Southern Sensibilities: The Southern Dialect Bio
by A.F. Bradley
Some families are defined by genetics, traits, biology. Other families are not defined by shared genes and chromosomes… they are spiritual, musical. Southern Dialect is that kind, that type of family, a tangible connection that comes across passionately, intensely, and honestly. They have worked the neo-underground Hiphop market in Jacksonville, Florida with their reverence of the old-school emcee code and maintained a cult buzz. The degrees of separation for the SDs rarely need to go to six anymore.
The groups that make up the Southern Dialect Family have been together now since 1997, and their careers and experience have created a chemistry that groups and bands strive for, and sometimes never attain. They are hard at work making a new album since they parted ways with indie label Vigilante Records, and the energy and intensity of their music now has a thoughtful and mature tone alongside their ever-present b-boy stance-taking. Still hardcore, still Dirty South, but even more insightful, more candid, and almost apologetic. They maintain a realism without resorting to glorification or caricature.
Part of the refinement of Southern Dialect has been due in part to the reduction of the lineup. Once having a Wu-like stature of over 12 members, the active membership is now only six. TangoMega, DX, Clip, and Locc from Dead Zone (also performing under Doom Patrol), Pony Xodus from tha H.O.O.D. (Holders of Our Own Destiny), and semi-solo artist Johnny Prince a.k.a. J-Pizm. They’ve taken their mission of self-containment one step further since DX graduated from the Full Sail Recording Arts Program. “We’re trying to make good music, creatively and technically,†states Pony Xodus. Tango and DX carry most of the production duties, but still collaborate with the ‘inactive’ members that chose to focus on the behind the scenes and production/songwriting side of the music business like Endee, O.T., and Joz. “The next phase for us is to return to the performance arena, reintroduce ourselves to old friends and start some new relationships,†says TangoMega, referring to their fanbase. The merchandising efforts of Southern Dialect have always been popular, the t-shirts and sweatshirts always sell out if they aren’t stolen. “It’s hard to keep the stuff, but I’m happy every time someone likes us enough to steal something with our name on it.†When asked about their continued efforts to improve and evolve their sound, Tango shares, “I am influenced by the old-school Motown Boot Camp credo, and we kinda emulate that mindset. We’ve been in the Lab reinventing ourselves, getting better, and the music will tell the story, literally. My observation is that the artists of today have no sense of creative identity. For the SDs, that’s simply not the case.†The SDs have received praise on performance from headlining artists like DMX, Mystikal, Method Man, Public Enemy, T.I., Juvenille, Pastor Troy, and others.
Years of development and devotion to their craft gives Southern Dialect a promising and certainly entertaining potential. With headbangers like “Trill N*ggaz†and “Country†to uninhibited vulnerability in “Play This Only At Night†and “Mega 3:14â€, these artists are emcees and honest songwriters. And with the success of their “Documentary Of a Mad Band†and more video projects slated for 2005, their greater visibility means more fans for these self-proclaimed Throwbacks of true Hiphop. Look for them to be a voice on a new and talented horizon of entertainers and artists from the City On The River St. Johns. Florida, crunk, Florida Funk.Buy merch from Southern Dialect at www.zazzle.com/southerndialect
[ Copy this widget to your profile ] [ Create your own merch booth ]
