Southern rapper Petey Pablo, born Moses Barrett III in Greenville, North Carolina, broke out in 2001 with his debut single Raise Up. Produced by Timbaland, the hit propelled his gold-certified debut album, Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, to a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. He achieved further mainstream success with the platinum single Freek-a-Leek before career interruptions.
New Orleans rapper Juvenile emerged in the 1990s bounce scene and found national fame as a solo artist and member of Hot Boys. He is best known for hits like Ha, Back That Azz Up, and the chart-topping Slow Motion, alongside multi-platinum albums including 400 Degreez.
Based in Ft. Myers, Florida, rapper Plies signed to Slip-N-Slide in 2004. He released his debut album, The Real Testament, in 2007, featuring the single Shawty. His subsequent albums include Definition of Real, Da Realist, and Goon Affiliated, which topped Billboard's rap chart.
Baton Rouge rapper Webbie signed to Trill Entertainment as a teen, releasing collaborative albums with Lil Boosie before dropping his solo debut Savage Life in 2005. Known for hits like Gimme Dat and Bad Bitch, he built a successful career with his street-smart style.
Originating from Memphis, Tennessee, Southern rap pioneers 8Ball and MJG formed in 1984 and released influential albums like Comin' Out Hard and In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1. They achieved their greatest commercial success with the Bad Boy Records release Living Legends.
Trick Daddy, born Maurice Young in Miami, Florida, is a Southern hip-hop artist known for his distinctive delivery and street anthems. He significantly shaped Miami's music scene. Popular songs include "Let's Go," "I'm a Thug," and "Nann Nigga" (with Trina). His album "Thugs Are Us" achieved platinum status. He has collaborated with artists such as Lil Jon and DJ Khaled.
Goodie Mob, an Atlanta-based hip-hop group, includes Big Gipp, Cee-Lo, Khujo, and T-Mo. Known for their impact in Southern rap, their 1995 debut, "Soul Food," is a classic.
CeeLo Green is an Atlanta-born singer and songwriter who rose to fame as a member of the influential hip-hop group Goodie Mob. He later achieved massive global success as a solo artist and as half of Gnarls Barkley, winning multiple Grammy Awards for hits like Crazy and Fuck You.
