13 Songs Loosely Associated with the South | Playlist

1. J. Cole, “9 5 . s o u t h”

The Off-Season • Dreamville / Roc Nation • 2021

Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole kicks off his sixth studio album, The Off-Season, with a bang with “9 5 . s o u t h.”  It begins with an intro by Cam’ron.  Then, Cole gets things started, touting his skills and success in the game (“This shit too easy for me now / Nigga, Cole been goin’ plat’ since back when CDs was around”).

Cole brilliantly takes a shot at rappers who rely on quantity over quality with very little gain, continuing the aforementioned first verse as follows:

“What you sold, I tripled that, I can’t believe these fuckin’ clowns
Look how everybody clappin’ when your thirty-song album do a measly hundred thou’.”

There’s no chorus, but there is an interlude between the first and second verses, with a badass outro following the second.  On the outro, we get more Cam’ron as well as a timely Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz sample, “Put Yo Hood Up”.

“Put your hood up...
Put your clique up...
Represent your shit, motherfucker...
Represent your clique, motherfucker...
If you scared to throw it up, get the fuck out the club...”

Epic start to The-Off Season to say the least as well a standalone record that sufficiently tickles my fancy.

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2. 2 Chainz, “Southside Hov”

So Help Me God! • Gamebread / Def Jam • 2020

“I’m from the Southside where it’s lukewarm / Where niggas set you up for robbery and help you look for ‘em.” 2 Chainz (Tauheed Epps) is one of a kind – understatement.  On his 2020 album, So Help Me God!, he likens himself to a “Southside Hov.” Hov, of course, is one of the nicknames of mega successful East Coast rapper, Jay-Z.  As far as the southside is concerned, 2 Chainz hails from Atlanta, Georgia.  ATL, of course, is a noted center for its southern rap.

“Name another rapper that got a Versace shoe deal.” Certainly, I couldn’t name one. 2 Chainz keeps it short and sweet on “Southside Hov,” which appears as the 11^th track on So Help Me God!.  As usual, the listener hears Epps’ distinct flow and his entertaining, sometimes utterly ridiculous rhymes. Epps actually reins things in more than usual, but he does tout his drip and success in the game. We get gems like, “I’ve been a stepper, I walk around with my own shoehorn / This type of flow, I give the opposition goosebumps.” Woo! #SouthsideHov – Atlanta in the house!

3. The Black Keys, “Going Down South”

Delta Kream • Nonesuch • 2021

Grammy-winning rock collective The Black Keys ( Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney) go the covers route, but return to their roots on their 2021 album, Delta Kream .  This album honors the duo’s blues heroes.  The result is a new-old album of sorts – one that ends up being both enjoyable and ultimately, quite successful.  Auerbach and Carney recorded Delta Kream live in the studio with friends Eric Deaton (electric bass) and Kenny Brown (electric guitar). One of many standouts from Delta Kream is “Going Down South.”

“Going Down South” is a Robert Lee Burnside classic. Dan Auerbach spoils us with his ripe falsetto.  Within the context of Delta Kream, the listener continues to be wowed by the vintage, bluesy vibes. The overall musicianship on display is nothing short of incredible.  One specific selling point is the rising intensity towards the end of the record.  Things get louder, and the soloing – the ‘shedding’ grows more agile and rhythmic.  The south is well represented on this bluesy gem.

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4. Neil Young, “Southern Man”

After the Gold Rush • Reprise • 1970

We can’t forget that the south has a checkered past.  This, is something that iconic Canadian singer/songwriter Neil Young perfectly captures on “Southern Man.” “Southern man, better keep your head / Don’t forget what your book said,” he sings on the chorus, adding, “Southern change gonna come at last / Now your crosses are burning fast / Southern man.”  “Southern Man” is a highlight from Young’s 1970 album, After the Gold Rush.

Is Young’s “Southern Man” a fair assessment of the south? Well, you can’t really run away from the past, even if the history is unfavorable and downright ugly.  Young highlights a number of sketchy happenings lyrically including “I saw cotton and I saw black,” “Southern man, when will you pay them [slaves] back?” and “I heard screaming and bullwhips cracking.”  These are all definitely tough words to listen to, likely whether you are black or white, making it no surprise this socially charged record is controversial.  Still, this is an awesome classic rock record that certainly prompts discussion about justice, racism, and white privilege.  Maybe the assessment isn’t fair to the woke white men and women who are quick to denounce the past and strive to be better, but it’s also equally hard to refute the message Young delivers on this five-and-a-half-minute masterpiece.

5. Ed Sheeran, “South of the Border”

Ft. Camila Cabello & Cardi B

No.6 Collaborations Project • Atlantic • 2019

“South of the Border” arrives as the second song off of No.6 Collaborations Project, the 2019 studio album by Grammy-winner Ed Sheeran. On “South of the Border,” he enlists Camila Cabello and Cardi B for the assist. As title and personnel suggest, Sheeran opts for a fun, Latin-tinged pop joint.  It is well organized in regard to form, and quite catchy from the start, especially the chorus.

