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The South · Tennessee · since 1991

1991
The South
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Memphis

Tennessee
Horror-movie samples · triplet flows · lo-fi tapes
Ride the roster2:20
Story, bloodline and 7 names

The most quietly influential city on this map. Memphis tapes of the early 90s — distorted, occult, recorded on four-track — contain the entire DNA of modern trap and phonk, decades before either had a name. Three 6 Mafia then took it to an Academy Award.

Bloodline · 2 stops from The Bronx
  1. 1973The Bronx
  2. 1985Miami
  3. 1991Memphis

TransferHouston·South Central (LA)

Miami's 808 came up the highway, the Geto Boys supplied the horror, and Memphis producers recorded it onto four-tracks so cheap and distorted that the sound became the point.

Hypnotize MindsProphet PossePaper Route Empire
Roster
1991
Three 6 Mafia

DJ Paul, Juicy J, Lord Infamous — and the first rap group to win an Oscar.

YTW
1993
8Ball & MJG

The pimp-narrative craftsmen; Southern rap's smoothest duo.

YTW
1994
Tommy Wright IIIdeep cut

Tape-hiss murk that 2020s phonk producers sample wholesale.

YTW
1999
Project Pat

The drawl and cadence that half of Atlanta later adopted.

YTW
2016
Young Dolph

Owned every master he made; refused every deal offered.

YTW
2018
Key Glock

Dolph's protégé and the label's continuation.

YTW
2022
GloRilla

Brought the Memphis chant back to national radio.

YTW

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