Long before the hypnotic beats and menacing flows of Memphis rap found their way into mainstream playlists and global music festivals, they echoed through cassette tapes, car stereos, and corner stores across the South. Memphis rap was a fiercely regional force—raw, DIY, and often ignored by the broader industry. With little more than rudimentary software,…
For the past half century, hip-hop DJs and producers have been in a constant state of competition to find the perfect sample to help bring a track to life. Unsurprisingly, the music of Memphis–particularly ‘60s and ‘70s soul–has proven to be an especially fruitful source for the perfect snippet. Although we’d love to list the…