Cabello continues to ‘kill it’ in a featured role, exhibiting marvelous chemistry with Sheeran on the chorus/bridge sections.

“So, join me in this bed that I’m in
Push up on me and sweat, darling
So, I’m gonna put my time in
I won’t stop until the angels sing
Jump in that water, be free
Come south of the border with me.”

As for Cardi B, she provides a welcome contrast, keeping it tasteful, sans the “Legs open, tongue out, Michael Jordan” line.  Still, “South of the Border” doesn’t cover that much geography…

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6. Nina Simone, “Mississippi Goddam”

In Concert • Verve • 1964

“The name of this tune is ‘Mississippi Goddam’ / And I mean every word of it.” Ooh wee! “Mississippi Goddam,” as the title suggest, does NOT serve up a flattering view of Mississippi (sorry Mississippians).  It does, however, definitely rank among iconic jazz musician’s Nina Simone’s most famous and beloved classics.  It’s ‘real talk’ and doesn’t solely point the finger at Mississippi, though the state gets the brunt of it, intensified by the expletive.

“Alabama’s gotten me so upset
Tennessee’s made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam.”

So, why Mississippi, you ask? Well, the southern state has quite the checkered past regarding racism, including the assassination of black civil rights activist, Medgar Evers.  As a non-Mississippian, who still happens to be southern, it feels like everything suspect regarding race relations and such ‘goes down’ in this state.  Still, Simone is critical of Alabama aside from the name-drop in the chorus, including the line “School children sitting in jail.”  The big takeaway from this song is that it’s one of the preeminent Civil Rights anthems.  Yes, Mississippi is viewed particularly poorly, but Simone was speaking about the south in particular with the fight to achieve equal rights for blacks.

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7.  Big K.R.I.T., “King of The South”

Cadillactica • Def Jam • 2014

“Titans collide, only Zeus could survive / If not me bitch, who the fuck you gone call?” “King of The South” is a dynamic cut from Cadillactica, the second major-label album from Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T.  And yes, it should be noted that K.R.I.T.’s “King of the South” arrived after T.I. proclaimed himself “King of the South” years earlier… Anyways, “King of the South” is led by infectious lyrics: “Grew up on the countryside of town…king of the south, king of the south, king of the south.” A home run by all means, Big K.R.I.T. is on autopilot without question.

He slaughters his rhymes with incredible agility, as any king, even a makeshift one from the south, should.

“Born and raised where the rebel flag hang from the slaves
Grew up where y’all niggas won’t go
Rep that, rep that shit like I own it
I did it big for my fam and my homies
I got the biggest house on my block, foreign with the drop.”

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8. Florence + The Machine, “South London Forever”

High as Hope • Universal Music Operations Limited • 2018

“I thought, ‘It doesn’t get better than this / There can be nothing better than this.’” Better than what, Florence + The Machine? On “South London Forever,” the third track from High as Hope (2018), Florence Welch reminisces back to her younger days.  “When I go home alone / I drive past the place where I was born,” she sings on the first verse of the ‘south’ song – South London in England, of course! She continues singing, “Young and drunk and stumbling in the street / Outside the Joiners Arms like foals unsteady on their feet.”  Woo!

As “South London” continues, Welch tells us more about her youthful South London days, which seem incredibly irresponsible.  “And I forgot my name,” she sings on the second verse, continuing she also forgot “the way back to my mother’s house.”  There’s another verse as well, finding Florence reflecting.  On the chorus, specifically the final two lines, Welch delivers some of the most memorable lyrics of the record: “But everything I did / Was just another way to scream your name,” All in all, “South London Forever” is pretty straightforward, with Florence performing quite in dramatic and expressive fashion.

9. SUSTO, “Gay in the South”

& I’m Fine Today • Acid Boys / Missing Piece • 2017 

“Mother of mine, you think you caused it / It’s an uphill climb being gay in the south.” Powerful lyrics, right? Millennial folk project SUSTO is quite perceptive about the attitudes towards those who don’t identify as heterosexual.  Sure, to say all of the south subscribes to the same mindset would be inaccurate, but being a southerner myself, I feel I can definitely provide some insight into the far too often conservative southern mindset.

Anyways, “Gay in the South,” which appears on the 2017 album, & I’m Fine Today, is among the sincerest records to grace this list.  The songwriting ( Johnny Delaware, Justin Osborne, and Ryan Wolfgang Zimmerman) is superb. Likewise, the folksy, singer/songwriter sound captured by production ( Zimmerman and Delaware) is also pretty sweet.  Focusing on the lyrics and theme, not only does it capture attitudes towards gays (“They promised us you were going straight to hell when you died”), but it also encourages moving from what could be a toxic environment, not limited only to sexuality.

“So, hop in your car, find a more loving place to be
Sometimes it just takes a change in locale.”

One of my favorite lyrics appears near the end when Osborne sings, “Sinner, step back, don’t let a test ruin your life.” Amen !

