The Smoking Ace is also a music living, crate diggin, hip-hop head and I love my region’s hip-hop music, The Dirty South. I recorded VH1 Hip Hop Honors, The Dirty South, but did not get to look at until yesterday. I can tell you this as a hip-hop head from the south that………
VH1 either really hates southern hip-hop or don’t know jack-s@#@ about the history of Southern hip-hop because they got the whole concept wrong.
I can give you what they got right. Notably Luke Skywalker and the 2 Live Crew, JD, Master P, Trick Daddy, and Organized Noise. Scarface would have been honored also but I know why
Here is where the pure Sh@#$ery goes down.
You should have left it as “Vh1 Hip Hop Honors 2010″ – Scarface said it best in his blog when talking about the reason he decided to not accept being honored on the show.
Why would you categorize us as “Dirty South”? Why can’t you just honor some muthaf*ckers from down here and leave it like that? You ain’t gotta make us look extra country. We know where we’re from and we know where you’re from. We know where Hip Hop came from, man. We’re cool with that. I’m proud to be from Houston but don’t make a mockery of my accomplishments. We’re not “dirty” down here in the South anyway. This shyt down here probably cleaner than the rest of the country, cause we got grandmas down here. Our grandmas don’t play that shyt.
Bonecrusher should have never been on there – He is the reason for the quote from an episode called “Soul” off of CBS Cold Case .
“Steal a little, you a thief. Steal a lot, then you’re the king” –Lt. John Stillman, Cold Case
Bonecrusher, whether he likes it or not, stole the hit “Never Scared” from Mississippi’s Rap Duo Reese and Bigelow.
Since when does Virginia become “The Dirty South” – Last time I checked, they have a region of their own. They call it the “D-M-V.” When VH1 start honoring the DMV, then I would honor Timbo. VH1, “The Dirty South” consist of the following: Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The Carolinas have their own region and Virginia is part of the DMV which is a region of its own. ……..and speaking of Tennessee.
A Dirty South honor without Memphis hip-hop, Are you serious? – Let’s back track for a history on Southern Hip Hop 101, J Prince did represent Texas, but a 16- year old entrepreneur named Tony Draper started a label, based off the West Coast Death Row Records, called Suave House. Suave House consist of legendary Memphis pioneers Eightball and MJG, South Circle, Crime Boss, and Tela. Although Outkast had the South on lock being that Atlanta became the new hot spot, Suave House had the whole South on lock along with Rap-A-Lot records and Jive’s UGK. Eightball and MJG’s “Coming Out Hard” is still a bonafide classic album in the south, “Lay It Down” was the South’s national anthem, Tela’s “Sho Nuff” is the Nupes national strolling athem, and everybody learn the game in their classic song “Pimps.” Speaking of Memphis hip-hop, how the executives leave out the ONLY hip-hop group with an Oscar, Three-Six-Mafia. They were the reason for Crunk music. Before crunk, Triple-Six had people fighting in the club for no apparent reason.
If we are going to represent VA, why not Carolina hip-hop? – Everybody was reppin North Carolina when Petey Pablo came out with “Raise Up.” Also the most educated hip-hop group since Boogie Down Production is Little Brother. They were so good, BET banned the song “Loving It” from the video list. Speaking of the Justus League, what about 9th Wonder? He has made major contributions to Hip-hop producing (HBCU stand up!!).
No Outkast, or Geto Boys are you really serious? – Those two are hand-in-hand the RUN- DMCs of the South. Without Outkast, there will be no Organize Noised honored and without the Geto Boys, Texas will still be heard just from the south. They were the trendsetters out of the South. Both groups change the game in rap music. The Geto Boys were changing it with their raw and edgy lyrics that made people cringed. The first time I heard “Assassin” I was amped up. I see why the Insane Crown Posse, the craziest group that walk on Earth, remade the song. The Geto Boys were the first to sample lines from Brian De Palma epic classic movie “Scarface.” Outkast, on the other hand were 2 kids that were lyrical geniuses and serious go-gettaz. They have done it all, with all respect in the South.
If you wanted Missy on there so bad to represent the female MCs from the South, why not Mia X, or even Gangsta Boo? – I give Missy her credit in her contribution to hip-hop, but as far as southern female MCs, those two brought fear to the heart of male MCs in the house and their independence songs showed. Come on, ladies in the house was still humming “Where Dem Dollars At?” till this day.
Seriously, How in the HELL you leave out DJ Screw as a Honoree? – Without DJ Screw, there will be no “Screwed and Chopped.” Texas would be like any other hip-hop. That is what made Texas hip-hop so unique.
These are my rants and I am sticking to them.
How do you feel about VH1’s “Hip Hop Honors?” Where do you feel it missed the mark in Southern Hip-Hop?
Article by Chris Martin
Sometimes the truth needs to be told, and independence is a key towards your words. You can check me out at http://dasmokingace.blogspot.com/.
