The more people get into Southern rap, the clearer it becomes how little people know about Southern rap music. So, here’s a quick primer. These are 25 albums worth a listen.
Here’s the thing–some of these are records I happen to really like and some are not. For example, I’m not the biggest fan of TRU’s TRU 2 Da Game, but I think it’s historically significant. So in recommending you check these records out, I’m not just saying that the albums are top-notch and I’m definitely saying these are the 25 best Southern rap albums (I’m purposesly not repeating any artist or group more than once, but cats can have a group and solo album on here). I’m also mentioning milestones that will make it easier to see how Southern rap progressed to where it is now.
And here we go, in no particular order…

OutKast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. My favorite Kast record, even though Aquemini is better. But it’s one of the five best produced post-Chronic albums, the one that completely changed the way people viewed Southern rappers.
Geto Boys – Grip It! On That Other Level. Still holds as the best GB album, even though it doesn’t have any hits like “Mind’s Playin Tricks on Me.” It’s also ridiculously disturbing at times. But, if I’m not mistaken, this is the record Virgin was afraid to release, proving that scaring the hell out of people is great PR.
Mystikal – Mind of Mystikal. To the uninformed–Unpredictable is not Mystikal’s first album, just his first on No Limit. This one was the best album out of New Orleans before 400 Degreez and features the classics “Here I Go” and “Y’all Ain’t Ready Yet.”
Da Odd Squad – Fadanuf Fa Erbody. Maybe, just maybe, the most underrated album ever. Features a young Devin the Dude.
UGK – Ridin Dirty. I can’t explain why. You just have to cop it. Possibly the best album of 1996, competing only with Reasonable Doubt and ATLiens.
Scarface – The Diary. The Fix is better, but I don’t remember an album sounding like this. It’s so dark, so vivid, so well-written, so dope. Mr. Scarface is Back opened eyes, but The Diary made Big Brad a legend.
T.I. – I’m Serious. I’d rather listen to Trap Muzik, but this is the beginning of the Atlanta explosion in hip hop. It took a while, but check out these trap boys that have records out now and tell me where they got their styles from. I’d say this album.
Goodie Mob – Still Standing. Many people prefer Soul Food, but I’ll take this one. Why? Because it has more pop sensibilities but doesn’t sacrifice anything artistically. In fact, you could argue this is more gutter than the first. Great balance.
Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It (Thug Motivation 101). Sorry, but anyone that can’t admit that this is a classic at this point is just hatin’. Jeezy ain’t no Big Daddy Kane, but the record bangs and he does a good job on the mic.
Juvenile – 400 Degreez. So “Ha” came out and I had no idea what to say about it. “Back Dat Azz Up” came out and I thought it was incredible. Heard the album and I didn’t take it out of the tape deck in my car for about three months. Unique sound, unique emcee, great features…everything you could want in a rap album. And FYI, I think his new record might be better than this one.
Devin the Dude – Just Tryin’ Ta Live. I’m continually amazed by how Devin gets laid and high in EVERY song. Cal Ripken ain’t got shit on him.
Eightball and MJG – On the Outside Looking In. The best record of their early period. Features the all-timer “Lay It Down.” Went gold with very little promo in 1995. Not easy for country boys to do back then.
Down South Hustlas (compilation). One of the best vehicles ever for getting Southern hip hop outside of the South (and particularly into California). And it showed the world that some guy named Master P had a good idea of how to make money.
TRU – TRU 2 Da Game. It’s a double disc that should have been a single. The rapping is average at most points. It gets repetitive pretty early in the game. But the first tiem I heard “No Limit Soldiers,” I knew that P was on the way to being a huge star. And if you hear this record, you’ll understand what I heard. Unfortunately, this led to lots more solo albums from Silkk Da Shocker.
Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz – Kings of Crunk. Put Yo Hood Up went hard, but this one expanded what people thought Jon could do. Also showed that this regional sound could sell nationwide…as long as people up North would quit frontin’ and just enjoy the ride. Great record.
D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better. Yeah, it’s a West Coast album, but I had to remind you that the Diggy-doc is from DALLAS. Not LA, DALLAS. And Primo is from Prairie View, Texas.
Bubba Sparxxx – Deliverance. Why do people continue to sleep on this album?
Little Brother – The Minstrel Show. You think this shouldn’t be on this list? You clearly have never met these cats. Country as buttermilk biscuits.
Three 6 Mafia – Chapter 2, World Domination. When this was out, I didn’t properly respect it. Going back and reading the track list, I see how much influence the Memphis boys had on the crunk sound from Atlanta. And Juicy J is one of the most interesting samplers ever. If I’m not mistaken, “Tear Da Club Up ’97” uses a sample from the theme to “The Young and the Restless.”
Hot Boys – Get It How You Live. I honestly don’t know the Screw scene that well, but try this one. Listen to some of the Screwed up stuff that came out before 1997. Then listen to the stuff that came out afterwards. Lots more talk about diamonds and all of that in the later stuff. ’97 is the year Get It How You Live came out, and I couldn’t get in anyone’s car that summer without hearing this record. And I know of a couple of rappers in Houston that couldn’t get enough of this album. Not as good as Guerilla Warfare, but GW was really just a reissue of “Get It How You Live” with new tracks.
Kilo Ali – Organized Bass. I don’t care if you like bass or not, this record bangs HARD. Produced by Organized Noize, this is probably the best of the Atlanta bass albums. Lil Jon’s So So Def Bass All-Stars are also great examples, but I’d rather listen to this album over another.
Paul Wall and Chamillionaire – Get Your Mind Correct. Listened to that at the gym the other day for the first time in years. Man, this is a great album. I hope both of them go back to making stuff that sounds like this one.
David Banner – Certified. I’m torn between putting this one or Crooked Lettaz “Grey Skies” on the list. I know this record better, so I’m putting it on. Really good and inexplicably slept-on album, my favorite of his solos.
Lil Wayne – The Carter II. Yeah, all you fans of the first Carter can give it to me in the comments.
Luke – One of his albums. Real talk, I can’t tell his records apart. I just know it would be blasphemous not to include him on this list.