I overheard a conversation the other day where someone made a remark along the lines of “Nashville hip-hop never emerged.” It was a lament for the independent music scene in the city; somewhat defeated that Music Row had won the war and that days gone by were filled with stronger offerings. From a bird’s eye view, maybe that sentiment feels true? $avvy and Kent Osborne moved to LA. We haven’t heard from Ron Obasi in a minute! Six One Tribe had a cover story with the Nashville Scene in 2022, along with the “Best Hip-Hop Group” award but everyone seems to be still be waiting for what’s next?
The bad news is, there’s no straightforward path to finding all the great new hip-hop coming out of Nashville. Spotify isn’t going to do the work on your behalf, you may have to dig. The good news is, if you’re willing to look, real gems await. Case in point, the latest release from Qualls – “Ight” – is a high energy, infectiously repeatable, banger. Both Qualls and guest emcee $hrames bring some great verses and the horns running throughout the beat make it impossible to turn off. The chorus keeps it simple, leaning into “Ight” in the simplest and most memorable way.
I’m not making Qualls out to the be savior of the hip-hop scene (tho, if you haven’t heard the full-length album The Gray Area, more treats await you) but his work does serve as an excellent example of the scene continuing to thrive. We’ve been following his work since 2020 when he released the Valley Chronicles EP and the work has only improved over the years. Six One Tribe continues to release albums and makes 615Day a huge event at Basement East. $avvy and Kent Osborne may be gone but you can’t fault anyone for exploring other pastures. Maybe Nashville’s hip-hop scene hasn’t exploded (past tense) because it’s too busy evolving (present tense). If you’re paying attention, it’s clear. Ight.