This playlist is dedicated to those early mornings working on the receiving dock at Nordstrom in Scottsdale, AZ back in the 00’s. While I stayed on my Kanye and underground hip hop vibes, I couldn’t ignore the Texas Rap movement when it was bubbling after UGK got on “Big Pimpin” with Jigga.
I was always a big UGK, Geto Boys, and Devin the Dude guy but this new wave back in the early/mid 2000’s was something. Big props to my homies RayRob and Bertie who had me listening to Paul Wall, Lil’ Keke, Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Lil Flip back then. We worked early mornings hustling to unload trucks on the receiving dock and get the Scottsdale Nordstrom store ready with fresh inventory. If you came close to that loading dock you were guaranteed to hear something like Swishhouse hits banging from our boombox.
Who had the best verse on “Still Tippin’” tho? I’ve debated it for close to 20 years and I still don’t know the answer. Slim Thugga straight murders his opening verse…. “peaced up, creased up, staying dressed to impress, big boss belt buckle under my Mitchell & Ness.” Fire…. but who do we got on verse 2?? Of course it’s Mike Jones. People want to talk sh*t about Mike Jones (WHO?) but listen to the kid on this track… Back then hoes didn’t want him, now he’s hot and all the hoes want him… Alright… Verse 3??? The People’s Champ, Paul Wall????? He had the internet goin’ nuts on this banger. Shout out to Salih Williams who produced the track because the shit knocks.
But what else was hot out of Texas in the 2000’s? Too damn much…. “Chunk Up the Deuce” anybody? Cmon… Run this one right now and tell me you’re not mean muggin your computer or phone as you nod that head to this fire. Lil’ Keke, Paul Wall, Pimp C, and Bun B with nothin but heat here. As Paul Wall says, “ain’t no 401K for a hustler.” Bump this shit and get back on your grind nephew!
Can’t write a Down South article and not talk about how big “Wanna Be a Baller” by Lil Troy was. We would bump this at the house parties we’d throw during this era and EVERYBODY would be singing it. Or at least the chorus and a few bars from the first verse! Too many damn verses on this but it’s a legendary Texas track that anybody between the ages of 35 - 45 will sing the chorus to if you throw it on the speakers.
How about when Lil’ Flip dropped “Game Over” back in 2004? The Ms. Pac Man sample though? The beat was catchy and Lil’ Flip did his thing. This track was played on the radio at least once per hour so there was no missing this in back in the day. Here’s one of my favorite Lil Flip verses that might be a bit under the radar.
DJ Screw and the S.U.C. aka Screwed Up Click were legends in Texas so it’s only right to close it out with them. The crew was deep with a posse that included DJ Screw, Lil’ Flip, Fat Pat, Lil’ Keke, Z-Ro, Big Mello, and more. Their music I feel gets somewhat lost unless you’re from Texas or caught the chopped and screwed wave at some point.
To close things out here, I have to let y’all ride out with some Fat Pat. Tell me you ain’t here for this vibe when you watch the video. Old School Rap straight out of Texas in the late 90’s and 00’s. Po Up.