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10. Thomas Rhett, “South Side”

Tangled Up • Valory • 2015

In 2021, Grammy-nominated country musician Thomas Rhett made the decision to be ‘country again,’ or so the title track from his album, Country Again (Side A) touts.  But, before he returned to his roots, Rhett was experimenting with a vast number of styles beyond country.  A prime example of this is on his intriguing sophomore album, Tangled Up, specifically the hip-hop country amalgam that is the third song, “South Side.”

“South Side” commences with the hilarious line, “Please commence shaking your south side.”  Obviously, Rhett isn’t referring to a particular southern part of the actual south, but rather the butt. “South Side,” of course is incredibly silly and lacks transcendence, but that doesn’t keep the record from being entertaining.  The chorus is absolutely golden:

“Now people on the left, shake your south side
People on the right, shake your south side
Every single girl, shake your south side
All around the word, shake your south side.”

Adding to the allure is the beat and of course, the saxophone! Thank you Thomas Rhett for showing us that country singers can shake a$$ too!

“Shake it like salt, shake it like pepper
Shake it like champagne, number one record
Shake it ‘til you just can’t shake it no more
Shake that thing all the way to the floor, uh.”

11. Jake Bugg, “Southern Rain”

Hearts That Strain • Universal Music Operations Limited • 2017

“Man, the morning’s rough / ‘Cause grieving is a tines / This drink won’t be my last.” Sigh, sounds like Jake Bugg will be drowning his sorrows.  He goes on to say on the chorus of “Southern Rain” ( Hearts That Strain, 2017): “Southern rain is here to stay / And you know I’m thinking of / A cloud of judgement day / Southern rain.”  Interestingly, the music on this particular record is set in a major key, though the lyrics don’t have a happy, positive connotation.

Besides being named “Southern Rain,” location isn’t important.  Southern rain itself is metaphorical, something clear as we hear Bugg speak about a breakup.  On the second verse while Bugg suggests he’s over the relationship, it’s clear he’s still upset.  On the bridge, it’s obvious he’s been affected by that ‘southern rain,’ as he expressively sings:

“Through the dust, missed your touch
You refused to take me back
When I weep, the future’s bleak
You’re the life in me.”

12. Billie Holiday, “Strange Fruit”

Billie Holiday • Verve • 1957

“Southern trees bear a strange fruit / Blood on the leaves and blood at the root.” “Strange Fruit,” written by Abel Meeropol, was most famously performed by Billie Holiday. That ‘strange fruit’ referenced in “Strange Fruit” were blacks who’d been lynched, with their bodies hanging, lifelessly.

“Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar tree.”

Historically, slavery was long over for blacks, but the south was still an incredibly dangerous, segregated, and an unjust, racist place for them. Yes, blacks were free, but truthfully, they weren’t truly free.  Lynching, of course, was an infamous, incredibly unfortunate occurrence that took lives that shouldn’t have been taken.  Holiday took gargantuan risks performing “Strange Fruit” because the ballad makes such a powerful statement about what was legitimately happening to African Americans.  This three-verse song caused ample issues for her, including imprisonment and ultimately, becoming victim to an unabashedly racist and corrupt system.

As “Strange Fruit” progresses, the lyrics continue to describe the horrendous scene seen in the trees.  “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth…” is incredibly grim, morbid, and sickening. Later, add in the contrast between the “Scent of magnolias” and “…The sudden smell of burning flesh…” And of course, with the dead there for the taking, “Here is a fruit for crows to pluck / … Here is a strange and bitter crop.”  What’s clever about the ‘crows’ is they not only reference the birds, but those godawful, racist Jim Crow laws promoted in the south.  This is an instance where the south looks utterly horrendous.

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13. Anthony Hamilton, “Southern Stuff”

Ain’t Nobody Worryin’ • Arista • 2005

Sigh, we couldn’t conclude a southern list with a downer like “Strange Fruit,” so, we look to Anthony Hamilton for a sweet, southern neo-soul record.  Hamilton’s career hasn’t been easy, but he finally broke through in 2003 with his platinum-certified album Comin’ From Where I’m From, thanks to an incredible single, “Charlene”. Hamilton has never quite attained the same degree of success again, but the Grammy-winner has remained incredibly consistent, racking up some surefire R&B hits. “Southern Stuff” is some of his best work from his 2005, gold-certified album, Ain’t Nobody Worryin’.

On “Southern Stuff,” the North Carolinian celebrates the south – well – via the perfect lady. How so? Well, he compares her to “Cadillac / Cool breeze in the 70s,” before adding, “You and me holdin’ hands talkin’ family / That southern thing I like / You got that southern stuff I like.” All of that, of course, goes down on the smooth, soulful chorus.  She exemplifies that perfect southern girl, something he expounds on during the verses.  Additional details include “Sweet southern thang, pretty skin half picked and when you grin, that’s when all life begins” and “Ms. Georgia peach, Carolina when you speak, your southern drawl, make me want to know you.”  As the title suggests and the chorus confirms on this sweet Mark Batson produced neo-soul cut, she’s “…got that southern stuff I like.”

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