Bottom of the Map
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Southern Hip-Hop: Explored. Explained. Exalted. Music journalist Christina Lee and hip-hop scholar Dr. Regina N. Bradley delve into passionate explorations and paradigm-shifting critiques of the culture that they love, and its undeniable impact on the world that clearly loves it. We make Bottom of the Map for all the ratchet intellectuals of the world. You know who you are. And we see you, because we are you. From Southern hip-hop’s connections to self-care, civil rights, marching bands, faith, feminism, business, fatherhood, strip club culture, and so much more, we’re having dope conversations that explore, explain and exalt Southern hip-hop. This is Bottom of the Map from BOTM Media and PRX.
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Southern Hip-Hop: Explored. Explained. Exalted. Music journalist Christina Lee and hip-hop scholar Dr. Regina N. Bradley delve into passionate explorations and paradigm-shifting critiques of the culture that they love, and its undeniable impact on the world that clearly loves it. We make Bottom of the Map for all the ratchet intellectuals of the world. You know who you are. And we see you, because we are you. From Southern hip-hop’s connections to self-care, civil rights, marching bands, faith, feminism, business, fatherhood, strip club culture, and so much more, we’re having dope conversations that explore, explain and exalt Southern hip-hop. This is Bottom of the Map from BOTM Media and PRX.
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How does the spiritual coexist with the secular? We discuss how Southern Hip-Hop artists investigate their spiritual practices through religion, acts of faith and their music. Plus, we get a visit from the South’s favorite Pastor.
Where do we go from here? Season 3 is about to wrap, but we couldn’t let it go without answering fan feedback/questions from the timeline and highlighting some of our favorite conversations from this season.
Are your Twitter Fingers running rampant? We discuss the impact of social media fan culture on how music journalists do their jobs and what we ultimately remember (or forget) about artists. David Dennis, Senior Writer at the Undefeated, joins us to discuss his approach to writing reviews, dealing with toxic fan culture, and why he wants to profile Guy Fieri. Plus, we share some of our favorite fan moments from the pandemic.
How much do you love your mom? We breakdown the artistry and impact of André 3000’s verse from “Life of the Party”, and what it says about him, the rap industry, and how we should reconsider an artist’s body of work. Oh, and Christina is not a fan of your Top 5 list.
From TikTok phenoms to reality tv stars, we discuss the current era of women making waves in the industry. Veteran music journalist Jewel Wicker joins us to break it all down, and shines a light on her latest cover story for Atlanta Magazine.
Lil Wayne has evolved into a seminal figure in pop music over the last two decades, transforming from an original Hot Boy to the Greatest Rapper Alive, plus assuming the mantle of high profile music executive. In short, the culture wouldn’t be the same without him. In this episode we peel back the layers on Weezy’s influence on Southern Hip-Hop, his multiple eras, and his public/political persona.
In this episode we give flowers to our very own Dr. Regina N. Bradley for her most recent book, “Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South,” and highlight the inspiration, the artwork, the music, and much more! And for a topic this special we had to call in two special friends of the podcast—Jason Lee (of Comedy Central and Bossip) and Yoh Phillips (of Rap Portraits)—to come through and bring Regina her bouquets during this roundtable conversation.
Is it really all about the children? Conservative outrage continues to spread throughout the culture and the timeline, with artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Nas X sparking consistent backlash from pundits and industry peers alike. How did we get here, and where do we go next?
Who knew Tyler, the Creator was doing his homework? On his latest album, Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler serves up a modern-day classic Gangsta Grillz experience featuring DJ Drama. (And there’s an OutKast connection, too!)
Who makes up your favorite dances, and how do they get paid? From Miami to New Orleans to Atlanta to the DMV, dance culture has always shaped Southern Hip-Hop. But now that dance choreography via social media is generating millions of views (and dollars) for brands and influencers, how are the originators of these trends benefiting? In this episode we touch on some of our favorite dances, the TikTok dance strike, and how dance challenge creators are fighting to be acknowledged, protected, and compensated.
