Some people call the late-90s a golden era in hip-hop. After the deaths of 2Pac in ’96 and Biggie in ’97, the sound of rap changed. No more was it one coast against another and with the entrance of Outkast, Atlanta was becoming a serious topic of conversation. Atlanta’s warm weather and booming economy made it a center of black migration in the 90s. But, it was always Atlanta’s rich black history that made the city a crown jewel of the south.
The dominance of the ATL’s rap scene would be set in stone when Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz would usher in the “snap music” sound. The debut album, Get Crunk, Who U Wit: Da Album sparked the hit singles, “Who U Wit” and “Shawty Freak a Lil Sumthin’”.
The single, “Get Crunk,,” feat. Bo Hagon entered Complex’s list of the 25 Hardest Rap Beats of All Time. The magazine cited the co-production of Lil Jay who “brought the same kind of eerie edge he’d given to his group Crime Mob’s greatest hit, “Knuck if You Buck.”
But it was the 2001 single, “Bia Bia” that would make Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz the Kings of Crunk. In fact, the album by that same name also produced a hit single with “I Don’t Give A…” followed by hit collaborations with Ying Yang Twins, Lil Scrappy, and Usher. The crunk music sound would go on to define Atlanta’s bass heavy production for years.
It wasn’t just the production value, but the call and response type of songs that Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz were making that got clubs going. Their influence lives on in Atlanta and in hip-hop as new music has more 808 and synth production, slowed down beats, and choruses that get stuck in your head. The self-proclaimed Kings of Crunk have had a lasting impact on the sound of hip-hop since their debut.
And now, The Eastside Boyz are back and they are still crunk.
Returning with new music and new features, The Eastside Boyz are back with their signature crunk production and crowd rocking call and response lyrics. The new music is still guaranteed to get a party started.
Check out the newest hit from The Eastside Boyz “Gettem” feat. Bonecrusher, Don P., and Lil LA.
