When hip-hop is brought into conversation in Alabama, people typically cite familiar names, like The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Wayne, NAS, Mos Def and Snoop Dogg.
But Alabamians are unfamiliar with the feelings New Orleans’ natives share with Wayne. Alabamians cannot miss Biggie’s music in the same sense New Yorkers do. Alabamians can’t even rightfully claim a coast.
Tomorrow, Alabama students will have an opportunity to discover some of the biggest names in the state’s growing hip-hop scene. Yelawolf, G-Side, Jackie Chain, Paper Route Gangstaz and Attitude will all perform at Rounders beginning at 10 p.m. in an event hosted by the Alabama College Democrats.
“Four of these artists are signed to major labels,” said James Folsom, the field coordinator for his father Jim Folsom’s campaign for Lt. Governor. “And G-Side, Jackie Chain and Paper Route Gangstaz all represent Slow Motion Soundz — a well-known independent label in Huntsville.”
Folsom began planning the event at the start of the summer and hopes it will encourage political awareness.
“Its like a ‘get out and vote’ concert,” Folsom said. “We’re trying to make a connection between music and politics. Also fun and politics. Fun is life, music is life, and, oddly, politics is life. Bringing them all together can help us promote awareness musically and politically.”
Folsom is excited about coming to campus to garner support for his father.
“We want to reach educated people who are going to continue to help us campaign,” Folsom said.
He also hopes the musicians will jumpstart a crescendo of appreciation for local hip-hop, as all of the artists are from Alabama. Some of them are internationally known.
“These guys are world renowned,” Folsom said. “Yelawolf makes music with Big Boi. G-Sides just released an international record. In fact, the only coverage this event has received comes from a blog based in England.”
That blog, called Southern Hospitality, describes this event as the “biggest and best artists in Bama … putting on what is set to be one of the most important shows the state has ever seen.”
Despite all the acclaim, most Alabama students may have never heard of the performers.
“I’m really not familiar with the groups at all,” said John DuBois, vice president of the College Democrats. “I’m excited to hear new music.”
Codie Gopher, co-founder and general manager of Slow Motion Soundz, is not discouraged by the artists’ lack of notoriety in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s really just a great opportunity for us,” Gopher said. “We’re able to introduce hip-hop to Alabama. It’s a big event considering the strides hip-hop has been making in the state. I’m honored by this opportunity.”
Gopher, better known as Codie G., is no stranger to promoting Alabama’s tunes. Having served in the Army, Codie G. has taken the music across the world.
“I was constantly getting music while I was abroad in Korea and Iraq,” he said. “Homegrown music helped me cope overseas.”
Being homegrown from Huntsville, Slow Motion’s artists are offering a unique sound.
“Huntsville is a diverse city,” Gopher said. “Everyone bring their flavor to the city. We’re trying to combine all these different ingredients into one slow sound. It’s a big sound.”
Codie G. also says the lack of local visibility for Alabama’s hip-hop artists is understandable.
“I think it’s the infrastructure of how music is distributed in this state,” Gopher said. “In other places, people are more in tune with what’s going on on the Internet. Alabama is stuck on MTV, BET and the radio. We have to get Alabama caught up.”
Hopefully, University of Alabama students will embrace the hype behind this event. Codie G. is confident.
“This show will help us,” Gopher said. “It’s historical. Four major labeled artists and a slow sound coming to the University of Alabama. We’re speaking for you. Tuscaloosa is a championship city, and we want to give it championship music.”
