The South Got Something to Say: How the South Took Over Rap (’95–’05) | Grown Man Bars

Chad (your favorite rap nerd) and Big Absoloot pull up the barber chairs to answer a simple question with a messy history: did the South take over rap—and did it ever give the crown back? We trace the shift from ’88 foundations to the 1995 Source Awards “South got something to say” moment, then ride through the club/strip club/skating-rink circuit that broke records across Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis and beyond. We get into crunk’s explosion, chopped & screwed’s influence, the rise of trap, and how moguls like Master P, Cash Money, Rap-A-Lot and Suave House built systems that moved the whole culture.

Plus: the Absolute Truth on why crunk unified the South, the real story behind UGK on “Big Pimpin’,” and an Era-vs-Era showdown—2005 South vs 1995 East. We close with our Shop Top 5 greatest Southern MCs (Face, Wayne, 3 Stacks…and some spicy picks).

Chapters
0:00 Cold open & banter
5:10 From ’88 to ’94: setting the stage
12:40 1995 Source Awards & Andre’s moment
20:30 How the South breaks records: park, strip, rink
30:05 Crunk & chopped/screwed change the game
39:50 Labels, moguls & “farm systems”
48:20 The “Big Pimpin’” UGK/Jay-Z story
55:00 Era vs Era: 2005 South vs 1995 East
1:05:00 Shop Top 5 Southern MCs
1:14:00 Wrap & next week’s teaser (Mixtape Era)

If you’re rocking with the show, follow, rate ★★★★★, and drop your Top 5 Southern MCs in the Q&A. New episodes every Friday. 🎙️💈