Third Coast: OutKast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing

by Roni Sarig, Julia Beverly (Photographer)

Typically, more than half the top rap songs in the country are the work of Southern artists. In a world still stuck in the East/West coast paradigm of the '90s, Southern hip hop has dominated the genre-and defined the culture-for years. And the South's leading lights, most notably OutKast, Timbaland, and more recently, crunk superstars like the Ying Yang Twins and Lil Jon, have expanded the parameters of hip hop. Third Coast is the first book to deal with Southern hip hop as a matter of cultural history, and the first to explain the character and significance of down South rapping to fans as well as outsiders. It tells the story of recent hip hop, marking how far the music has come sonically and culturally since its well-documented New York-centered early years.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2007

Reviews

[Conor Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was overall really excellent, but for a book that focuses exclusively on southern rap how is DJ Drama not mentioned at all?

I loved this besides that but the more I think about it the more it feels intentional.

[Wes Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plausible entry for the South's artistic contribution to hip hop. Dude loves hip hop, loves the South, talks about Outkast too got dang much, but chronicles the rise and fall of the Dungeon Family in the process so he's forgiven. He gets down with how idiomatic hip hop gets south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but doesn't give it enough dap for my tastes. Be a fifth star in the goodreads firmament for this book had brother man gone there about how Houston's Screw music scene is maybe the full extension of hip hop's street-serving adaptability, and kept mum about how the sun rises on Cee Lo Green's bald head and sets on Andre 3000's platinum wig. And like any book on hip hop, it must languish in the shadow of Jeff Chang's "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," a book so permanently in charge of the hip-hop-as-social-expression game, that we'll have to wait for it to die before any other such book gets promoted. Not to hate, this book comes out the gate in full buck, but it loses its gumption toward the end, and the end was the last thing I read (natch), so I might be a little grouchy about it still. But four stars though, each one earned.

[Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you wanted a reason to stop stereotyping all down south rap is ig'nant, or felt there had to be a linear progression from Florida Booty-music to Houston's chopped and screwed syrup-sippin' slide to Gomorrah, then this is the book for you!

I enjoyed it, but I also enjoy the music, appreciate it for what it is, more contemporary storytelling...more stories always make for better understanding, just because the delivery is seemingly unpalatable does not make the tales to be shared less valid.

I agree with other reviewers that this book needs some appendix which lists the many styles and historical antecedents which make up the Third Coast sounds.

holla.

[Nico Meyering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows of my love for TI, which lead me to this book. I liked Sarig's reliance on primary sources, but was sad that the book came with no appendix of recommended songs and albums; the book certainly name drops enough of them. I'd love to read an updated version of the book one day, now that Tip and other southern rappers (Ludacris, Lil Wayne, OutKast, etc.) aren't ruling the charts.

[Zlatko · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of southern rap, this book will open your eyes and make you understand the culture much further. Roni has a quite interesting thesis, and the context he provides really does show that hip-hop started in the South.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least for a relative honky like me, I found this to be a useful overview of southern hip-hop. No playlists, which is a bummer, but a good family tree of players, playas, and ideas.

[Rue · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book talked a great deal about southern hiphop but i was really surprised with how much it covered New Orleans Bounce (the music of my youth lol) and HOuston rap.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book about southern rap that I have read so far.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as great as Dirty South but still worth reading!