Erica Banks might be making more headlines for her controversial cosmetic surgeries and comments, but those ignoring her rap skills are sorely mistaken. The DeSoto, Texas Flow Queen has a knack for penning catchy melodies and lyrics and is one hell of run currently. These last several months especially, she has been doing a lot of her damage over on the YouTube side of things. Whether it be her multitude of freestyles over classic beats or the loosies, each kind of song manages to rake in lots of ears and eyeballs. Some of those releases have trickled over to streaming platforms, including “I Ain’t Fresh” and “ON HIS FACE”. Now Erica Banks has another with “Extra”.
The “Buss It” MC seems to prefer to work alone. But on “Extra”, she is pairing up with one of the many Memphis talents, Big Boogie. This track obviously has a lot of Southern hip-hop and trap elements, especially on the delivery side of things. Both of their deep cadences compliment the thick kicks and bass well as they brag about their lavish lifestyles. Banks and Boogie are totally ignoring the haters on this one too, so this collab simply oozes tons of cockiness. You can check out “Extra” and its music video with the link below.
I feel like poppin it, for no reason I’m like who getting taxed today They think a n**** be paying for all of this s*** so I brought out them racks today I’m showin my a**, literally So you know I want that today I got da baddest lil body since I got it touched
Sauce Walka sometimes gets forgotten when it comes to the stars that are from the state of Texas. Thankfully, there are fans and publications out there that show the Houston native his due respect. For example, Complex recently dropped their top 20 best rap verses of the year so far and he made the cut. Slotting in right at the 20th spot was his performance on the cover of Drake’s “8am in Charlotte” called “1 AM in Houston (Freestyle)”. It is an underrated series of bars, as the underground vet speaks passionately about police brutality. While Sauce Walka is not getting that deep on Saucefather 2, he is definitely bringing heaters.
This is the follow-up to his 2017 tape Saucefather, which was an solo project through and through. However, the sequel is full of high-profile features. Sauce Walka is giving fans a mixture of established superstars and up-and-comers. Travis Scott and Lil Yachty lead the way and BossMan Dlow and YTB Fatt round out a solid cast of co-stars. Sauce shows some love to his Southern hip-hop roots across the tape, throwing in some chopped and screwed sections at the end of each track. Check out Saucefather 2 with the streaming links below.
Boosie Badazz is someone who does not bite his tongue. If he feels a certain way about something, he is going to share his opinion, even it offends others. That is especially true on his brand-new song, “Letter to the LGBT”. It is essentially a commentary about the community that includes a half-baked apology. We say that because throughout the four-and-a-half-minute record, he talks about trans athletes, gender reassignment surgery and more. He even goes as far as to say, “I told him not to cut his d**k off”. This song is now on the “cold” opener on Russia, the latest album from Boosie Badazz.
This is alredy the fifth project from the prolific Louisiana rapper this year. Russia most recently follows up on Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas, which is only five days old. Before than Boosie’s fans were treated to another take on the Blues genre with Boosie Blues, as well as Bleek Mode and In House 2: Boosie and the Beast. On Russia, Boosie Badazz is giving you his familiar style of soulful trap on 12 tracks. What is also reoccurring here is that the features are held to a minimum. Just one guest makes the cut, and that is Og Dre on the closer, “Stuck On You”. If you want to hear what else Boosie is laying down, you can check out Russia with the streaming links below.
André 3000 tracks played an important role in the 1990s and helped Southern hip-hop move further into the limelight. Born André Lauren Benjamin, André 3000rose to prominence as one-half of the hip-hop duo OutKast. His partner in music was Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. The Southern hip-hop group originated in Atlanta, Georgia, and rose to national prominence off the strength of their first single “Player’s Ball.” Sean “Diddy” Combs, who filmed a music video, created part of the buzz around the song. He subsequently invited the group to open for The Notorious B.I.G. in New York.
After releasing a series of six critically and commercially successful albums across 15 years, OutKast went on an (almost) indefinite hiatus. During their run, the group released many iconic tracks. Each one built upon and spotlighted the Atlanta rapper’s status as a songwriter and rapper. This article hones in on seven essential André 3000 songs. Let’s jump in now.
