South vs. North: Why Is Southern Hip-Hop On Top?
I had a conversation with a group of young hip-hoppers recently. The subject was why does it seem like the south is dominating mainstream hip-hop? From radio airplay, album sales to simply the trends: the grills, the dances, the oversized tees, can we truly pinpoint what it is that is keeping the dirty south on top?
Based on the stats from Billboard.com, only one northern artist is on the list with a hot single or album at the moment: Mims. But the south currently has several southern artists who are holding their region down that includes Unk, Rich Boy, T.I., Young Buck, and Young Jeezy to name a few. Again I ask; why there aren’t more artists from the north listed?
The first names that come to mind when I think of mainstream cats from the north are Jay Z, Nas, 50 Cent, and Eminem; but in comparison to the south, you hear and see more of southern artists than that of their northern counterparts.
As a Maryland resident, technically I am from the south, just not the deep south. Any state below the Mason-Dixon is a southern state legally. So for some of us here, it is easy to attach ourselves to northern hip-hop, others favor dirty south hip-hop and for people like me, we create and love a variety of it all. (I guess because Maryland is in the middle). So, I pretty much gravitate to what I think is real and what I think is hot. Despite my personal views on what I believe real hip-hop is, I still listen and analyze all of it.
So on any given day I may be rotating something from the south in my MP3 player or from the north; but as I reflect on 2007 in comparison to 1997, the big difference is evident; northern hip-hop is not as prevalent. Is it the lack of northern dance songs, the lack of northern trends? Or is simply that mainstream radio is not spinning northern artists like the southern? Could it simply mean that hip-hop is changing? Well, change is evident, but will this change kill or revive mainstream hip-hop, hip-hop in general? Or could it be like my boy says, “…it’s simply the south’s time to shine.”
Whatever the case, what I find common about almost every southern hip-hop song is the rhythm, style of drum and message. Almost everyone one of the songs rotated has a similar sound and beat; that trademark southern flavor. Beats that push you to participate in the various dances the south has coined; getting “crunk” in the club. The north has a unique sound as well; but there haven’t been many songs in the past few years that get the people “amped” up like those from the south. There really hasn’t been many that even make me say “oh sh*t!” when I hear them on the radio.
Could it just be me? Could it be that there are plenty of hot northern tracks on the radio and I am just not feeling them personally, possibly? Or could this pattern I speak of be the truth and agreed upon by the masses? Whether some agree or not, there is a southern dominance present, causing an imbalance in the music we hear. I personal feel there is a lack of creativity and soulfulness in both regions but the beat and rhythm is what is keeping many afloat. I believe the south has become more appealing to our youth, the main reason why they have been consistently at the top of the charts. What I have come to realize is young people buy CD’s and MP3 downloads more than those of my age range, so if you can appeal to the young audience, you will do well.
by Guest Author: ScholarMan
Copyright © 2007. C. Schmidt. All Rights Reserved.
NeoRealist wrote:
Yea I just posted a 50 interview where I asked him about that..he blames the South for rap’s lack of complexity…hmmm
Posted on 19-Jun-07 at 3:26 pm | Permalink
Heda wrote:
Check this MIMS interview its kinda bout that
http://www.mimsmusic.net/0D6FCFFFF00001DD900060000CEEF/Content/ContentDetail.aspx
Posted on 19-Jun-07 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
ScholarMan wrote:
LOL @ 50 Cent for “lack of complexity.” His name alone shows how complex he really is.
I tried to check out that Mims link but it didnt work.
Posted on 20-Jun-07 at 5:50 am | Permalink
Heda wrote:
MIMS link works for me but you can just go to the official site and click on Videos and you will see it
http://www.mimsmusic.net
Posted on 20-Jun-07 at 12:46 pm | Permalink
Pete Tan wrote:
Great article! It’s funny, the other day someone referred to today’s pop rap as “ringtone music.” People really don’t even wanna hear the words anymore.
These days, people don’t want to think about music, or any art, really. Whatever can stimulate you for a few moments to escape reality. Consumerism is the latest drug. “Hottest thing since crack in ‘85!”
Posted on 20-Jun-07 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
WildBunch wrote:
There is no doubt the south is doing it big.That being said ,i must also add that Hip Hop is the foundation.It is our voice of the streets and shouldn’t be limited to any area or group of people or any form of itself like Crunk or rap or whatever one would call their own version of it.I’m from New York but salute all my people making music and money whether its the derty south ,westcoast ,or midwest.We need to remember where it all started ,show some loyalty and stop letting these major labels and the media dictate this thing of ours .New York or northern Hip Hop will always be a driving force in Hip Hop and hip hop will never die but we need to tighten up our think and our grip on this thing. Its ours and we need to protect it. Its our responsibility.Support the independant dj’s and artists too.salute to all my brothers and sister hip hop heads on the grind..Its forever Hip Hop.