Chris has written 6 article(s) for us.
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Great post. You dropped a few jewels I wasnt aware of. I do know that many people including Outkast were asked to participate and didn’t/wouldn’t for whatever reason. I’m honestly not surprised at the upset feelings about this because while it’s a great event, VH1 and most Viacom creations never fully get the job done. Maybe my expectations are low so it doesnt bother me ass much. I dont know. I really would have liked to see more but it is what it is.
And I agree with Scarface 100%. Just keep it hip hop. No need to label it “Dirty South”
Great post with excellent points. I said the same things about 8 Ball, MJG, 3-6-Mafia, and DJ Screw on Twitter. The tipping point of this whole mess started when VH1 honored New Jack Swing a few years ago. They were telling us they were going down this path.
Also if they’re going to honor VA they left out a production I think people may have heard about. The Neptunes have just as many if not more hits than Timbaland.
great post. I’m from Virginia and was confused by them honoring Timbaland as well. and TOTALLY perplexed that there was no Tennesse representation. VA is the south, but not deep/dirty south by any means–its just too close to other regions. DMV is just the DC metro area (not the rest of Virginia–including the Tidewater area that Timbo is from, for clarification) or other parts of Maryland from my understanding. And I agree with Leon about including Neptunes if they were gonna do Tim. and excluding NC is craziness as well. LB ARE hip hop excellence, even if they don’t have mainstream notoriety and 65% of the viewing audience prob has never heard of them.
I heard that Outkast declined on being there, but they still attempted to show them props in the performances–which included NELLY AND MURPHY LEE–who are from the Midwest?! that was just crazy strange to me. Not sure where Asher Roth is from, but I bet its not the South, even though he wasn’t too bad on the Luda performance.
Great post. Glad to hear someone that knows about hip hop give their point of view. I watched the show mostly to see Luke. I see that there are some downloads that I must make. Thanks.
Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany
Ace,
This was a nice recap. Personally, I found the show to be pretty entertaining, much more so than prior editions honoring East Coast/NY rap.
A couple of thoughts:
* The DMV doesn't really include the Tidewater area of VA, it's most meant to describe the DC Metro Area. The part of VA where Missy, Timbaland, etc. are from is 3 hours away from DC. That said, lumping VA in with "The Dirty South" also seems kinda silly.
* Outkast clearly didn't want to be included, but their work was touched on during the Organized Noise segment. Neither did SOME of the Gheto Boyz (Willie D was there). I'm sure there's a story behind these glaring omissions that we're not privvy to.
* This show was clearly about commercially successful artists, so Little Brother/9th Wonder/Justus League didn't make the cut. Even though Petey Pablo had a hit or two, that's not enough for "honors" either.
* Agree with the Epic Fail on including female emcees not named Trina (Missy doesn't count).
* Epic Fail for completely overlooking T. Draper/Suave House/Memphis.
You said what I was going to say. Good thing I read this first. LOL
Everybody,
I thank you all for the comment. I had to re-do my research on the VA side and yes I (bleep) up on the that one, but still in Southern hip-hop heads, Timbo and the VA really are not "The Dirty South." The thing that got me is that David Banner (Mr. Suppose-to-be Mississippi) was talking about how "Mississippi we will be here soon," but did not say anything about Memphis be shafted. It was Memphis rappers who actually gave him and many people from Mississippi a voice. Many of those Memphis rappers (including Three-Six-Mafia, who actually did a concert at Alcorn State University 3 year prior to winning a grammy (I was there)) always showed Mississippi some love and we embraced them. So it really felt like a slap in the face to that region that lived and breeded off the Memphis rappers.
I just felt like this is from a hip hop head that bred into Southern Rap that knew what artists pave the way for many of the Southern artist you see now.
VH1 fucked us. when that shit went off, i was mad cuz they didnt say nuthin about dj screw. and i woulda thought they woulda said a little bit bout dallas since its the next southern rap city. if they gon honor us, honor us right! and half them niggas that was performin wasnt even from the south. why the fuck drake on there?! just cuz he bang screw and fuck wit lil wayne dont mean shit! he from south canada thats all i can think of. and since drake love houston, i woulda thought they woulda mentioned s.u.c, but they left out the whole southside houston! they left out all them niggas from memphis, maaan hol' up!
VA is a part of the South… DMV refers to DC, Maryland, and NORTHERN VA!! Northern VA is completely different then Richmond, Petersburg, Hampton, Norfolk, etc….COMPLETELY different cultures, stles, etc. Northern VA is really affiliated with the North and everything below is wit the South
You couldn't have said it better. Great article. Really fuckin great shit that needed to be said. They know shit about the south. The producers of that shit probly ain't never even been in the dirty. Three 6 mafia being left out? C'MON MAN!!!!!!!!
And definately can't forget about dj screw. R.I.P. Also why does it have to be a dirty south version for these legengs to get honored. Like they shouldn't be honored in a regular hip hop honors