“Hey Ya” (2004)
“Hey Ya” is quite possibly the most famous OutKast song of all time. The song was released as one of the two lead singles for 2004’s double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The track was extremely popular, reaching No. 1 in six countries and becoming the first iTunes song to reach one million downloads. André 3000 performed and wrote the track, with writing help from various session musicians over a multi-year period. Since its release, the song has appeared in numerous “best of” song lists.
“Da Art Of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)” (1999)
The third single off of OutKast’s third album Aquemini, “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)” a variety of publications have ranked the track as one of OutKast’s best. Confusingly, the song was released on the same day as Slick Rick’s album The Art of Storytelling — and Slick Rick is also featured on the single version of the song. In the track, André 3000 skillfully builds up and humanizes an unexpected figure: a pregnant drug user. André raps about their heart-to-heart conversation on a curb: “Talkin bout what we gon be when we grow up / I said what you wanna be and she said, ‘Alive.’” The subject matter and unusual approach easily make it one of the best André 3000 songs.
“Crumblin ‘Erb” (1994)
Although “Crumblin ‘Erb” wasn’t a single on OutKast’s 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, it might be the record’s hidden gem. When that album first dropped, The Source called this track “a slanky cathartic groove…for anyone who has ever had the hapless feeling of watching your peoples try extinction on for size.” Here we find André 3000 tackling the subjects of selfishness and violence in the South with a reluctant nonchalance. All that aside, this track’s catchy chorus alone lifts it up as one of the group’s best.
“Dracula’s Wedding” (2004)
André 3000 takes on the unexpected role of Dracula in this 2004 track. He’s preparing for his wedding, and his bride-to-be is the singer-songwriter and chef Kelis. The song is notable for displaying the speaker’s anxiety over being married, despite the woman being “all [he] ever wanted.” This comes after centuries of the vampire terrorizing endless amounts of people. Fans were excited when a comic-style music video for the song dropped at random last October, nearly 20 years after its initial release. The sheer imagination and strange humor on the track make it a classic André 3000 track.
“The Whole World” (2001)
“The Whole World” was one of four new OutKast tracks to appear on 2001’s compilation album, Big Boi and Dre Present… OutKast. The rest of the album collected songs from their first four full-lengths. The music video is notable for its high-production recreation of a circus. André 3000 appears as a magician with Día de los Muertos-style facepaint. The song won a Grammy for Best Rap Song Performance by a Duo or Group. It also featured a memorable verse from Killer Mike.
“Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” (2007)
This song by UGK has OutKast as a feature. It was recorded around the same time that OutKast was putting together their final album Idlewild. The first verse is delivered by André 3000, and the music video centers around his fictional wedding. While certain aspects of the wedding are outlandish – like André donning a red kilt – the sentiment of his verse is palpable. The verse catalogues the rapper’s experiences as he moves on from a life of flings and casual relationships and decides to enter into a lifelong commitment.
“Roses” (2004)
No list of André 3000 songs is complete with the addition of “Roses.” This track also came out on 2004’s double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It’s essentially a diss song, though it doesn’t target a single person – rather, superficial women in general. The iconic chorus is impossible to forget: “I know you’d like to think your s*** don’t stank, but / Lean a little bit closer, see / Roses really smell like boo-boo-ooh….” The track peaked at number one on both the US Hot Rap Songs and Australian Urban charts.
“I could be smooth and melodic or have some turned up level s***. I’m very versatile.” That is what rising Georgia rap star Baby Jungle told Hip Hop Since 1987 in a recent interview about his debut mixtape Jungle Book. “I feel like I have a unique sound. It’s the perfect mix of edgy flow patterns and melodies,” speaking with Kazi. “Different songs evoke different feelings.” Sometimes I want people to have fun and pop it… I want to encourage people where I’m from. Sometimes I want to help people dealing with depression.”
