The Hip-Hop Map Project is my unique way of contributing to the culture, using cartography to tell the story of classic hip-hop songs and moments.
Rep Yo City: Hometowns of Emcees on E-40’s Crunk Banger
“Rep Yo City” is a perfect song for the Hip=Hop Map Project: five emcees from five different places, all talking about where they’re from. When I first started making these maps I wanted to highlight our culture’s rich bond with geography, and this song sums it up. If you’re not familiar with the song, “Rep…
Welcome 2 Houston: Places in Slim Thug’s Songs About the City of Swang
I relocated to Houston from Detroit a few years ago, but I’ve been a fan of the hip-hop scene almost all my life. Thanks to a friend who had family in Texas and a little help from OG Napster, I spent countless hours in middle and high school listening to UGK, Scarface, The Screwed Up…
Country Grammar: Cities and States Shouted Out by Nelly
I’d argue that Nelly is one of the archetypes of the hip-hop crossover smash artist. He’s done records with pop divas, boy bands, country superstars and the like. All while staying true to his roots and maintaining a high level of lyricism. Imagine it’s 1999, 2000, and you’re an emcee from a city relatively unknown…
B**** I’m From Dade County: Shout Outs in DJ Khaled’s Ode to Miami
If DJ Khaled was a Marvel Comics character his superpower would be networking. For almost 20 years he’s assembled an Avengers-worthy list of top-tier emcees and producers for his studio albums, and given his latest, 2022’s God Did, debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, he has no intention on stopping. Khaled’s roots are…
Mapping THE GOD BOX: A Geographic Depiction of David Banner’s Masterpiece
One of these days I’m going to write an essay on how my character arc in this thing called life weaves seamlessly at times with the release schedule and subject matter of David Banner’s discography. He’s been on of my favorite emcees and producers for the last 20 years, in my CD changer since CD…
Can’t Believe It – Places Where T-Pain Can Put You
T-Pain was only 23 when he rhymed mansion with Wiscansin… If you’ve spent any considerable time on the internet in the last few years you’ve probably seen the above quote in a meme. Today I’m not deconstructing the meme’s origin-the most popular source comes from Twitter user @vinnycrack in a 2017 reply to learning Sir…
Crunk Ain’t Dead: States Where Duke Deuce Says It’s Still Alive
Crunk music’s been a staple in my playlist since I was a teen. Three 6 Mafia, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, and the Ying Yang Twins-some of crunk’s most widely known names-and their 808-laden songs rattled systems from their hometowns of Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia all across the country, to include my…
ONE BLOOOOOD!!!! A Map of All The Game’s Name Drops
I will always think of The Game as the emcee who tapped into the vibe of late-80s/early-90s West Coast gangsta rap and brought it to the next generation. His music often interpolates or re-samples classic songs by NWA, DJ Quik, Ice-T, and of course Dr. Dre-who would sign him to Aftermath Records. He’s among hip-hop’s…
Chillin at the Holidae Inn: Holiday Inns in the St. Louis Area
Chingy’s “Holidae Inn” holds a special place in my memories. I was in my late teens when it dropped in 2003: that age where you’re almost grown, pseudo-grown, grown enough to vote but not drink, etc. That age where you’re allowed in some clubs but not the good ones so you resort to clubbing in…
NORTH CAROLINAAAAAAA!!!!! A Map Dedicated to Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up”
No emcee has ever represented their state harder than Petey Pablo…EVER. I will stand on that until proven otherwise. Most hip-hop artists incorporate their home city in their songs and lyrics: “Brooklyn Zoo” (Ol’ Dirty Bastard), “Chi City” (Common), “San Francisco Knights” (People Under The Stairs), I could go on. Very few songs carry the…
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