Atlanta hip hop

Although the music scene of Atlanta is rich and varied, the city's production of hip-hop music has been especially noteworthy, acclaimed, and commercially successful. In 2009, The New York Times called Atlanta "hip-hop's center of gravity",^[1] and the city is home to many famous hip hop, R&B, and neo soul^[2] musicians.

History

In the 1980s and early 1990s Atlanta's hip hop scene was characterized by a local variant of Miami's electro-driven bass music, with stars like Kilo Ali, MC Shy-D, Raheem the Dream, and DJ Smurf (later Mr. Collipark).^[1] MC Shy-D is credited with bringing authentic Bronx-style hip-hop to Atlanta (and Miami), such as 1988's Shake it^[3] produced by DJ Toomp; Jones was signed to controversial Southern hip hop label Luke Records, run by Luther Campbell aka "Uncle Luke". Arrested Development won a Grammy Award in 1992 with "Tennessee", while Kris Kross won with their hit song "Jump". The group Tag Team released their debut platinum certified album Whoomp! (There It Is) on July 20, 1993, spawned by their hit single of the same name; they were under Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings, which had a significant part in the introduction of Atlanta to hip hop. However, Organized Noize and Dungeon Family "cornerstone" Rico Wade, who even produced albums for Outkast, Goodie Mob and Future, was considered to be a major architect of Atlanta hip hop.^[4]^[5] Numerous aspiring musicians and artists would in fact record music in the studio which was located in the basement of Wade's mother, and which became known as the "Dungeon."^[4]

By the mid-1990s, the rise of LaFace Records artists Outkast, Goodie Mob and the production collective Organized Noize led to the development of the Dirty South style of hip-hop and of Atlanta gaining a reputation for "soul-minded hip-hop eccentrics", contrasting with other regional styles.

Although Atlanta had Pop success in the hip hop industry, there was nobody speaking as a representative of someone who is from Atlanta. Until December 1993, when Outkast dropped their debut single Player’s Ball, the success of that single led to their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994. Which later that year won them a source award for best new artist. However, at the time the industry only cared about East Coast and West Coast when it came to hip hop. When their name was announced they were boo’d; when they got on the microphone Big Boi said “So what’s up Dre?” Then Andre 3000 said “I’m tired of closed minded folks… It’s like this the south’s got something to say.” From then on it was a wrap and ever since then the south has ran the industry Outkast went on to release 6 albums and win 6 grammy awards.(Andre 3000 has and additional 3) Goodie Mob went on to release multiple albums most notably Soul Food which is a southern hip hop classic. This entire movement was the beginning of 2 things, Atlanta being the hip hop capital and the southern takeover.

The late 90s and early 2000s is when people really realized that Atlanta hip hop was gonna stay consistent forever. This time period saw the creation of Trap Muzik and rapper Lil Jon’s huge expansion of Crunk Music. This generation/class of Atlanta artists is widely considered the peak; the mount rushmore of this class is usually given to T.I., Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and Ludacris. T.I. AKA Tip, is the founder of trap music one of the biggest sub genres of hip hop ever. He released his second album Trap Muzik in 2003 and from then on it was a wrap. His legacy is seen and acknowledged everywhere, and he has 3 grammy award wins to show it. While T.I. is the founder of trap music there are 2 other pioneers, grammy nominated artists, Jeezy and Gucci Mane. With Jeezy’s major label debut album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 and Gucci Mane’s major label debut album Trap House both in 2005, they were able to take what T.I. started and help him take Trap Music worldwide, which is why they are the three pioneers. As for Ludacris, he is not a trap music artist nor a street rapper at all, but he has definitely earned his spot as the 4th man on this mount rushmore. The 3 time grammy award winner released his major label debut album Back for the First Time in 2000; very quickly he received commercial success and is a highly loved and respected dirty south representative. There were many artist in this gap way too many to name but the mount rushmore will forever be T.I., Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and Ludacris.

Atlanta hip-hop has influenced other mainstream forms of media. The television show Atlanta, which chronicles the lives of two cousins as they navigate the hip-hop world, exemplifies this broader impact. It has earned two Golden Globe awards and two Emmy awards. A number of Atlanta-based artists, including Killer Mike and Jermaine Dupri, have also become involved in local and national political movements.^[6]

Top-selling artists

Local multi-platinum artists include Ludacris,^[7] Ciara,^[8] B.o.B,^[9] Outkast,^[10]^[11] T.I.,^[12] and Jeezy. The following hip-hop, rap, R&B, and soul artists have had #1 or #2 albums or singles on the U.S. Hot 100 chart:

Artist	Year	Rank	Single name	Year	Rank	Album name
21 Savage	2017-2022	1	2 #1 singles	2018-2024	1	4 #1 albums
B.o.B	2010	1	Nothin' on You	2010	1	B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
CeeLo Green	2010	2	Fuck You!
Childish Gambino	2018	1	This Is America
D4L	2006	1	Laffy Taffy
Future	2021-2024	1	3 #1 singles	2015-2024	1	10 #1 albums
Gnarls Barkley (CeeLo Green/Danger Mouse collaboration)	2006	2	Crazy
Gucci Mane	2016	1	Black Beatles
Gunna				2020-2022	1	3 #1 albums
Kris Kross	1992-1995	1	4 #1 singles	1992	1	Totally Krossed Out
Lil Baby	2021-2022	2	2 #2 singles	2020-2022	1	3 #1 albums
Lil Jon	2004	2	Get Low
Lil Nas X	2018-2021	1	3 #1 singles	2021	2	Montero
Lloyd	2009	2	BedRock	2007	2	Street Love
Ludacris	2003-2006	1	5 #1 singles	2003-2010	1	4 #1 albums
Migos	2016	1	Bad & Boujee	2017-2018	1	2 #1 albums
Outkast	2000-2003	1	3 #1 singles	2003	1	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Playboi Carti	2024	1	Carnival	2020	1	Whole Lotta Red
Quavo	2017	1	I'm the One	2018	1	Quavo Huncho
Rich the Kid	2024	1	Carnival	2018	2	The World Is Yours
Shop Boyz	2007	2	Party Like a Rockstar
Soulja Boy	2007	1	Crank Dat
Tag Team	1993	2	Whoomp! (There It Is)
T.I.	2006-2013	1	4 #1 singles	2006-2008	1	3 #1 albums
The-Dream				2009	2	Love vs. Money
Usher	1998-2010		9 #1 singles	2004-2012		4 #1 albums
Ying Yang Twins	2003	2	Get Low	2005	2	U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta)
Young Thug	2017-2021	1	3 #1 singles	2019-2021	1	3 #1 albums
Jeezy	2008	1	Love In This Club	2006-2016	2	3 #1 albums