We can definitely see where Baby Jungle is coming from. In fact, we completely concur with the multi-hyphenate. His inspirations being Lil Baby, Juice WRLD, NBA YoungBoy, and Lil Durk makes sense. Across this impressively trim 12 song mixtape, Jungle mixes some beats and melodies that four of these rappers would deploy on their efforts.
That is especially the case on the backend of the record. Songs like “Frozen,” “Dark Clouds,” and “Never Run” are perfect examples of this varied skillset. Also helping get these visions on a fairly well-mixed record are the distributor(s) and his label, Epic Records. Furthermore, his talent is being recognized by some that either are established or almost there. DJ Drama, Rob49, Luh Tyler, are just a handful of them. This is definitely a great start for the youngster, and we definitely recommend hopping on the bandwagon now.
What are your thoughts on Never Gets Late Here by Baby Jungle? Do you think that this debut album has the ability to blow up Baby Jungle? Who had the strongest guest performance? What song do view as the best and why? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Baby Jungle. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Boosie Badazz is usually in the headlines these days for the honest comments about the genre, other artists, or beefs he is involved in. However, do not forget for one second how much the Louisiana native has poured into the genre musically speaking. Countless records and endless influence are have what made him a prominent figure regardless of your opinion about him. Recently, Boosie Badazz fed the streets again with a blues-inspired record, Boosie Blues.
This quickly follows up a collaboration album he did with Jit The Beast back in February. It was called In House 2: Boosie and the Beast, and it spanned 14 tracks. If you are thinking, “why is he doing a blues-esque album?” Well, this is not his first rodeo. If you go back to 2018, that year he put forth Boosie Blues Cafe.
It was a bit rough around the edges in terms of quality and some of the vocals. But on the quasi-sequel, Boosie has curated some more refined tracks. Some will still have to fight through the raspy, high-pitched cadence. However, there is some fun moments to be had.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new album Boosie Blues by Boosie Badazz? Out of his now two blues-inspired records which one do you prefer and why? Which track is the best out the bunch? Who had the best guest performance? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Boosie Badazz. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Bun B is one of the premier faces of Southern hip-hop. His legacy is firmly stamped in rap lore and will forever be remembered even after he decides to hang it up. He will be/is so easily recognized for his signature gravelly delivery and witty writing. He has tons of classic projects and his influence on the genre is almost unmatched. Over the weekend, Bun B came through with a new short project called YOKOZUNA TRILL.
The UGK member is still keeping up with some of the modern rapper’s outputs, as this is his third album in the last two years. Bun B has recently been working on his Trillstatikseries with legendary producer Statik Selektah. Currently, it is up to its third entry, with that one dropping right before the end of the holiday season last year. But Bun wanted to stray away from that and work on a separate project.
This album appears to be named after famed American-Samoan wrestler Agatupu Rodney Anoaʻi, or Yokozuna. He competed in Japan and most famously America, in the WWF (World Wrestling Federation). He portrayed a sumo wrestling champion from Japan, even though his roots are not from that country, according to Wikipedia. The origin of the album’s title appears to ring true, especially from the silhouette of massive sumo wrestler over a gorgeously painted sunset skyline. It seems Bun B is likening himself to the late dominant icon, and it makes sense. He is a true champion of making Southern hip-hop tracks and YOKOZUNA TRILL is full of gems.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new album YOKOZUNA TRILL by Bun B? Is this one of his better projects as of late, why or why not? Which song did he have the strongest performance on? Who had the best feature appearance on the project? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Bun B. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
YOKOZUNA TRILL Tracklist:
INTRO with Lil’Yukichi
Brand New with Lil Keke, Jessica Forest, DJ GO
Yokozuna Trill with OVER KILL
On The Low with Le$, Bohemia Lynch
Let’s Get To It with Koshy
At Night with Jay Worthy, Jack Freeman, DJ Deequite
Crime Mob, a pioneering force in the Southern Hip Hop scene, rose to prominence in the mid-2000s. Within that decade, the Atlanta-based group left its mark with hits like “Rock Yo Hips” and the classic “Knuck If You Buck.” With their distinct blend of crunk and unapologetic lyrics, the group earned a dedicated fan base and cemented their place in the genre’s history. Their work has also been sampled by artists like Erica Banks. As the years passed, the members of Crime Mob have navigated various personal and professional paths. For fans of the group who have wondered where they are now, here’s what they have been up to.
