Ozone Magazine 25 Greatest Southern Artists Of All Time

In the recent issue of the southern hip-hop publication Ozone Magazine ‘The Southern Voice of Hip-Hop Music’, they have revealed their picks for the 25 greatest southern artists of all time which include UGK, Three 6 Mafia, Geto Boys, DJ Screw, Lil Jon and more, but not quite in that order. Check out who else is on the list, see what you think about their 25 greatest and if you agree….

Here’s the results of the Ozone Magazine ’25 Greatest Southern Artists Of All Time’…
(short descriptions are quoted from Ozone 25 Greatest)

1. Geto Boys/Scarface
This group of individuals changed the face of hip-hop music forever.
2. 2 Live Crew/Uncle Luke
None of the South side first-schoolers had as much impact as the 2 Live Crew. Made up of Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis, Mr. Mixx and label CEO/hype man Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, this foulmouthed foursome drew the blueprint to building a fledgling indie label to mainstream success.
3. UGK
Pimp C and Bun B of the legendary Southern rap group UGK (Underground Kingz) they are widely considered as one of the greatest Southern rap groups of all time, UGK came into the game in the early 90’s out of a small Texas town called Port Arthur– which they frequently declared to be the land of the “trill”.
4. Outkast
Outkast formed in the early 90’s when Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton met at Tr-Cities High School in Atlanta’s East Point. Soon after Big Boi graduated (Dre dropped out), Outkast linked up with Atlant-based production comany Organized Noize, who had already created hits for R&B supergroup TLC.
5. DJ Screw
Few DJ’s in the world of rap, or any other style of music, have left a legacy as important and revered as DJ Screw the late Earl Davis of Smithville, Texas.
6. 8Ball & MJG
They started their own label and got distribution from Select-O-Hits in Memphis. They had experience with “country rappers” like me. Johnny Phillips and his crew were starting to make a mint off a local group with accents as thick as molasses, beats made from the hole-in-the-wall club scene, and a keen sense of marketing. Their name is 8Ball and MJG.
7. Three 6 Mafia
DJ Paul, Juicy J, Crunchy Black, Lord Infamous, (ex- Gangsta Boo & Koopsta Knicca) made up the six individuals of Memphis’ Own Three 6 Mafia. Although Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca moved on to navigate their own solo careers outside of the Three 6 Mafia fold, the undeniable impact of this group on the Southern music scene has been quoted as “Can’t Be Duplicated.”

8. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
A former DJ and SO So Def A&R, 2004 Lil Jon truly earned the title Producer of the Year. Born into a privileged Atlanta family, Jon was always talented, but a self-described “lazy-a-s muthafcker.” It took a verbal kick in the a-s from friend and eventual business partner Rob Mac to take his potential seriously.
9. Juvenile
Born Treius Gray, the rapper learned the importance of engaging an audience in the early ’90s alongside legendary turntablist DJ Jimi. While elementary by today’s standards, Juvenile’s performance on tracks like “Bounce for the Juvenile” showcased his ability to connect with a crowd through the use of everyday “slanguage” and shared experience. Cash Money Records recognized this star potential and signed Juve, releaseing his solo debut, Soulja Rags, in 1996.-
10. Master P
Master P, a.k.a Master P, found success with his underground label No Limit at a time when the music industry had begun to close its doors to gangsta rap. Masterminding many of the greatest commercial sensations of Southern music, he established an empire in the late 90’s and became one of the wealthiest Americans in the world.

11. Trick Daddy
12. DJ Magic Mike
13. Ludacris
14. David Banner
15. T.I.
16. Pastor Troy
17. Mystikal
18. Lil Wayne
19. Goodie Mob
20. 69 Boyz/Quad City
21. BG
22. Lil Flip
23. Mia X
24. Petey Pablo
25. Jermaine Dupri

To learn more about the Ozone Magazine’s ’25 Greatest Southern Artists Of All Time’ and to view featured articles under each artist listed, then visit the April 2005 Issue of Ozone Magazine at www.ozonemag.com