VH1 Chops and Screws The South. Disrespectful!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
, Posted by JD at 8:48 PM
If you read my blog you know I'm country and proud of it. Southern people are always the subjects of mainstream mockery, northern people say: your music is ignorant, your rappers aren't talented/not real hip hop, your accents are too heavy, and your cities are wack.
On those rare occasions there is an opportunity to see southern peopled honored (which is never), I try to support. So last night I watched the VH1 Hip hop Honors thinking it was about time someone at least pretended to understand the enormous contributions the south has made to music.
The show started off on a strong note with Uncle Luke and Trick Daddy performing one of my favorite rap songs of all time, "Scarred." Scarred is one of those songs that could fall through the cracks if you're not a real dirty south fan. Luke brought out Trick Daddy who performed his entire verse coherently.
The next set, which was also a win, featured "Mind's playing tricks on Me" a tribute to the Geto Boys, one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time. I learned from twitter that Scarface boycotted the show because he was offended by the south being slighted once again. He felt the show was a way to pacify the south while still confining it to a box. I agree with the first part...but the second part about the south being put into a box is a tough one for me. People are more critical of southern hip hop, it really doesn't matter when or where it's featured. But I do see his larger point, I'm just not sure if it's a solvable issue.
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| Timbo got some well-deserved...shine. |
In addition to the Geto Boyz, AK peformed "Po Pimp," Juvenile did "Nolia Clap" (a pleasant surprise) and Bun B and Drake performed "Get Thowed." Pimp C is one of my top 5 rappers and Drake did a fine job with Pimp's verse.
But the Drake appearance was the beginning of too many non southern faces making cameos. From The Game, to Asher Roth, to Lauren London (what??), Nelly and Fabolous, the rest of the country suddenly took over the one show that belonged to us.
The rest of the sets featured many missteps. During the VA set, Timbaland was clearly sick when he recorded his confessional. Keri Hilson bungled her verse on "The Way You Are." Magoo was no where to be found and neither were The Neptunes or Teddy Riley. Missy did perform and did a fabulous job but the attention was given to Timbo. Odd, because Missy is an independent producer, and songwriter and should have been given EQUAL treatment.
That brings me to the women. Only one other Lady rapper was featured, Trina, and she was dreadfully misused. How dare you have Trick and Trina on the same show and not have them perform "Nan?" Are they beefing or something? There was no sign of Mia X during No Limit's set, and TN wasn't represented at all. So that meant 8 ball and MJG and Three Six Mafia weren't there, much less Gangsta Boo and La Chat. At that point I would have settled for an appearance byYoung Buck and UTP or even Justin Timberlake! Anybody from TN would have been nice.
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| Mia X, former member of No Limit and hip hop's Southern Belle. |
VH1 also neglected to focus on some of the lesser known people and groups that made an impact. Lots of tweets about Tela, Field Mob, Nappy Roots, Ghost town DJs, 95 south, 69 Boyz. Real dirty south fans were watching and we weren't happy. And the conspicuous absence of Lil Wayne, currently in prison, and the rest of the Hot Boyz (besides Juvenile) left a huge gaping hole in the show.
The VH1 honors catered to the casual male fan of southern hip hop. The dudes that only know southern rap from what's played on the radio but even through their ignorance of the genre are convinced it's all a "gimmick." I think they assumed that doing a real tribute to dirty south hip hop would have gone over most people's heads. As we know, when you do something half-assed you get a half-assed result.
Scarface was right, we all should have boycotted this one.
I can't lie. I enjoyed your review more than I probably would have enjoyed the show, based on your observations. Now I can just check youtube for Nolia Clap and Get Throwed lol
You really think "we" should have boycotted though? That's not the way to show interest in down south rap (can't say dirty south -Scarface will get me). If no one watches, Vh1 might not even bother to try again and get it right.
-Mel (@MelSpeaks)
Mel, that was the first thought I had when I saw that Scarface was boycotting. I don't know...I'm torn! On the one hand supporting southern shows could lead to more shows...on the other hand settling for a whole lot less could mean every show will be bad. I'm confused! Lol
I initially wasnt going to watch it but my husband pitched a bitch. They started off extremely strong. I advised my husband that Scarface wasnt being honor (just to forewarn him of the bs).
I was soo upset that Tenn was not represented in any way, i could not continue to watch it. Trina performed (kinda) but not with Trick? Drake spittin Pimp C (that boy aint even American)? Why the hell was Game even there? Oh--i did like Gucci doing MAster P tho--first time i have ever been able to understand him
Overall they get a C- for effort
First off, TN ALWAYS gets the shaft and I'm sensitive about that sh*t. Casually speaking, hip hop acts like TN doesn't exist... Emphasis on casually.
So I was disappointed there was no 8Ball/MJG or Three Six...but I wasn't surprised.
