Top 10 Southern Rappers
Check the rules of my Mid Western Rappers post. Also, if you're mad Lil Wayne isn't on this list, blame the fact that the DMV could technically be considered the South.
Artist/Rank:
#10- Rick Ross
Where You Reppin':
Miami, Florida since his first studio album in 2006
Best Body of Work:
Teflon Don (July 2010) is the closest thing Rick Ross will have to a Thriller like album. Which is to say every track is a potential hit. I wasn't a Ross fan when he first came out, but he has been so consistent throughout his career. He went up against the king of beefs, 50 Cent, and came out making even better music and gaining more notoriety! I can't hate on someone like that. Rick Ross is the goods.
Artist/Rank:
#9- Ludacris
Where You Reppin':
Atlanta, Georgia since his first studio album in 2000
Best Body of Work:
Word of Mouf (November 2001) made it clear that Luda could deliver on dope hooks, nice punchlines, and straight spitting! You may have forgotten that Ludacris can spit due to his love for Hollywood but take a trip back to his album and remember that Luda HAS BARS and hit songs for days!
Artist/Rank:
#8- Wale
Where You Reppin':
Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia since his first solo album in 2009
Best Body of Work:
The Album About Nothing (March 2015) was a reminder that Wale can go in. Wale, like Big Sean, is better suited to putting out mixtapes and just going in. I have liked elements of most of his studio albums but The Album About Nothing was my second favourite album of 2015 and clearly his most focused and cohesive work. Even if it has Seindfeld all over it! Wale's word play and determined delivery are his best qualities. Plus he mixes the Go-go sound nicely into his work.
Artist/Rank:
#7- T.I.
Where You Reppin':
Atlanta, Georgia since his first studio album in 2001
Best Body of Work:
King (March 2006) is what I'm going with today because T.I. had an amazing first three album start to his career. T.I. was able to claim the King of the south because he had the music to prove it. Go ahead and tell me his first three albums aren't insanely good. Plus he kept the hits coming throughout the years. He even had one of my favourite projects out last year. A project that didn't rely on rims, and trap talk. It was a project about the current racial divide. Look at that, a rapper being socially conscious and making great music!
Artist/Rank:
#6- Killer Mike
Where You Reppin':
Atlanta, Georgia since his first studio album in 2003
Best Body of Work:
Run The Jewels 3 (December 2016) is like the third iteration of Killer Mike and he's only getting better. Killer Mike isn't just a great rapper, he's an excellent conversationalist. Especially if you want to talk about Police brutality and what it is to be black in 2017. Killer Mike went from Outkast offspring, to militant indie act, and now he's linked up with El-P and having his music played in Black Panther and George Clooney directed, Matt Damon Starring, Coen Brother scripted movie trailers and Edgar Wright films.
Artist/Rank:
#5- Pusha T
Where You Reppin':
Virginia Beach, Virginia since his first album with the Clipse in 2002
Best Body of Work:
King Push- Darkest Before the Dawn: The Prelude (December 2015) is just the latest in what is shaping up to be Pusha T becoming the best rapper as far as I'm concerned. When he was in the Clipse he was great, but, ever since Push went solo, he has kicked into another gear of spitting and I'm here for it! Here is the solo Pusha T starter pack just in case!
Artist/Rank:
#4- Bun B
Where You Reppin':
Port Arthur, Texas since his first studio album with UGK in 1992
Best Body of Work:
Trill (October 2005) doesn't just have a great JAY-Z verse on it. It's got a great energy all throughout always giving Bun a chance to showcase his skills over a great mix of southern and soulful beats. As you've probably noticed by now, a big part of what makes a rapper memorable to me is their voice. Bun B has one of those voices. He also has a delivery where you can hear every single syllable clearly. My friends and I used to say that Bun B is so clear he could teach ESL classes with his songs.
Artist/Rank:
#3- André 3000
Where You Reppin':
Atlanta, Georgia since his first album with Outkast in 1994
Best Body of Work:
Aquemini (September 1998) has too many personal favourites for me not to mention it in this section. All OutKast albums are great though! André has the perfect mix of wordplay and delivery that allows you to actually process how he's putting the words together. What's great about 3 Stacks is his overall artistry. You can't put him in any one box. He'll spit spit straight bars, give you a beautiful melody, or give you a semi spoken word poem at any given moment.
Artist/Rank:
#2- Big Boi
Where You Reppin':
Atlanta, Georgia since his first studio album with Outkast in 1994
Best Body of Work:
Sir Lucious Left Foot: the Son of Chico Dusty (July 2010) proved, more than Speakerboxxx that Big Boi doesn't need André 3000 to bring the heat. I always thought that but this album made sure everyone knew that. The reason I have Big Boi over 3000 is because this is a list of best rappers. André doesn't even have a solo rap album to his name. Even if you consider The Love Below a solo album, that isn't a rap album.
Artist/Rank:
#1- Scarface
Where You Reppin':
Houston, Texas since his first studio album with Geto Boys in 1989
Best Body of Work:
The Fix (August 2002) is an amazing album. I don't even know if I have to say why. Just click on that link and listen. Scarface has what I would call a cinematic voice. Every time he says something on a track it seems so important. You can definitely see what ever story he is painting with his words. He's not going to give you rapid fire slick lines, but he will draw you in and make you feel the pain and menace in every one of his stories. It doesn't hurt that "Mind Playing Tricks On Me" is one of my favourite hip hop songs period.
-YG