How have streaming services and social media changed how hit records are made? If Hip-Hop now moves at the speed of the internet, how does that change our relationship to traditional radio? We break it all down with our kinfolk, the legendary B High (aka RADIO SHAWTY) of Hot 107 radio station in Atlanta.
Southern Hip-Hop is making its way into mainstream museums and archives, but how do we address what belongs in these hallowed spaces? What's the difference between collecting and curating a living culture? Plus, super producer Floyd Hall joins us as a guest to talk about his current roles as an arts writer and curator.
We chat with Dr. Charles L. Hughes, author of “Why Bushwick Bill Matters”, about the complicated legacy of rapper Bushwick Bill and the intersection of race, sex, and disability in pop music.
Are you ready for summer cookout festivities? Our very own Gina Mae breaks down the all-important tier system for a successful social culinary experience. And it all starts with knowing your place.
Goodie Mob has been a beloved musical force for more than a quarter century. In this episode we discuss the group’s legacy with the members themselves, plus dive deep into notions of spirituality, feminism, and Southern representation.
The World in our Heads: Exploring Mental Health in Southern Hip-Hop
How did you make it through the pandemic? As we think back to 2020, a new year, and a new normal, we turn to Southern Hip-Hop to help us sort out mourning and remembrance, and finding ways to celebrate in the days ahead while not forgetting what we’ve lost.
Why be modest? With 25 years in the game, Goodie Mob is one of the best to ever do it, and they’ll tell you that themselves. With their latest album, Survival Kit, these four horsemen are still giving us timeless music for the extraordinary times we live in, even a quarter-century after their debut album, Soul Food. In this Bottom of the Map Preview, all four members of Goodie Mob drop in to share their thoughts on the new album, plus Super Producer Floyd shares some major news about the future of Bottom of the Map. Tap in!!
Black Lives Matter…then, now, and in the future. In the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks, we decided to revisit one of our past episodes (S1E11: “Know Justice, Know Peace: Hip-Hop as Protest”) that investigates how Hip-Hop has influenced the world as a platform for Civil Rights, and how Southern Hip-Hop artists continue to create space for Civil Rights messages in their music.
While we get ready for Season 3, we’re excited to share some of our favorite past episodes while we're on break! As we think about how Southern Hip-Hop provides a safe emotional place for experimentation, escapism, and exploration of new worlds and sounds, this episode (S1E15 “Culture in the Cosmos: AfroFuturism, Hip-Hop, and Black Joy”) feels necessary as we navigate some uncertain times in the real world.
How does Hip-Hop help us reimagine the real Black Wall Street? With the upcoming “Fire in Little Africa” project, Tulsa’s Hip-Hop scene is preparing to acknowledge the 100-year commemoration of the city’s 1921 Race Massacre. Bottom of the Map was invited to “The Town” to see firsthand how Tulsa artists are building community around this moment, embracing their historic foundation, and representing the South in their own unique way.
Big Rube is Southern Hip-Hop royalty; when he speaks, people listen. For over 25 years Big Rube has been delivering classic monologues on Southern Hip-Hop albums that stir the soul and spark the mind, including legendary performances with OutKast, Future, Goodie Mob and Offset. Big Rube visited BOTM last season to talk about growing up in Atlanta during the Atlanta Child Murders, but of course he gifted us with so many more stories and behind-the-scenes perspective on his contributions to the Dungeon Family. This is the extended version of that conversation.
André 3000 stands out as a luminary figure in Southern Hip-Hop, and his commitment to memorializing Atlanta’s Missing & Murdered Children (1979 - 1981) deserves deeper reflection. Dr. Michelle Hite helps us understand André’s collaborations with Goodie Mob and Travis Scott as an example of using Hip-Hop as a space to explore the context and complexities of surviving trauma and communicating across generations.
From the sounds of HBCUs to the NBA, Sir Foster is building a unique Hip-Hop brand. Most people have heard Sir Foster play before they actually meet him. As the resident organist for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and past All-Star Games, Foster has been a trailblazer at integrating the latest Hip-Hop tunes into in-game experiences. Last year he stopped by BOTM to talk about growing up in HBCU music culture, the importance of HBCU marching bands to how Southern Hip-Hop is celebrated, and how social media helps him bring the hottest music from the streets into the stadiums. This is the extended version of that conversation.
