child he went back and forth from New Boston and Houston and finally settled in the latter after he graduated high school. In the late '80s, Devin met Rob Quest, a blind rapper and producer who was part of a Houston crew... [+] Read More

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For his debut LP, Memphis-based rapper Tom Skeemask teamed with producer DJ Squeeky, whose previous projects included the underground hit Young Southern Playaz compilation series as well as DJ Squeeky and the Family on a Mission. After signing with the Relativity label, the duo issued DJ Squeeky Presents: Tom Skeemask, 2 Wild for the World in... [+] Read More

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Throughout the '90s and into the next decade, E-40 led a generation of Cali Bay Area rappers and attracted a large cult following of listeners that spread from the West Coast to the South. His uncanny rhyme delivery set him apart from the mainstream, as he coined his own lexicon of street-speak and experimented with overdubbed vocals. Moreover,... [+] Read More

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After producing hits for the likes of 2Pac, Jay-Z, and E-40, the California-based Rick Rock recruited rappers Doonie Baby, Goldie Gold, and Mr. Stress and formed his own crew, Federation, in 2002. Their debut, simply titled The Album, appeared in 2004 on the Virgin label. Critics and the hip-hop faithful graced the hostile, hard album with... [+] Read More

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Long recognized as one of Memphis' top MCs, Gangsta Blac remained strictly an underground phenomenon before breaking out of the South in the early 2000s. His career began as a member of the Memphis-based Three 6 Mafia clique before going solo in the mid-'90s. Influenced by the harsh ghetto rap of Eightball & MJG and the Geto Boys, Gangsta Blac's... [+] Read More

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GENO & SKUNK BOOGIE
By: Rahiem Shabazz & Ms. Rivercity


The possibility of driving down Route 41 in SWF (South West Florida) without Geno & Skunk Boogie blaring from your speakers is slim to none. Where most hip-hop artists struggle to remain relevant in a fickle market that caters to urban radio top ten singles, Geno &... [+] Read More

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Goodie Mob's earnest and reverent approach made them one of the more admired groups of their era, and undeniably one of the most respected groups in the often irreverent and scoffed at Dirty South scene, if not the most respected. The Atlanta group's first album, Soul Food (1995), stands as one of the earliest Southern rap albums to... [+] Read More

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What's UP this is that Southern Cat from D Town, J C. I am an artist and producer of hip hop club poppin, street ridin', family gatherin' beats and flows so elegantly at the same time. My sounds my sight. Can you see it. My words are me, poetry. Acknowledge.

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Originally from New York, the hip-hop duo Kane & Abel moved to New Orleans as teenagers. When they arrived in New Orleans, they met Mia X, who eventually hooked the duo up with Master P, who helped Kane & Abel land a deal with No Limit Records. Their first album, 1996's 7 Sins, was produced by KLC and Mo B. Dick, who formerly worked with Down... [+] Read More

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Lil Rick is an underground rap phenom from the north Memphis area of Tennessee. He started rapping at the age of 15 while locked up in the Shelby Training Center when his best friend was brutally murdered. Rick signed on to Lady B Entertainment in 2000 along with friend and fellow north Memphis rap sensation J.J. Diamondsmile. The two formed... [+] Read More

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Another cog in Master P's No Limit Records machine, Mr. Serv-On went to high school with Master P (as well as most of the other members of No Limit) and signed to the label on the cusp of Master P's breakout into the mainstream. Around the time Master P's Ghetto D hit number one on the album charts, Serv-On's Life Insurance (using the No Limit... [+] Read More

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Originally one of the leading rappers on Master P's No Limit record label, Mystikal quickly evolved beyond the label's clichéd thug trappings and found himself one of the Dirty South's most recognized rappers, alongside Juvenile. Like No Limit itself, Mystikal is a New Orleans native. He released an eponymous debut on the independent label Big... [+] Read More

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OutKast's blend of gritty Southern soul, fluid raps, and the rolling G-funk of their Organized Noize production crew epitomized the Atlanta wing of hip-hop's rising force, the Dirty South, during the late '90s. Along with Goodie Mob, OutKast took Southern hip-hop in bold, innovative new directions: less reliance on aggression, more positivity... [+] Read More

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I'm a hard working business man that aspire to be something in life. Luck doesn't usually come my way often, so I pray and work hard to accomplish my goals. I'm really a cool, laid back, fun person to be around if you get to know me. If you don't like me, it's probably because you don't know me. I'm outgoing and like to have fun, but I put my... [+] Read More

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Hip-hopper Tela came busting out of Memphis in 1996 with a contract for the Suave House label (Eightball & MJG). First album Piece of Mind appeared in November of that year; Now or Never followed in late 1998, and World Ain't Enuff in fall 2000. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

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Southern gangsta rappers Pimp C and Bun B formed UGK (aka Underground Kingz) in the late '80s and signed to Jive Records for their major label debut album, 1992's Too Hard to Swallow. After second album Super Tight..., UGK hit the R&B charts with 1996's Ridin' Dirty, which ascended to the number two spot. Dirty Money followed in late 2001. ~... [+] Read More

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Emerging in 1993, when Dr. Dre's G-funk had overtaken the hip-hop world, the Staten Island, NY-based Wu-Tang Clan proved to be the most revolutionary rap group of the mid-'90s -- and only partially because of their music. Turning the standard concept of a hip-hop crew inside out, the Wu-Tang Clan were assembled as a loose congregation of nine... [+] Read More

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