Crime Mob
Formed in 2002, Crime Mob was originally a group of six rappers, including M.I.G., Cyco Blac, Diamond, Princess, Lil’ Jay, and Killa C. However, following his arrest in 2003, Killa C left the group before they debuted in the music scene. Subsequently, Crime Mob introduced themselves to the world with their debut single, “Knuck If You Buck,” in 2004. Soon after, in August 2004, their self-titled debut album dropped. It appeared on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at No. 90. However, it failed to sell enough units to earn a Gold certification from RIAA. Nonetheless, it brought Crime Mob national fame and set the stage for the success of their subsequent release.
In 2006, Crime Mob released their sophomore album, Hated on Mostly. Peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, it is the group’s highest-charting album. While it isn’t certified in the US, the album spawned the hit song “Rock Yo Hips” ft. Lil Scrappy. Being that it peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Rock Yo Hips” is the group’s highest-charting single.
Since 2006, Crime Mob has not released any new albums. They disbanded in 2007 and only briefly reunited in 2012 to perform at Atlanta’s Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash. Everybody but Princess was present for the performance, and afterward, Crime Mob wasn’t seen together again for a while. However, in 2018, Mike Will Made It succeeded in getting the group back together to feature on “We Can Hit” from the Creed II movie soundtrack. While Crime Mob hasn’t released any new material since then, the group has continued to perform at festivals, shows, and whatnot.
After Crime Mob initially broke up, M.I.G. released his mixtape Small Circle, No Squares in 2010. While he hasn’t released any additional projects since, the rapper has continued working on music and performing with Crime Mob. He is also very active on social media. M.I.G. often gives fans glimpses of his personal life, especially on Instagram.
While mostly keeping a low profile, rapper and producer Lil’ Jay has kept busy over the years. He has produced work for several prominent artists, including Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj. Besides his solo endeavors as a producer, Lil’ Jay has shown up for Crime Mob over the years. Moreover, he continues to perform with the group.
Princess
Younger sister of Lil’ Jay, Princess is one of only two women in Crime Mob. Since the group first separated in 2007, Princess has released a number of solo projects. These include Takin Ova the Throne, Dirty Pop, and PSA. In addition, she promised to release an EP titled Southern Comfort in 2016. However, the EP has yet to drop, but she did become a mother in 2016. Subsequently, in 2019, Princess released Vagina Power, a collaborative EP with Diamond.
The youngest member of Crime Mob, Diamond has built up a successful solo career over the years. Although she is no longer a group member, she certainly made her mark when she was and will always be remembered by fans of Crime Mob. Since her exit from the group, Diamond has worked with several prominent artists, including Ludacris, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka, among others. With over ten projects to her name, Diamond has the most extensive solo catalog of all members of Crime Mob. Her most recent body of work, Slim Thick Reloaded, was released in February 2022. She also dropped a handful of singles in 2023, including “Pop Off,” “Bab,” and “BBL.”
Like Lil’ Jay, Cyco Blac produced several songs for Crime Mob, including “Go to War” and “All Madden.” While information about Blac is limited, he has continued to produce over the years. Additionally, he has a family and owns a cell phone store in Atlanta. Besides that, he’s maintained a low-key personal life.
Killa C
Although he is one of the founding members of Crime Mob, Killa C unfortunately did not get to enjoy the group’s success. As aforementioned, he dropped out of Crime Mob before their debut single was released. He spent time in jail for failing to register as a sex offender after being found guilty of child molestation. After the ordeal, he kept a very low profile for many years. However, in 2016, he appeared with other Crime Mob members in a post-show interview. Since then, not much has been seen or heard about the rapper.
