The Imminent Decline Of Southern Rap

by M.T. Richards

Four years ago, Southern rap heroes UGK commanded listeners, without much discretion, to “Quit Hatin’ the South.” Nobody hates on the South now. From New Orleans’ native son Lil Weezy to Rick Ross in Miami, many of today’s most formidable hip-hop artists reside below the vaunted Mason-Dixon Line. Musically, Southern rap is often bombastic to the point of extravagance, splitting the difference between retro-futuristic funk, Miami bass, grimy Delta blues and various other sounds. You don’t have to be a technical wiz to sound capable over these deliriously inspired tracks, but for the better part of a decade, Southern MCs, both noteworthy and not, have been the defining voice of hip-hop.

Last June, British rapper Giggs spoke of his affinity toward Southern rap in the pages of Spin; it was a testament to the music’s far-reaching appeal. But has the South lost its edge?

That question may seem implausible, given the high volume of popular Southern rap. Still, compared to 2006 — when T.I.’s King, Clipse’s Hell Hath No Fury, Trae’s Restless, Fiend’s The Addiction: Hope Is Near, and Killer Mike’s I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind elicited widespread enthusiasm — rap in the Deep South no longer (more…)

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