By shelz.

Once upon a time, long before Hip-Hop was the United Nations of music spreading diversity and acceptance across the land, regional walls towered high.  Every area had a unique signature and folks rarely meandered into outside territories.  This tribal behavior cloistered folks within zones and didn’t allow for many subgenre mutations. The backlash of this sonic redlining came to a head when all things southern started dominating the charts.

There was southern rap that fans from up top and left of the Mississippi decided was acceptable.  Artists like Goodie Mob and Outkast led the cerebral portion of the brigade.  Geto Boys and UGK presented sub mason Dixon gangsta and all were acknowledged as legitimate.  But artists that embraced the party and bullshit elements were regularly handled as the countrified cousins of the genre.  They weren’t necessarily the black sheep, but they weren’t taken all that seriously.

However, within all of that haughty dismissal, there were some songs that just couldn’t be denied.  Even with the deep bass thump of snap hosting drawls hard enough to make locals scratch their heads during some bars, people all over the country had to forget that they didn’t like the south and get on the floor.  You just couldn’t help it.

So here is a list of the best Southern dance songs that managed to make the hardest hard core tri-state resident join the party.  You may have felt afterwards that you lost some cool points, but you have to admit all of these songs were a ton of fun.

“No Limit Soldier” – Tru

It’s probably the simplest track in the history of Hip Hop.  Schroeder on the piano tinkering out something just a notch above chop sticks with a little percussion to back him up.  It still managed the ominous backdrop embraced by sonic gangstas from shore to shore.  Mystikal’s low growl and C Murder’s rambling boasts made this a sing-a-long for everyone who wanted a little hood respect.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlWks8jTpBA[/pro-player]

“I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)” – Luke

One of the best bass lines ever attached to one of the most disgusting titles ever. (Especially if you know the line from which it was removed.) Short of “The Choice Is Yours,” I’ve never seen a track move first generation  Hip-Hop folks like this song. Everywhere.  There’s plenty of naked ass in this video.  Be governed accordingly.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fvt-fJR2XY[/pro-player]

“Tear The Club Up” – 36 Mafia

This song was as popular as a club song could get and it couldn’t get a spin in a club anywhere.  Why? Because people were really trying to tear the club up.  I guess 36 were able to hype the crowd so much, it turned into a weird call and response.  It still stands as one of the most evocative club songs of all time and club owners still shiver at the thought, even up top.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlNRgxp90Bw&feature=related[/pro-player]

“Neva Eva” – Trillville x Lil Scrappy

How much did people love shouting this.  Any hook with a claim of greatness tends to be a winner.  Rappers have created a million and one ways to say I’m better than everybody and this was one of the best.  You say it with conviction and pride and someone might just believe you.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erhfjpL5Sng[/pro-player]

“Bling Bling” – Cash Money Millionaires

Don’t act like you didn’t say it.  Just like 5 years from now you won’t claim swag.  Folks can argue about where the phrase originated all they want, Cash Money Millionaires brought it to the pop culture forefront.  And everybody and they mom was claiming they were bling blinging, even if they were wearing the cubic stuff. This song ended up everywhere and we knew once the little ladies on Home Shopping Network were using it to sell jewelry, it had taken over not just the Northeast, but the world.

[pro-player width=’450′ height=’323′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ_BA3IiNjs[/pro-player]

Check out part 1.

Follow shelz. on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/shelzp

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion

Follow us on Networked Blogs