It wasn’t until the 2000s that the South got the respect it deserved. Sure, you had your occasional crossovers by way of Cash Money or No Limit, but they always got treated as the exception—if you’re a rapper from New Orleans, you’re a Southern rapper, but if you’re from New York, you’re just a rapper. The rise of trap not only shifted hip-hop’s epicenter to Atlanta, it gave the South new purchase in a global conversation, shining light on Memphis, Miami, Baton Rouge, and dozens of other scenes with their own spins, flavors, traditions, and contributions. Even as the internet makes place a thing of the past, there’s still something about the South that stands apart, the vanguard of a culture always moving forward. Our editors update picks regularly, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.