WORDS BY MAURICE G. GARLAND
B
eats and lyrics are always going to be the driving force in Hip Hop. It’s the two things that people remember about their favorite artists and songs. Even the ones they don’t like. But pictures play an equally important part in driving the culture forward without its past being forgotten.
Sure, you probably have Pimp C’s verse on “Tell Me Something Good” memorized, but the image of him rocking an all-white mink coat with a hat to match is etched in your memory too. Yeah, you can beatbox “Mind Is Playin Tricks On Me” in your sleep, but you can’t forget the image of Willie D and Scaface wheeling a one-eyed Bushwhick Bill down the hospital hall on a stretcher on their album cover. For the last six years OZONE Magazine has captured some of the crowning moments in Southern Hip Hop. From Lil Wayne personally rapping “I Miss My Dawgs” to B.G. in Tampa to Bun B doing his first show after Pimp died, we’ve been there. From Webbie writing hits for his first solo album to David Banner laying down vocals for his latest one, we were there. The following collection of pictures is not a countdown or “top” list. It is simply a trip down memory lane, highlighting moments that you might have missed or not realized. Lil Wayne with just one tattoo. Rick Ross with no beard. We even came across rare and popular photos of 2Pac and Big Pun just to show you that OZONE doesn’t discriminate. To those who aren’t seen, don’t consider them left out or forgotten. We just had to leave some for next time.
OZONE MAG // 57