Posted on 29-Jun-07 at 6:36 am | Permalink
StuckintheA wrote:
I’m from New York and I live in Atlanta, GA. I really have no respect for Southern artist, except for Outkast and T.I. in some respects. I feel like southern hip hop all sounds the same. Most listeners from the north like lyrical complexity with a tight beat. So we bump Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Jay Z. Only reason southern music plays on the radio is because you can dance to it. People buy it cause they can dance to it. It’s not “listening music” you can just move to it.
Southern rap as a whole sounds like unintelligent babbling. I take this for example, you have Webbie’s Independent. Ok Ok hot beat, catchy, but as whole sounds like every other southern hip hop song. Kweli does a remix and uses the same beat but spits something with some meaning. Kweli’s version appeals to me.
Another thing is staying power. Think of the classic songs that still get play today…where they from for the most part? Northern artist. Southern rap is done once the rotation on the radio is gone. You forget about the song because the next song that comes out sounds exactly the same.
Outkast gets my props though cause they switch the style up. TI even did a little of that too on his last album. But everyone else is straight garbage.
I ain’t out to blast mainstream hip hop artist either. I just think in terms of quality of music, the North takes the gold. Quality doesn’t always get airplay or record sales.
Posted on 18-Apr-08 at 6:06 am | Permalink
Pill Possum wrote:
the south is so much more popular because southern artists work harder and put more heart into each song. rappers like lil’ wayne will do like 40 songs a month, they work together and collaborate in big groups because in the south it’s not all about you. as for lyrical creativity attacks on the south that’s crazy, southern rappers just value ridin beats highly and so do modern listeners. If northern rappers would focus on this more than they’d be more popular guys like fat joe, mims, and jadakiss do and they all have strong followings. Northern artists should also recognize the south people who can’t sell like nas try and attack it when they should just work with it.
Posted on 13-Jul-08 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
doneoz wrote:
I would like to start of by saying that right now I am sitting down watching the hip hop awards, and regardless of who wins or loses or what region has more hits I am really enjoying the awards. I was born and raised in New York and will be the first to say that my CD collection consist of mostly northern artist like Jay-Z, Biggie, NAS, Common, Talib, and Mos Def. My younger brother’s collection on the other hand consists TI, Luda, Outcast, Lil Wayne, and UGK, and he grew up in the same house as myself. I say this because we forget that hip hop is about generations, and today’s generations have chosen southern rap as their music. This bitterness between northern and southern hip hopsters needs to stop, and we need to just listen to what we like and let everyone else enjoy their music. Love the music people because it is a culture regardless of its origin or where it stands today.
Posted on 23-Oct-08 at 9:12 pm | Permalink
catchg28 wrote:
We all know “hip hop” originated up north and blah, blah, blah… But its kind of funny how when the west coast was doing their thing, the whole east coast west coast beef came up, and now that the south is on top (and it is on top, turn your radios on) hip hop is all of a sudden dead? … Yea, I guess hio hop is dead……, in the North!
Posted on 08-Nov-08 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
H-townRepasenta wrote:
All I have to say is please don’t compare rap music from Texas to anywhere or anything else especially from Atlanta. Texas music is so different from the other South stuff you hear nowadays and do you know?? but the King of the South is from Texas baby: Robin Davis..look him up. Texas represents country rap tunes and there’s no comparison to what you here in the mainstream world of radio. Also no comparison to New York hits…period. But ya know it’s about preference…Texas rap tunes is on a whole other level compared to most rap music. And you can’t get any more real than the lyrics from down there. As Pimp C said, we don’t wanna be down with you b*tch a** n*****! These country rap tunes…so you can separate us from the rest…
Posted on 10-Dec-08 at 2:10 pm | Permalink
shawty wrote:
I wish they would put some artist ont the east coast on Im listen to underground rep an I like Hashimbing his mix tape I found it on mixtapepass.com Its called the Larry Davis Tapes He’s Nice
Posted on 28-Dec-08 at 9:53 pm | Permalink
shawty wrote:
I think that the east coast is scared and running to the south not giving the proper dudes a chance cause they think that lil wayne is it. Jay -z 50 and Diddy need to get more Ny dudes and put them on so the hood could stop struggling with broke rappers. I don’t think they want to put anyone on cause they don’t want to share the money or the lime light. I guess they not really want this music to stay down south. I like the south thoe they are having fun with the music. NY wants to fight like 50 always hating on other rappers in NY there is no unity in NY that’s why the hip hop is down south
Posted on 28-Dec-08 at 10:07 pm | Permalink
shawty wrote:
I think that the east coast is scared and running to the south not giving the proper dudes a chance cause they think that lil wayne is it. Jay -z 50 and Diddy need to get more Ny dudes and put them on so the hood could stop struggling with broke rappers. I don’t think they want to put anyone on cause they don’t want to share the money or the lime light. I guess they not really want this music to stay down south. I like the south thoe they are having fun with the music. NY wants to fight like 50 always hating on other rappers in NY there is no unity in NY that’s why the hip hop is down south. They are a union together and it’s kicking NY but! we need to step up our game on the eastcoast
Posted on 28-Dec-08 at 10:10 pm | Permalink
Mario Saddiq wrote:
The Dirty South has been on top since 1995, and we are still dominating the industry.