However I WAS surprised at how many non-Southerners were there...like we don't have enough to fully supply. Yes. We. Do.
And amen to your part about how dare they have Trick and Trina and don't do Nan. Is you CRAZY? At least do Shut Up. Come on already.
No mention of SwishaHouse. HELLO...HOW YOU TALK ABOUT HOUSTON AND DON'T TALK ABOUT SWISHAHOUSE? No mention of DJ Screw... I'm sorry, are you STUPID? HELLO out there.
::sigh::
I'll tell you what, if similar affronts had occurred on previous Hip Hop Honors, the whole damn industry would boycott VH1. Meanwhile, Southern hip hop artists have to just be thankful somebody bothered to do one for 'em. GTFOH.
Having said all that, I at least appreciate VH1 for reminding me of some good times...
Hey JD,
Now I did not watch the special and in reading your response, I can agree with you that certain artists shouldn't have been ignored. However, I am not sure if I can ride with you suggesting that smaller artists like Bonecrusher and others deserving shine. Maybe it is the East Coast bias (as you like to say) but I don't know if they had enough pull like that. But of course, I am sure you are gonna let me know that they been pulling numbers for the longest. It seems like you trying to throw the whole kitchen sink in there.
@Asmith I totally agree. Hey maybe TN isn't the south anymore. I just learned on twitter that VA isn't. I guess Kentucky is next to get kicked out lol. Agreed on Swisha house. Cash Money should have gotten a mention as well as slip n slide (tho as we discussed Trick and Trina were there at least).
AceKlub, I wasn't suggesting that Bone crusher should have been on the show. That's why I put the question mark as in why would they feature BC but not Pastory Troy. I'm very confused about what they hoped to accomplish. Looks like Scarface was right, they were just tryna pacify us!
I hate I missed the begining of the show since that was apparently the strongest part...the end was whack...I totally agree that the show catered more to the non-southern casual observer of southern hip hop. You really have to be from the south to appreciate how some of those lesser known artists you mentioned spoke to the people they were rapping to. But I did enjoy seeing No Limit especially Mystikal (separating his music from his life) and Organized noise. But am I the only one who wished Rich Boy was there to rep Alabama??? yeah? okay never mind.
Didn't see the show, but thanks for such a detailed post! If I HAD seen it, I woulda been really disappointed at at Outkast gap....
No you weren't the only one that would have liked to see Rich Boy. They could have done a set with some of the States whose music hasn't gone totally mainstream e.g. Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, and South Carolina. I think too many people think south and assume crunk or bass or screwed.
Let me just say I agree with your whole post and ASmith comment.
No Swishhouse! No DJ Screw. The Houston artists should have protested because DJ Screw helped out all of them. I can't believe they didn't have 3 6 Mafia! They were "crunk" before ATL took over the crunk scene. "Tear the club up" anyone?!
I can understand them not honoring Pastor Troy, Playa Fly, or Nappy Roots because they are more popular in the South but it still doesn't excuse them not asking them to at least perform. But they chose Drake and The Game?! #FAIL I'm sure Rich Boy would have loved to pay tribute by performing.
And where was Cash Money? Come on! They had the rap game on lock in the late 90s. Because of them, "bling" is now in the dictionary.
I need to put together a "dirty south" tribute.
Another thing, they messed me all the way up not honoring UGK.
Girl you got me crunk all over again about this half-ass tribute show.
I'm just watching the show now. I don't know enough about Dirty South Hip Hop (that East Coast bias again)to say who was slighted and who wasn't, but I'd have to say keep in mind that VH1 caters to a wide audience and it would not have served their bottom line by having too many artists the masses wouldn't recognize.
And where was Luda?
I think Three Six Mafia summed up my feelings on this matter a couple of years ago with the intro song “Most Known Unknown Hits”.
im not even from the south..(well my momma is and i spent summers out there growing up) and even i am mad about the b/s they did so i totally agree the south got shafted. Although i did enjoy Luke but im an old head so that original booty shake is my thang baby.!!!:)
I thought it was pretty good for what it was and being able to reminisce on the old times. Don't say you didn't jig. It was nice to see them honored I just think they could have been more clear of what to expect.
A lot of people were under the impression that it was all about the south, but it was to honor certain people such as Timbaland, JD and J. Prince. That's why u saw certain artists that aren't from the south.
I'm sure they reached out to lots of people, but everyone isn't going to be able to drop what they're doing for the show.
What they should've done is maybe a 3 part series and honored Houston, Miami and ATL separately. Then throw in people from surrounding southerners in each one. ex. Cash Money-No Limit could be with Houston, 8ball & MJG with ATl, David Banner with Miami. idk...
New to the blog but you were so on point..I'm retweeting this one!
I'm a native Houstonian and the absence of Ball and MJG was insulting. Before they were on Bad Boy, they repped Suave House all day, every day. Same for Tela.