95 South
Hip-Hop · US

95 South

High-octane Miami bass and Florida rap designed to shake trunks and fill dance floors. Pure 90s party energy with booming 808s and infectious group chants.

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Intro

95 South is the sonic equivalent of a Florida summer heatwave. Their sound is defined by the relentless, chest-thumping rattle of the Roland TR-808, paired with high-tempo breakbeats that demand movement. It is music built for the car and the club, prioritizing physical impact over lyrical complexity. The atmosphere is perpetually celebratory, capturing the specific moment when Southern hip-hop began its transition from regional subculture to mainstream chart dominance.

What makes them distinctive is the 'Quad City' production aesthetic: a blend of fast-paced Miami bass and infectious, stadium-ready vocal hooks. Unlike the more laid-back G-Funk of the West Coast, 95 South operates at a frantic 125-135 BPM, utilizing group chants and call-and-response patterns that turn every track into a communal experience. The bass isn't just a frequency; it's the lead instrument, often distorted and sustained to create a wall of sound.

Start with 'Whoot, There It Is' to understand their cultural footprint, then dive into the 'Quad City Knock' album for a masterclass in 90s bass music. It's the perfect starting point for anyone looking to explore the roots of the Dirty South sound before it became the global standard.

95 South are an American hip hop group from Jacksonville, Florida. They started as a Miami bass group of Artice "AB" Bartley, Carlos "Daddy Black" Spencer and Jay "Ski" McGowan. The group's name is a reference to Interstate 95, which passes through the city. Today, 95 South is a duo composed of Mike Mike (Michael Phillips) and Daddy Black (Carlos Spencer). Their biggest success was the 1993 hit "Whoot, There It Is", from their debut album Quad City Knock, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was produced by C.C. Lemonhead and Jay "Ski" McGowan, then known as The Bass Mechanics. The album reached at No. 71 on the Billboard 200. Daddy Black claims their song, "Woot There It Is" was stolen by Tag Team, who named their song, "Whomp There It Is". There was a female member, named K-Nock, featured on Quad City Knock. Her vocals can be heard on the songs "K-Knock in da House/We Got da Bass" and "Da Kinda Bass". In 1995, they released their second album, One Mo' 'Gen. It contained the song "Rodeo" which reached No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself peaked at No. 158 on the Billboard 200. In 1997, 95 South made a guest appearance on Aaron Carter's eponymous debut album for the song "Shake It". In 2000, the group contributed to the soundtrack for the film Bring It On, with the song "Cheer for Me". Their third album, Tightwork 3000, followed in 2000. The duo also remixed songs for artists including Jordan Knight, Dru Hill and LFO. Since 2000, the group has continued to tour the United States at major festivals including Grad Bash, Funk Fest tours, at colleges and in private functions. In 2014, they started touring with a live band in addition to a DJ. The single "Ridin in My Chevy" was released in April 2016. 95 South released another single, "After Party" on December 16, 2016. In 2016, the group announced they added a four-piece band to the group.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA →
Our Catalog3 Albums · 1993 · 2000
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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