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FOLLOW THE LEADER
Back before mainstream media outlets started showing love to the Dirty Dirty, a lil magazine called OZONE recognized these 20 Southern up-and-comers who are no longer unknown. // Photos by Julia Beverly
01 // T.I.
“I’m the King of the South because I know what I speak of. I’m not rapping about anything I haven’t seen or done.” – T.I. (Issue #4 August 2002, page 39)
02 // Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz
11 // Trillville
“Trillville is any hood, any city, any state. If you livin’ that shit, be real to that shit. Be treal to that shit.” – Dirty Mouf of Trillville (Issue #16 September 2003, page 36)
< 12 // Rick Ross
“I think the reason the South is doin’ it is because we’re not trying to conform. At one point, everybody was like, ‘Be true to hip-hop.’ We didn’t give a fuck about all that shit – we just made records.” – Lil Jon (Issue #5 September 2002, page 34)
“I’m the 300 pound handsome nigga with $80,000 worth of jewelry at the club.” – Rick Ross (Issue #17 October 2003, page 14)
03 // Ying Yang Twins
13 // Crime Mob
“We’ve been in this game for many many years, way back when the dinosaurs was still in existence.” (Issue #6 October 2002, page 17)
“I go to school, do my homework, and then go straight to the studio.” – Diamond of Crime Mob (Issue #22 April 2004, page 23)
04 // Akon
“When I’m on the mic, I really feel like I’m speaking to somebody.” – Akon (Issue #13 June 2003, page 22)
14 // Slim Thug
05 // Pitbull
“Pitbull is one of those few people who don’t just say they rap, but are actually in the streets pushing a product.” - Noel Malcolm (Issue #13 June 2003, page 22)
< 06 // Pretty Ricky
The quartet of blood brothers known as Pretty Ricky was originally known as “Pretty Rickie and the Maverix,” named after their older brother. “I do feel good music for feel-good people, so when you’re in the club and you vibin’ and bumpin’ and that Pretty Rick comes on, it’s gonna be off the meter,” he said. (Issue #17 October 2003, page 16)
07 // Jacki-O
“Being independent is lovely.” – Slim Thug (Issue #22 April 2004, page 22)
15 // Mike Jones
“If I keep grinding and building a buzz, I know good things will happen.” – Mike Jones (Issue #23 May 2004, page 21)
16 // Young Jeezy >
“I’m on some hustlin’, gettin’ money shit. I don’t just rap cause the words rhyme. I don’t just say words cause they go together. I spit from the heart. It’s not some video-type shit. It’s for real.” – Young Jeezy (Issue #23 May 2004, page 23)
17 // Lil Boosie
“I did ‘Pussy’ just to shock people and get their attention, and I definitely got that.” – Jacki-O (Issue #16 September 2003, page 29)
“I really live my rhymes. A lot of people be lying.” – Lil Boosie (Issue #24 June 2004, page 22)
08 // Lil Scrappy
18 // Chamillionaire
“You won’t be sitting down when you go to our concerts. We’re tryin’ to make crunk ‘Fuck You’ songs and er’thang.” – Lil Scrappy (Issue #16 September 2003, page 34)
09 // Paul Wall
“We got our own world out here [in Houston]. It’s weird.” – Paul Wall (Issue #16 September 2003, page 36)
10 // Rich Boy >
“I never was trying to rap, never thought nothing of it.” – Lil Rich a.k.a. Rich Boy (Issue #16 September 2003, page 38) 46 // OZONE MAG
“I’ve been hot for a long time in the streets. I’ve always sold records, so I’m gonna be alright when my album drops regardless. I’m just positioning myself to get the deal I want.” – Chamillionaire (Issue #27 September 2004, page 38)
19 // Webbie
“I just know it’s been way more hoes comin’ up to me than before. That’s how I know [me & Boosie’s underground album] has been selling.” – Webbie (Issue #29 November 2004, page 10)
< 20 // T-Pain
“I just listen to the beat, go in the booth, hit record, and see what happens.” - T-Pain (Issue #34 May 2005, page 19)