Below are the four main regions of American hiphop.
The East Coast (Eastside) region is made up of states on the east coast of the United States, no further south than Virginia. Considered the birthplace of hiphop, Eastside rap is known for complex lyrics, continuous flow, serious beats and well-produced samples. Eastside hiphop was more popular on the airways until the Westside started producing tougher, street tracks in the late '80s. Learn more about East Coast Hiphop
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The West Coast (Westside) region is made up of states on the west coast of the United States, no further east than Nevada. Westside rap is known for gritty, street subject matter, funky samples, deep bass and a myriad of subgenres from hyphy to underground. Westside's mainstream status dropped off a bit after 2001, but is making a comeback today. Learn more about West Coast Hiphop
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The Dirty South (Southern) region is made up of all the states south of Tennessee and east of Texas. Southern hiphop consists of fast paced beats, "chopped and screwed" remixes, lyrics that range from political and smart to ratchet and hood, and bass set past max. Learn more about Dirty South Hiphop
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The Midwest region is made up of the Midwestern United States. Compared to the other regions, there are not as many artists hailing from there. There is no "typical" Midwest sound due to lack of competition between regional artists. However, this region heavily influnced hiphop dance and fashion over the years. Learn more about Midwest Hiphop
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