Overview
The definitive account of the most vital musical culture of our time
Acting as both investigative journalist and irreverent critic, Ben Westhoff journeys across the southern United States in a small Hyundai to document the phenomenon of southern hip-hop. The exclusive interviews with the genre’s prominent players take many forms—watching rappers “make it rain” in a Houston strip club, partying with The 2 Live Crew’s Luke Campbell, visiting the gritty neighborhoods where T. I. and Lil Wayne grew up, and speaking with DJ Smurf and Ms. Peachez along the way. The celebrated but dark history of Houston’s Rap-A-Lot Records, the lethal rivalry between Atlanta’s Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy, and the venerable Scarface’s memories from time in a mental institution are just a few of the textured and tricky subjects explored.
Reviews
"A fascinating exploration of the musical and personal terrain of what has come to be known as the Southern sound of rap." —Publishers Weekly
"Westhoff offers an excellent introduction to hip-hop in the South that will be informative and enjoyable for both newbies and those familiar with Southern hip-hop...A great introduction to Southern hip-hop, and a fun book for those familiar with the genre and its artists." —Library Journal
"Unprecedented in its research of the origins of Southern hip-hop, this gem is key to understanding the catalyst that caused the 21st Century Dirty South explosion." —The Source
"Dirty South is a must-read for anybody interested in hip-hop's ever growing role in America's cultural consciousness." —Forbes.com
"Packed with lively reporting and colorful social history...doesn't shy away from the bigger questions. Westhoff grapples with Southern rap's troubling racial politics and takes on the critics." —Rolling Stone
Author Biography
Ben Westhoff is a former staff writer for St. Louis' Riverfront Times. His work has also appeared in Creative Loafing, Pitchfork, Spin, and the Village Voice. He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.
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