‘Once you conquer the South, you become a legend’: Hip-hop documentary coming to Sidewalk Fest

As part of the 26th Annual Sidewalk Fest and its Black Lens Spotlight, the documentary “The South Got Something To Say” will screen at the non-profit theater Thursday night at 7 p.m. The film, created and directed by the Horne Brothers (Ryon and Tyson), highlights the rise of hip-hop in the South through the lens of Atlanta. “Once you conquer the South, you become a legend,” Ryon told AL.com. “Think about OutKast, T.I., Jeezy…even Drake.” The name of the film pays homage to rapper Andre 3000′s iconic speech at the 1995 Source Awards after the hip-hop duo OutKast won for Best New Rap Group. At the time, Southern rappers were new to hip-hop and didn’t yet have the national recognition like some other rappers from California or New York. As the group went on stage to accept their award, they heard boos from the audience. To close the speech, Andre 3000 said, “The South got something to say…and that’s all I’m gonna say!” “The hip-hop in the South goes deeper,” Ryon explained. “So many of the artists from the South start off in the church, like hit producer Zaytoven. So when you’re listening to Future or Gucci Mane, and you’re...