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 Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Memphis, and Miami—five cities which constitute the "Southern Network" in rap music.
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by the stage names T.I. and Tip, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris is known as one of the pioneers of the hip hop subgenre trap music, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Jeezy and Gucci Mane. Harris first became aquainted with local music executive Kawan "KP" Prather, and joined his company Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment by the late 1990s. He was led to sign his first major-label record deal in 1999 with its parent company LaFace Records, an imprint of Arista Records. His debut studio album, I'm Serious (2001) was met with lukewarm commercial reception and became his only release with the label. He then signed with Atlantic Records, where he soon reached his mainstream breakthrough and co-founded his own label imprint, Grand Hustle Records by 2003.
Although the music scene of Atlanta is rich and varied, the city's production of hip-hop music has been especially noteworthy, acclaimed, and commercially successful. 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.
Boyz n da Hood is the debut studio album by American Southern hip hop group Boyz n da Hood. It was released on June 21, 2005 through Bad Boy South/Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at Sho'Nuff Studios, PatchWerk Recording Studios, The Zone, 730 Beat Street, Futuristic Recording Studios and D.A.R.P. Studios in Atlanta and at Circle House Studios in Miami. Production was handled by Jazze Pha, Nitti, Drumma Boy, Crown Kingz Productions, DJ Toomp, Erick Sermon, Horace "Bubba" Mitchell, Jasper Cameron, Keith Mack, Midnight Black, Sanchez Holmes and Swizzo, with P. Diddy and Russell Spencer serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Eazy-E, Jazze Pha, Puff Daddy, Rick Ross and Young Malice. The album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and number-one on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts in the United States. Its lead single, "Dem Boyz", reached number No. 13 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
Trap Muzik is the second studio album by the American rapper T.I., released on August 19, 2003, by Atlantic and his newly founded record label Grand Hustle. Due to the poor sales on T.I.'s first album, I'm Serious (2001), T.I. asked for a joint venture deal with Arista Records or to be released from his contract; he was subsequently dropped from the label. In 2002, T.I. launched Grand Hustle with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and signed a new deal with Atlantic Records.
Grand Hustle Records, also known as Hustle Gang Music, is an American hip hop record label, founded in 2003, by American rapper T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. The label was distributed by Atlantic Records until December 2012, and has since operated as an independent record label. Its roster has included acts such as 8Ball & MJG, B.o.B, Killer Mike, Young Dro, DJ Drama, Meek Mill, Chip, Travis Scott, and Trae tha Truth, the latter of whom also served as the label's vice president. The label also houses a roster of record producers, which has included Lil' C, Mars and Nard & B.
King, is the fourth studio album by American rapper T.I., released on March 28, 2006, through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took one and a half years to complete in late 2005 according to T.I. in an interview with MTV News. Production was handled by several high-profile record producers, including DJ Toomp, Just Blaze, Mannie Fresh, Swizz Beatz, Keith Mack, Travis Barker, The Neptunes, Kevin "Khao" Cates, Nick "Fury" Loftin, and Tony Galvin, among others. The album also serves as the soundtrack to T.I.’s feature film debut, ATL.
Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album is the debut studio album by American Southern hip hop group Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz. It was released on October 21, 1997, via Mirror Image Entertainment. Recording sessions took place at Entertainment International Studios, Purple Dragon Studios and KALA Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Lil' Jon and DJ Toomp, with Kool-Ace and Carlos Glover serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Playa Poncho, Disco Rick, DJ Kizzy Rock, Kool-Ace, Darryl E., DJ Pryme, Shorty Pimp, Jazze Pha, Romance and The East Side Girlz, with cameo appearances from Ayuna Burnett, Chris Smith, Nikki Jones, Jermaine Dupri, Emperor Searcy, Greg Street, Robert McDowell, Candice Austin, Stephanie Holder, Dee Dee Hibbler-Murray and Organized Noize's Ray Murray.
Wood Work is the only studio album by Decatur-based Southern hip hop duo Da BackWudz. It was released on April 18, 2006 via Rowdy Records. Production was handled by Milwaukee Black and Dallas Austin, both also served as executive producers, as well as Aleem Hood, Chris "Hammy" Norman, DJ Toomp, Mr. DJ, Organized Noize, and The Execs. It features guest appearances from Aleem Hood, BIg Gipp, Bo Hagon, Bud, Caz Clay, George Clinton, Jasper Cameron, Jeff B, Killer Mike, Milwaukee Black, Nas, Sleepy Brown and Slim Thug.
Street Fame is the third solo studio album by American rapper Twisted Black. It was released on March 6, 2007 via Scarred 4 Life Entertainment and TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at 3R Studios in Arlington and N'Zone Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Nick Magallanes, Tim Hunt, Brian Allen, Ernie G., Cleo Butler, Daryl Marshall, Daryl Ray Law, DJ Toomp and Erotic D., with Steve Gottlieb and James Eichelberger serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Butta, Chyna Whyte, Daryl Marshall, Gold Finger, Hogg, Keese, Kylo, Mike Dollars, Sielio, Syi, Thump and Yo Gotti.
