Soufside

Soufside, the alias adopted by Bobby R. Colvin, Jr., blended Rick Ross’s polished hardcore rap delivery with a more classic Southern aesthetic in the vein of David Banner after enlisting in his high-school hip-hop outfit the Big Shots. The Columbus, Mississippi native recorded several demos alongside the crew yet soon concluded that independent work suited him better, prompting a move that took him to college in Atlanta and eventually back to his hometown. His first solo project arrived in 2009 as the mixtape The Hood's Hope, after which he secured a deal with the 35*35 label, founded by former NBA star Clarence Weatherspoon, before the year ended. Success followed in 2012 via the singles "Hello" and "Got Me Feeling" plus the EP Hard Work Pays Off. Two years afterward came notable collaborations on "I'm Just Coolin'" featuring Gorilla Zoe and "Everything Moves" featuring Bun B, both released in 2014.