Dee Dee Murray (aka Peaches) is always in the right place at the right time. From her classic intro on OutKast’s first album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, to managing and influencing the careers of Atlanta’s music royalty, she’s had a front row seat to Hip-Hop history in the South. These days she spends her time helping attract major film and television projects to Atlanta, but last year she visited BOTM to talk about her early days in the music industry, the impact of the Atlanta Child Murders on the Dungeon Family, and why she still loves this culture. This is the extended version of that conversation.
Forever is Now: Big K.R.I.T. & the American Standard
How can you deny a powerful woman? In this episode we discuss North Carolina rapper Rapsody and her 2019 release, “Eve”, including our favorite significant moments from the album and its questionable omission from Grammy consideration.
Does Southern Hip-Hop still “own” trap music? While trap music started in the American South, its influence has become global, as artists all over the world are putting their spin on the genre. In this episode we define the waves of trap music over the last few decades and get some help from Trap Music Museum co-curator DL Warfield, then take a deep dive into the expansion of Latin trap music with journalist and music critic Gary Suarez.
Are the lines still blurred? In this episode we discuss how ideas of consent show up in Southern Hip-Hop, and revisit the controversial “Tip Drill” music video with one of the video's featured performers for a conversation on how women’s bodies—and voices—are critical to how the music is performed, perceived, and ultimately remembered.
Recorded live at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Christina and Regina dig deep into the museum’s exhibition, “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech” and explore how Southern hip-hop artists such as 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, and Gucci Mane relate to Abloh’s notion of “Tourist vs. Purist.”
Is it still hard out here for a pimp? We revisit the 2005 movie “Hustle & Flow” to explore the significance of the film to the city of Memphis and its Hip-Hop identity. Plus, we highlight Three 6 Mafia’s epic Oscar win—one of our favorite Hip-Hop moments—to think about where that accomplishment fits into the group’s current legacy.
What’s in a name? Everything. We trace the origin of the term "Dirty South" and explore how it still echoes throughout Southern Hip-Hop today, and discuss why this branding is important to how we will remember (and pay for) “Hot Girl Summer” for years to come. Plus, we talk to the founders of the Grits & Biscuits touring party to learn how they carve out space for Dirty South newness and nostalgia for audiences across the nation.
Bottom of the Map Season 2 is back on February 3rd! Southern Hip-Hop: Explored. Explained. Exalted.
How does the culture get paid what it’s worth? In this live episode we partnered with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for its public arts program ELEVATE, where we talked with Ryan Wilson (co-owner of A3C Hip-Hop Festival and The Gathering Spot) and Janeé Bolden (Managing Editor of Bossip) about the value of Cultural Capital in the mainstream marketplace.
Can Cultural Capital combat Gentrification? For this episode we partnered with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for its public arts program ELEVATE, where we had a chance to talk about how Hip-Hop’s Cultural Capital is in conversation with Political Capital and Financial Capital when big neighborhood change is on the way. First up, we had a conversation with Renaldo Nehemiah, who is a curator and stylist to hip-hop celebrities from Ludacris to Migos to Jermaine Dupri. Later, we sat down with Ryan Gravel and Heather Infantry of the non-profit Generator, about how a city blends culture, ideas, and development to maintain a sense of place for everyone.
How do we overcome the grind and get to the hustle? In this episode we discuss the origins of Self Care and how that is reflected in the artists and music of Southern Hip-Hop. Regina and Christina share personal reflections on how they’ve tried to take better care of mind, body and spirit as they navigate their careers. Lastly, we visit Local Green Atlanta to learn how this restaurant is creating healthier Hip-Hop food culture.