"Big Brother" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released as the closing track on his third studio album, Graduation (2007). West co-wrote the song with Toomp, who was the sole producer. It originally utilized Prince's "It's Gonna Be Lonely" for the beat, until he refused to approve and a re-recording was done. The song was written by West as a tribute to his close friend and mentor Jay-Z, who has shown his appreciation for it. West first teased the song in August 2007 for the BBC Radio 1Xtra event "Audience with Kanye West". A hip hop song with synths, it features a varied pace of rapping from West. In the lyrics, West introspectively examines the complexities of his friendship with Jay-Z.
Christopher James Gholson, better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is an American record producer and rapper.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2009.
No Mercy is the seventh studio album by American rapper T.I. Originally titled King Uncaged, It was released on December 7, 2010, by Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2009 to 2010. Production was handled by several high-profile record producers, including Kanye West, Polow da Don, The-Dream, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, The Neptunes, TrackSlayerz, Jake One, T-Minus, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Rico Love, Alex da Kid, DJ Toomp, Jim Jonsin, Danja and Dr. Luke, among others. The album also features guest appearances from several prominent artists such as Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Scarface, Chris Brown, Eminem, The-Dream, Trey Songz, Pharrell, Drake, Christina Aguilera and Rick Ross, among others.
Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head is the eighth studio album by American rapper T.I. It was released on December 18, 2012, by Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. The production was provided by some of T.I.'s longtime collaborators; including DJ Toomp, Jazze Pha, Pharrell Williams and Lil' C. These high-profile record producers such as T-Minus, Cardiak, No I.D., Rico Love, Planet VI, Tommy Brown and Chuck Diesel, also contributed to the album. The album features guest appearances from P!nk, Lil Wayne, André 3000, R. Kelly, Akon, Meek Mill, CeeLo Green, ASAP Rocky, Trae tha Truth, Victoria Monet and Grand Hustle's own D.O.P.E.
Kiss the Ring is the sixth studio album by American disc jockey and record producer DJ Khaled. It was released under We the Best Music Group, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Republic Records on August 21, 2012. The album was supported by the singles "Take It to the Head" and "I Wish You Would", both of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at numbers 58 and 78, respectively. The album features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Ace Hood, Plies, Lil Wayne, T.I., Future, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, T-Pain, Scarface, Nas, DJ Premier, French Montana, Jadakiss, Birdman, 2 Chainz, Wale, Tyga, Kirko Bangz, Mavado and Mack Maine.
Atlanta has a thriving music industry and is considered to be a capital of hip-hop including crunk, of R&B and its offshoot neo-soul, and of gospel music - in addition to a thriving indie-rock and live music scene. Classical, country and blues have historically been well represented. From the 1920s through 1950s the city was a major center for country music.
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States, with lyrical references to trap starting in 1991 but the modern sound of trap appearing in 1999. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang term "trap house", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesized drums and is characterized by complex hi-hat patterns, snare drums, bass drums, some tuned with a long decay to emit a bass frequency, and lyrical content that often focuses on drug use and urban violence.
Paperwork is the ninth studio album by American rapper T.I. It was released on October 21, 2014, by Grand Hustle Records and Columbia Records. The album is his first project under Columbia Records, after his contract with Atlantic Records expired, following the release of his eighth album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012). Paperwork derives its title from T.I.'s most successful project, his sixth album Paper Trail (2008). Paperwork features guest appearances from Chris Brown, The-Dream, Jeezy, Skylar Grey, Nipsey Hussle, Rick Ross, Victoria Monet, Trae tha Truth and Pharrell Williams, the latter of which served as the album's executive producer. Aside from Pharrell, the album's production was handled by several high-profile producers such as DJ Mustard, DJ Toomp, Tommy Brown and London on da Track, among others.
Mark D. Ross, better known by his stage name Brother Marquis, is an American rapper and a Miami bass pioneer. Ross was born in Rochester, New York, in his teens, and with his mother, they moved to Los Angeles, California. By the early 1980s, Ross started to release music with his group The Cautious Crew, and shortly after he made an impression DJ and producer David Hobbs due to his battle rap abilities. At the time, Hobbs was part of a group named 2 Live Crew, who had just created the Miami Bass blueprint, and were successful in Florida. Eventually a member of the group left, and Ross accepted an invitation to replace him. Due to his comedic sensibilities, Ross integrated easily into the direction the group was taking. Alongside Hobbs, Christopher Wong Won, and Luther Campbell, they became the most well-known line up of the group. In 1986, they had a breakthrough with their Gold-certified debut album, The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are.