Posted on 21-Feb-09 at 6:39 pm | Permalink
dc wrote:
MARYLAND IS NOT THE SOUTH.AND THE MASON DIXON LINE IS ANCIENT AND PLAYED OUT.MARYLAND IS PART OF THE BOSWASH MEGAPOLIS WHICH IS A LIST OF 5 CITIES THAT DIAGONALLY GO DOWN THE NORTHEAST
Posted on 04-May-09 at 7:46 am | Permalink
C. J. wrote:
You people have 2 know that it’s not just the south that’s causing the problems we have 2day, it’s camercial music period. I mean you have rappers that aren’t from the south but are still garbage like, Lil Mamma, New Boyz, Crank Dat Boyz, & others. All we have 2 do is do what we did back then (mix sick flows with sick beats), I mean think about it, why do people play the music from the south? because they have that kind of music that makes you wanna dance 2 (southern style). Remember Ma$e, MC Hammer, Salt-N-Pepa, & people like those? because they had 100% Quality Hip Hop Music because they combine dope rhymes with dope beats. So 4 all you underground rappers that ain’t getting any airplay from the radio stations, STOP MAKING BORING BEATS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FALL A SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKE SOME MUSIC BUT WITH A GOOD, SKILLED, LYRICAL, POETIC MESSAGE!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 19-Sep-09 at 6:18 am | Permalink
C. J. wrote:
AND P. S. SHOUT OUT 2 DA REAL HIP HOP CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, JERSY, L. A, COMPTON, OAKLAND, LONG BEACH, PHILLY, CHICAGO, & MY OWN HOMETOWN, CLEVELAND!!!
YAW SOUTH PEOPLEZ IZ GOIN DOWN CUZ THE EAST COAST, WEST COAST, MIDWEST, & ALL OF THE NORTH IZ COMIN BACK 4 REVENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on 19-Sep-09 at 6:25 am | Permalink
badd mami* wrote:
um okay well my opinion is that the north had their time and now its the south’s turn. aolt of northerners especially New Yorkers, have always been put on a pedistle so now that they’re having to take the back seat they’re mad. i LOVE jay-z and a few others but i also love t.i,gucci mane, lil wayne and lots more. what i’m trying to say is basically im tired of hearing that the south killed hip hop. no, we didnt. frankly i dont see the north doing SHIT except fo jay-z and maino lol. and um maino isn’t all that LYRICAL. so if someone isnt lyrical it doesnt matter where they’re from. so THE END :]
Posted on 26-Sep-09 at 7:58 pm | Permalink
truth spitter wrote:
Jay z said it best the originator none greater, Hip hop could of never originated from the south or anywhere else, it was just a cool that originated in nyc that wasn’t really found anywhere else, but as the saying goes monkeys see monkeys do.Hiphop is the product of a gritty street life envionment rapping djaying grafitti breakdancing and so on, thats hiphop, In a sense business made it available to the masses, which was a blessing for the world, but busines is business and money will be its bottom line, and when its done with something there is usually something else it can get its greedy paws on. Hip hop taught the world how to dress speak floss swag being fresh dope and all that, without that I’m sorry to say I’ve been in parts of the south back in the day and cats were super corny stuck in 1983, now I go back there and its seems like the new generation is fairing better, why because I would say the internet has has been an instant gratification tool in learning about whats going on in other places rather then waiting for a tv show a music video or a concert to gawk at whats what. Hip Hop is a technology from nyc people pay hommage no other ground on earth was fertile enough for its conception, its a science and mathematics from the north, but once something is taught it cant be untaught so we’ll see what happens but all yall talking this shit about nyc, trust me that same cool that allowed the forefathers of hiphhop to create the shit is still there don’t sleep. Oh yeah do some research for what ever your region is as far as the earliest imitations of hiphop before they started getting certain shit correct most of that shit was wack, thats why I give the utmost props to those who started the shit, they had nothing to work with and they did it, son come on credit is infinitely due word up we all stand on the shoulders of giants..
Posted on 20-May-10 at 11:16 am | Permalink
xxaj11234xx wrote:
Just stop whining. The south is on top. The north had its time. Northern rappers are hot, dont get it twisted, but they lack one thing, and in my opinion, always have. BEATS. noone cares about a hot verse when the beat is trash. Anyone can talk a line, what makes hip hop is the message AND a hot beat to flow wit. Instead of whining, take a lesson, and step up the beats, then maybe you be back on top again.
Posted on 05-Aug-10 at 11:28 pm | Permalink
KLEARJOFFICIAL wrote:
I DO A LIL OF BOTH TYPES OF MUSIC BUT SOUTH IS MORE PREVALENT IN MY SOUND MAINLY BECAUSE I’M FROM THE SOUTH!!
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Posted on 31-Aug-10 at 6:50 am | Permalink