Country Fried Soul: Adventures in Dirty South Hip Hop (Book)

Music from the Dirty South — African American-concentrated cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, Virginia Beach, and Houston — has dominated American hip-hop culture and the pop charts for the past few years with no signs of slowing. The international success of producers and artists like Timbaland, The Neptunes, and OutKast suggests it's all just the tip of the iceberg for an eccentric music-based culture teeming with creativity and caught in a clash between religion, education, family, sex, drugs, and a brand new interpretation of rock and roll.

Country Fried Soul provides an overview and history of Dirty South music, exploring its roots, relations, and many branches. Featuring exclusive interviews with major artists including Lil Jon, Young Buck, Ludacris, and 8Ball and MJG, the book highlights the major players and the real-life struggles that inspire their art. The author recommends and reviews the essential recordings in the genre and explores the Dirty South's influence on film, fashion, and culture. The book includes 50 black-and-white photos.