Some bonus content this week. The stage adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me is kicking off its national tour in Atlanta this October! So, we’re taking a moment to discuss the significance of the book, its adaptation for the stage and its connections to hip-hop culture. The show is being brought to Atlanta by The Collective Culture (Ronald B. Williams, J. Carter and Erin White). We sat down with Erin and Ron for this conversation..
Is Drake stealing Southern sauce? Did Nelly cross the line? What if Ceelo never sang again? This week we address these and other burning questions as we revisit some segments of past episodes that kept our heads spinning, plus answer some fan questions from social media! We start it off by touch on our “Sounds of Multiple Souths” episode and address Drake’s connection to Southern Hip-Hop and how that reflects in his music…and his beard (just as important). We also highlight a segment from our strip club episode (“Strip du Soleil: Make It Reign”) that was left out: Nelly and the “Tip Drill” controversy. To add to this, our “Black Ole Opry” episode was all about Lil Nas X, so it was only right to revisit the year he’s had and touch on a few new points. Lastly, our #askBOTM Q&A had us pondering Southern Supergroups, Ceelo, and a few topics for the future!
Who still needs a record deal? Record labels have played an important role in how we think about Southern Hip-Hop. In this episode we discuss prominent labels, prominent deals, and whether it still means as much to be signed now as it did in the pre-digital era.
Who said Crunk was dead? In this episode we trace Crunk Music's roots in Memphis and Atlanta to its mainstream relevance, and highlight what makes the genre still relevant today.
Is space really the place? In this episode, we discuss the roots of AfroFuturism in music and popular culture, and how Southern Hip-Hop became a prominent outlet for expression. Plus, what's AfroFuturism without Future?
Is strip club culture in Southern Hip-Hop on the decline? In this episode we navigate the mystique and the microeconomics of one of the most talked about aspects of Hip-Hop in the South. Does reality match the (American) dream?
How do HBCU marching bands influence Southern Hip-Hop, and vice versa? Oh, plus Beyonce.
Where does Hip-Hop fit in the halls of academia? In this episode we discuss Hip-Hop Scholarship's roots in journalism and how it has evolved at colleges and universities across the country.
How does Hip-Hop change the world as a space for Civil Rights protest? From 2 Live Crew to Jeezy to Kap G, Southern Hip-Hop artists continue to create space for Civil Rights messages in their music.
Who said the South had to sound the same? Christina and Regina take a road trip from Virginia to New Orleans to highlight the past and present of the Southern "sound".
How do Atlanta artists help us navigate the Atlanta Missing & Murdered Children Cases and confront Black trauma and vulnerability?
How did the Atlanta Missing & Murdered Children (1979-1981) impact Atlanta's formative hip-hop community?
How have Southern artists been important in helping legitimize a once illegitimate economy? We explore cannabis culture in hip-hop.
What's the difference between Southern and Country when it comes to music and place, and how has Lil Nas X disrupted the industry while bringing the masses together?
Will the ghost of Freaknik ever die?
We explore narratives of Hip-Hop Fatherhood to examine how artists grapple with their legacies, mortality, and lives outside of music.
Celebrating 25 years since the release of OutKast's first album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.
Breaking down the blues woman archetype and the women in Southern hip-hop who carry the torch.
We explore how the trap became commodified to create space for a new black cool. When did the trap start popping up at brunch, church, yoga?
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Faith Is What You Make It
September 9, 201950min 13sec
How does the spiritual coexist with the secular? We discuss how Southern Hip-Hop artists investigate their spiritual practices through religion, acts of faith and their music. Plus, we get a visit from the South’s favorite Pastor.
The episode starts with a look at the role of faith in the South, and the extent to which the hip-hop generation does (or doesn’t) feel welcome. Listening to Killer Mike and UGK, Cyhi the Prynce’s “No Dope on Sunday,” No Malice, Lecrae’s “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination),” and more, we explore the idea of songs and verses as prayers to make sense of the world. Then, we talk to our good, good friend Lee Hale, a religion reporter who’s reported himself into a faith crisis. And we get story-time with Pastor Troy. We chop it up about the beginnings of his rap career, his controversial song “Vice Versa,” and his relationship with the original Pastor Troy: his father.