Blessed with airtight beats, braggadocios flows and devastating punch lines, the Dallas-based Dirty South Rydaz don’t need a major label deal to prove their street credibility. After dropping 15+ mixtapes, four albums and two compilations, DSR has become one of the premier rap crews in the Lone Star State. Comprised of Tum-Tum, Big Tuck, Fat Bastard, Double T, Lil Ronnie and Addiction, DSR began as a group of childhood friends who enjoyed rhyming together. After years of tightening up their skills, they recorded a demo and took it to local record store owner George Lopez, who had already dropped two successful compilation albums in 2000. “I was already doing booking and marketing for Swisha House and distributing their underground discs,” remembers George. “By 2001, I knew what I was doing. When I heard these guys rapping, I just had to sign them.” By the end of the week, the group was in the studio. “DSR is real unique,” explains Fat Bastard. “Everybody hits the mic with something different. When you buy a CD and listen to our lyrics, you gon’ hear something you ain’t never heard before. And you can relate to it.” The crew has assembled an unfailing fan base, and their latest efforts, DSR’s All Eyes on Us and Big Tuck’s solo debut Purple Hulk are their best works to date. - Carlton Wade
334 MOBB
In the music industry, it’s very rare that you come across an independent artist who truly understands the grind it takes to be even mildly successful. Meet the two brothers of 334 Mobb: Supa Star (21) and Sawed-Off (18). They hail from the birthplace of the civil rights movement, Alabama’s capital city of Montgomery. The first thing you’ll notice about 334 Mobb is their willingness to do the necessary legwork required to develop a true following and make the industry take notice. Not limiting themselves, 334 Mobb also boasts some of the hottest production for indie artists. Just off the strength of their hustle, 334 Mobb has been able to secure features from some of the South’s top artists including David Banner, Bonecrusher, Hitman Sammy Sam, and former Hypnotize Camp posse member T-Rock. In addition to their sought-after production, 334 Mobb has been dropping tight freestyles and exclusive joints on a myriad of mixtapes from some of the South’s hottest DJs. Songs like “They Fighting” featuring T-Rock and “Stop Running Your Mouth” featuring Big Ross are sure to get the clubs jumpin’ in a major way. While other certified bangers like the hook-driven “Nah Mean” are tailorcrafted for radio, 334 Mobb still manages to keep their street appeal. Aside from tapping the traditional outlets used to promote their product, 334 Mobb have utilized the internet to create a significant buzz while creating new fans through their website, www.beat-kingz.com . 334 Mobb have all the intangibles that guarantee success in the industry, so they’re definitely ones to watch in 2005. – Wally Sparks, wally@ozonemag.com
GUCCI MANE
One look at Gucci Mane and the phrase “class clown” comes to mind. It’s not Gucci Man, he emphasizes, it’s Gucci Mane - with a Southern twang. He can’t seem to keep the smile off his face, a mischievous grin reappearing constantly to reveal a mouth full of gold. Born in Birmingham, he developed his love for music and sense of humor at an early age. “If anybody talks bad about me, I just laugh it off,” he says. “That’s my way of dealing with it. That’s what my momma always told me: Just laugh at ‘em, and they can’t stop you.” Gucci Mane’s family moved to Atlanta when he was eight, and he began writing poetry. It came naturally. “I always knew how to put words together,” he recalls. “And I always wanted to be a rapper.” Influenced by the likes of LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and 2 Live Crew, he released a single in ’98 on a local Atlanta record label and gained some street exposure. Due to “straight lack of money,” the song never made it to radio and the label folded. Since then, his label situation has been constantly changing. “I been with a lot of labels,” he laughs. “Ooh, it’s been a lot of drama.” While recording with the Never Again Family, Gucci Mane dropped “Black Tees” as a joke response to the Franchize Boys’ “White Tees.” The song picked up radio play almost instantly, and he was able to successfully follow up the gimmicky record with a hot original single, “So Icy.” Gucci Man then linked up with the Sign Ya Self Clique: “It was a bunch of my homeboys, and we couldn’t really handle business.” Looking for more structure, he formed a new label, LaFlare, and plans to release his debut album Icy this March in a joint venture with Big Cat Records. – Words and photo by Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com
