Atlanta has been a hotbed for rap talent going back to the Dungeon Family days so it’s never a surprise when I hear new artists popping up from there. A lot of these rappers had parents that grew up listening to OutKast and Goodie Mob so the Atlanta hip hop vibes are in their blood. Even an ATL rapper like Future, did you know that he was discovered from Rico Wade from Organized Noize? That Dungeon Family family tree is impressive. There have been 2 generations of the Dungeon Family. While we all know the first generation through the Organized Noize, OutKast, and Goodie Mob lineage….
But did you know the 2nd generation included Killer Mike and Future? Killer Mike was down with OutKast so I already knew that but throughout Future’s whole career I never knew he had the Dungeon Family stamp. Before we get to Future, I have to throw in my favorite Killer Mike track which still isn’t up on the DSP’s… Cmon fam! And on YouTube, “Comin’ Home Atlanta” only has 4,000 views? That can’t be right. Do most of y’all not know about this track?
Future has long been a rapper that I know of some tracks but I’ve never fully gotten into his catalog. My homie Mark is a diehard Future fan so I needed his help to school me…. In his words:
“A few months after his 2nd album, Honest, Ciara broke up with Future due to a slew of cheating allegations, which led to the 3 peat….
3Peat (Monster, Beast Mode, 56 Nights): Three mixtapes released in a 6 months span (oct 2014- mar 2015). All three mixtapes are unique and incredible, combos of straight fucking bangers and songs that show his range and depth. In my lifetime, this was the absolute most hype thing to happen in rap and was the launching point of an unprecedented run that’s still going. These tapes started the ATL Trap wave and influenced the sound of rap music that you hear today. Monster in particular is a classic from top to bottom and one of my favorite projects ever”
Here is “Codeine Crazy” off his 2014 mixtape, Monster. I have so much Future to listen to and he’s one of those artists that I’ll eventually get to. The time just wasn’t right in the past but I see that door opening now. Luckily my homie Mark laced me with a full email of what all to bump so it’s on me to get through it all.
Outside of the Dungeon Family, do you realize how many rappers are from Atlanta? This list is crazy…. T.I., Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Migos, Jeezy, Young Thug, Gunna, Lil Baby, 21 Savage…. I could keep going but why don’t you just marinate on that list for a quick minute. Here’s Gucci Mane with “Lemonade” as you read through that list a few more times. A quick shout out to Soren Baker who worked with Gucci on his book, The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness which dropped last year. I’m going to my local book store today to support. I need a new book after I just finished the Rick Ross Hurricanes book which was fire btw.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably thinking that I’m leaving out a lot of notable ATL rappers. I know I am…. But I also have a full-time job, a wife, and a kid to tend to so I have to keep this somewhat short. If enough of you start reading and riding the wave I can quit the 9-5 but until then, these articles will be knocked out while the fam is asleep early in the morning.
Out of the ATL right now I really like EARTHGANG and JID (aka J.I.D.) and I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, JID is up next. Spillage Village as a crew can’t be slept on. Deante’ Hitchcock is another emcee that is just too damn nice out of the ATL. Is it just something in the water down in the South?
And I just have to include this Kaytranada track that JID ripped to pieces last year. Love this track!
But there is another rapper in Atlanta that I’m hearing some greatness in. I first heard SwaVay from Spotify’s algorithms hitting me with his track “YAYA” which dropped last June from the album, B4dalbum. This has a dope hook, a rapid fire flow with good lyrics, some great cadence, a fire beat, and everything else you look for in an ATL banger. Straight confidence out the gate with the opening bars too.
SwaVay dropped a new track and video recently for his song, “Shooter.” “Shooter” is one you shouldn’t be sleeping on and you are because this video has less than 40K views. Oh man… He got the James Blake cosign and still isn’t getting 40K views on a dope video drop? Just wait until word gets out on this kid’s flow as he stays in the pocket of the beat. He drops some nice Kendrick quotes and the double-time flow is flawless…. Then the switch up comes and and SwaVay flips the flow once again. Dope, dope, dope.
SwaVay has a new track dropping this week called “5 Minutes” and I can’t wait to hear it. SwaVay already predicting that it’s going to be a big song for him too so the hype is building. Atlanta keeps winning in hip hop and from Andre to Big Boi to Cee-Lo to Killer Mike to Gucci to Future to Young Thug to JID to SwaVay, the lineage is pure dopeness. Don’t sleep on the ATL and don’t sleep on my man SwaVay.