NPR’s Tiny Desk is one of the great joys amongst hardcore music fans of all genres. The mixture of live instrumentation and star power has drawn many to YouTube to see the creativity come to life. We have seen plenty of standout performances this year. Action Bronson, Tyler, The Creator, Anderson .Paak, Post Malone, and more have brought their unique flavor to the table. The latest artist to perform was legendary Houston MC, Scarface. He has been one of the most iconic names from that richly-talented city.
Scarface was joined by his right-hand man, Mike Dean, for a six-song performance. The setlist included “On My Block,” “Mary Jane,” “Smile,” “I Seen a Man Die,” “F*** Faces,” and “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” According to Billboard, Tiny Desk producer DJ Cuzzin B could not help but gush about Scarface and Dean’s output. He called it the “best hip-hop Tiny Desk we’ve ever put out.”
The instrumentation was absolutely stunning. With Mike, that comes to be expected at this point. His keyboard and synth work is some of the best in the business. Scarface was equally impressive with heartfelt storytelling and spitting on the mic. You can check out the full show above.
What are your initial thoughts on Scarface’s Tiny Desk Concert for NPR? Is this the best live performance of the year, why or why not? If it is not, what hip-hop or hip-hop adjacent artist did better? Has this been the best year for Tiny Desk shows, why or why not? Is he the best rapper from the South? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Scarface and Mike Dean. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
Following the release of his debut album, 2001’s I’m Serious, T.I. was dropped from Arista Records. This led to his signing with Atlantic and starting his very own label, Grand Hustle. With the push of a new major label and his very own imprint, T.I. reached a wider audience with his 2023, now-Platinum-selling second album, Trap Muzik. The influential project, which included features from Mac Boney, Jazze Pha, 8Ball & MJG, and Bun B, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Additionally, it reached No. 2 on their R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. For its 20th anniversary, which arrived August 22, we’re looking back on Trap Muzik‘s impact and influence.
T.I. Established His Sound On His Second Album
T.I. displayed his rap skills to the world with I’m Serious. However, the album did not perform well commercially and was not warmly received by critics. He made sure to outperform his debut with his second album. T.I. established his own signature style, reaching new creative and commercial heights in the process. Trap Muzik is not what many people may consider “trap music” nowadays, but it painted a picture of “the trap” in its lyrics, laying the foundation for the subgenre.
The album revolves around life in “the trap” and the circumstances that come with the lifestyle of trapping. T.I. displayed some of the earliest iterations of trap music with hard-hitting street anthems like “Rubber Band Man” and “24’s.” He also shared different outlooks on the lifestyle with songs like the Kanye West-produced “Doin’ My Job.” With a uniquely Southern style and varying perspectives, Trap Muzik set the bar for T.I.’s signature sound in future works.
T.I.’s subsequent albums pushed him even further into mainstream success. After establishing his sound on Trap Muzik, he naturally progressed to securing his first No. 1 singles and Platinum albums. T.I. showed the growth of the themes of his sophomore effort in his later and most mature works like Dime Trap. Additionally, Trap Muzik’s impact and influence stands out in his expansive discography. It created the basis for trap music as a subgenre and was groundbreaking for not only T.I.’s career but also for the future of the South.
T.I. has often credited himself as the inventor of trap music, citing this album’s release date as the official birth of the subgenre. He certainly coined the term, but he was not the sole developer of what we now refer to as trap music. Artists like Gucci Mane and Jeezy made sizable contributions to the subgenre, though Trap Muzik precedes their first releases. Many label the album as gangsta rap or, more broadly, as Southern hip hop. T.I.’s second album helped usher in the new sound of the South, regardless of how one categorizes it.
The album has seen long-term impacts as trap music went on to dominate hip hop, becoming an era-defining sound. Twenty years later, trap music still leads in hip hop and has permeated other genres, including R&B, pop, and EDM. These impacts can be traced back to T.I. in 2003. Trap Muzik helped define the sound of Southern hip hop during the early 2000s, shaping the the genre’s future.
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