Southside

Almost any beat coming out of Atlanta in the 2010s is covered in Southside’s fingerprints. The rap producer, born Joshua Howard Luellen in 1989, was discovered by Waka Flocka Flame as a 17-year-old, earning his chops and eventually signing to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Brick Squad Records. Southside came up alongside Lex Luger, and the two formed the songwriting and production team of 808 Mafia. Together, they pioneered the anthemic horns and booming drums that have accompanied so many earworms from artists like Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, Future, and Playboi Carti. Though Southside is rooted in southern sounds, the producer has since expanded his scope and is celebrated for his work with artists from all regions. Southside is at his best when he’s able to flex his muscles across entire projects, as he did with G Herbo on their collaborative LP, 2018’s Swervo. On the album, Southside’s beats are gritty but nuanced, favoring melancholic piano melodies on the Chief Keef-assisted “Catch Up” and robotic triplet hi-hats on “Huh”. Southside embraces Herbo’s Chicago roots on the record, playing with drill tropes like sparse arrangements and thumping snare drums. It’s a wonderful display of his versatility and a clear indicator that, even as he strays from his ATL origin, his sound will always be tethered to the style he helped create.