The Dirty South
Disappointingly for all the Drive By Truckers fans, this is the fourth of my world famous 94-96 hip hop posts, cunning focused on the South.
Considering there are so many more high profile artists and lables (rap-a-lot and no limit to name but two), it was suprisingly difficult to pull this one together, but that just could be because I’ve listened to a helluva lot of mid-ninties hip hop recently – I might have to stick on some Prefuse 73 and have a lie down.
Still, there are some ultrabangers in the list, though no Bubba was available, sorry Shogz. That said, it has been suggested that I do a final also-ran’s list of 10 more tracks that didn’t quite make the cut.
Poison Clan – Fire Up This Funk
The Clan are representing the Miami/Booty Bass side of the south, for the purposes of this list. This is from Poison Clan’s ‘95 effort Strait Zooism, which is pretty much as sleazy and funkified as you’d expect, and a pretty nice way to start things off.
Scarface – The Diary
The first of the rap-a-lotters on here, this is the title track from Scarface’s third solo album, all of which are well worth copping if you haven’t already.
UGK – One Day
I really like the soulful hook on this Underground Kings cut from Ridin’ Dirty. Allegedly UGK have a new album out this year, now that Pimp C’s out of the joint, but last time I looked it’s release date had been pushed. Still, likely to be essential when it finally does drop.
Geto Boys – Blind Leading The Blind
Obviously the Geto Boys would feature, as their gansgerism really dominated the southern sound through the early and mid-ninties. This is from The Resurrection (obviously a popular title at the time), one of the best rap albums released, well, ever.
Mystikal – Y’all Ain’t Ready Yet
Mystikal’s second (I believe) album Mind of Mystikal is full of this kind of wildfire rhyming that made him a No Limit stalwart. I wasn’t a massive fan of his later stuff (his next three albums went platinum though), but this track really works.
Goodie Mob – Dirty South
The track that popularised the term, this is a great bit of drug story telling over a minimal beat, with an anthemic chanted hook. Heavy as.
Outkast – Crumblin Erb
With all their Hey Ya’ing and various pop moves, it’s easy to forget just how well Outkast can rap, which they ably demonstrate all through Southernplayalisticadillacmusik (I’m just winging the spelling there). Still, in common with a lot of the other southern artists at the time they mix it up with a soulful sung hook, which works nicely.
Willie D – Is It Real
Another Geto Boy, Willie D puts it down with this mind playin’ tricks follow up type thingy. Still, I’ve not really got much clue what’s he’s on about in the last verse – I’m sure those more au fait with GB lore will get it.
Master P – Mr. Ice Cream Man
Mr Miller, other than being a top movie director, also occasionally released a rap record. Can’t stop the tank.
Odd Squad – Jazz Rendition
Another Rap-A-Lot group, Devin the Dude, Jugg Mugg and Rob Quest put out just the one record, Fadanuf Fa Erybody, as far as I know, but it is a cracker. I am not particularly familiar with Jugg Mugg orRob Quest’s careers, but Devin’s later stuff is well worth checking.
And that’s the lot. Thanks for playing, come again.
Hot damn son! He finally did it. Covered all the globe in search of the hop of hip and at its peak of juice in the 90’s.
Thanks for trying to find the Sparx, I guess he was a no hit wonder back then, damn but I remember him on some mix tapes I’m sure.
Anyhow, let this series stand as a testament to all hiphophistorians, you could even rival the Naz man on his knowledge of tha history. Keepin it alive and real.
He was definitely about, but a bit tricky to find. Pretty much everything on here (and in the the whole series mostly) went at least gold, which makes getting it a bit easier