Nappy Roots: Still Reaping What They Planted
Before Southern hip-hop became the center of gravity, Nappy Roots made being country something to stand tall in.
The roots were planted at Western Kentucky University in 1996, where Skinny DeVille, Scales, Ron Clutch, B. Stille, R. Prophet and Big V found common ground in friendship, brotherhood and hip-hop. They didn't disguise the drawl or polish away the country.
They kept it Nappy.
Then came 2002.
Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz was unapologetically Southern and sounded like nothing else on mainstream radio. “Awnaw” kicked open the national door, while the Grammy-nominated “Po’ Folks,” featuring Anthony Hamilton, became an anthem for people who may not have had much money but were rich in everything that mattered.
That was Nappy Roots' gift.
They turned front porches, country roads, family, struggle, old cars and everyday Southern life into hip-hop without manufacturing an image. They brought you home with them.
Later, “Good Day” bottled that same spirit into a feel-good anthem that even landed on Barack Obama's summer playlist.
The lineup changed—R. Prophet and Big V eventually departed—but the roots held. Skinny, Scales, Ron Clutch and B. Stille embraced independence, kept recording and refused to become an early-2000s nostalgia act.
Then hops joined hip-hop.
With Atlantucky Brewing, they extended that same sense of community into entrepreneurship, creating a Black-owned Atlanta brewery where craft beer, Southern hospitality and hip-hop culture share the same table.
Now “Ain’t Have Alot” brings the story full circle.
Because Nappy Roots were never defined by what they didn't have.
They were defined by what they did with it.
From Western Kentucky University to Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz. From “Awnaw” and “Po’ Folks” to “Good Day” and “Ain’t Have Alot.” From college friends to Grammy-nominated pioneers, independent veterans and entrepreneurs.
Nearly three decades later, they're still creating, still brothers, still country and still Nappy.
The world finally caught up to the lane they helped pave.
But the roots never moved.
Q. From college friends at Western Kentucky University creating music for the love of it to becoming one of the most respected Southern hip-hop groups of their generation, Nappy Roots has always carried the spirit of where you came from. When you look at the journey today, what parts of those early days still define who you are?
Nappy Roots: Friendship and brotherhood are the main components of our story. Everyone in the group came from different places, communities, and walks of life, but the way we’ve chosen to tell our story through our craft and love for Southern hip-hop is common ground for us.
Q. “Ain’t Have Alot” feels like more than a song title—it feels like a reflection of a mindset. Not necessarily about what you didn’t have, but about appreciating what you built, who stood beside you, and the experiences that shaped you. What inspired this record, and why was this the right moment for this story?
Nappy Roots: We did this record almost two years ago, and at the time, it wasn’t at the top of our agenda. We had to sit with it and make other records to understand that this one was perfect for this moment in time. When we decided to blow the dust off it and tighten it up for our fans and listeners, that’s when we were able to get Pynk Beard on it to bring it to life. The timing couldn’t have been better. Country hip-hop is now being recognized globally as a genre, and we are still right there doing it.
Q. Nappy Roots always represented a different side of Southern hip-hop—soulful, honest, humorous, and rooted in everyday life. When you first started making music, did you realize you were creating a lane that would eventually influence how the world viewed Southern culture?
Nappy Roots: We always knew honesty and the world we represented were missing from hip-hop, and we always believed that if we had the chance to make it in this industry, the world would appreciate it. The way we’ve approached hip-hop is a road less traveled, but well worth it. We’ve always wanted to be respected more than we’ve wanted to be famous. To have a career spanning over 25 years and continuing is a blessing.
Q. “Po’ Folks” became an anthem because it gave a voice to people who were often overlooked, while “Awnaw” and “Roun’ The Globe” showed the world another side of the South. When you hear those records today, what do you think they captured about that moment in time?
Nappy Roots: Having fun, being appreciative of where you come from, humble beginnings, and hard work come to mind because that’s what we experienced when making those records. We fought for every radio spin almost 25 years ago. We’ve gotten the chance to tour the world and meet new people because of our storytelling and style of music, and to represent our individual neighborhoods and cities in Georgia and Kentucky meant the world to us back then. It’s still important to us today.
Q. The title “Ain’t Have Alot” connects back to the same spirit that made fans embrace Nappy Roots in the first place—the idea that success isn’t only measured by possessions, but by memories, relationships, and staying true to yourself. How has that perspective evolved over the years?
Nappy Roots: Not much. We’re still the same guys who believe that success is about experiencing life; we just happen to be 25 years older. Back in 2002, we were up-and-coming hip-hop artists, and now we’re considered the OGs and legacy artists with a pretty solid catalog we stand behind. We’re still blessed and happy to be Nappy.
Q. When Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz became one of the biggest hip-hop albums of 2002, it introduced millions of people to your world. Looking back, what do you think listeners connected with beyond the music itself?
Nappy Roots: Dope production, honest lyrics, and a unique country-boy perspective can move mountains. Good music that allows a community of people to feel seen can withstand the test of time, and that’s what we have always tried to create. We are truly humbled to have the fanbase and career in hip-hop that we have. Most artists don’t ever get even one shot, much less the ability to still make music after 25 years.
Q. The early 2000s were a defining era for Southern hip-hop, but Nappy Roots brought a unique blend of country, soul, funk, and storytelling. How important was it to never compromise your identity just to fit into what the industry expected?
Nappy Roots: We have a phrase in the group: “Keep It Nappy,” and that’s what it is all about: staying true to your roots and never compromising your talent, values, or artistry to fads or trends. Staying locked in and growing daily in your own way. That phrase and idea have always been the foundation of Nappy Roots. It’s kept our brotherhood at the forefront and keeps us grounded in an industry that’s so easy to get lost in.
Q. After major-label success, independence, and building ventures like Atlantucky Brewing, Nappy Roots has shown that the vision was always bigger than music. Was entrepreneurship always part of the plan, or did it naturally grow from the same community values that shaped the group?
Nappy Roots: If you had told us 15–20 years ago that we would be owning and running one of the only Black-owned and operated breweries in Georgia, we all would have laughed. But Skinny and Scales have been brewing since 2016, and the Universe makes no mistakes when opening windows. Hip-hop and beer go together just like Ren & Stimpy. We are just one of the first to actually put the two together in a business. Just like our music, we are trying to be the best representation of our communities and culture.
Q. Hip-hop has changed dramatically since the days of mixtapes, CDs, and physical albums. What do you think today’s artists can learn from the era when building a fan base was about connection, relationships, and making people feel like they were part of something?
Nappy Roots: It’s just as hard now as it was then. Times and ways to create connection change, but the story stays the same. For an artist to build a career that lasts, they have to create an experience where fans feel seen, included, and understood. Technology might make recording and putting out music faster and easier, but you still need a solid team who believes in you, a work ethic that stands the test of time, and a consistent, unwavering vision if you’re serious about it. Talent is real and important, but you need it all to happen in order to find success.
Q. Many artists from your generation are celebrated through nostalgia, but Nappy Roots has continued creating new music and new chapters. What keeps you motivated to keep telling stories after all these years?
Nappy Roots: Not being homeless. But on a serious note, our experiences together as a group keep us going. It’s rare for a group to stay together as long as we have, but when the four of us are together, it’s easy for us to motivate each other and get excited about making new music and sharing what’s happening in our lives through our lyrics.
The fans also keep us motivated. The best comments we see are when fans share memories of listening to us with their families, going to their first Nappy concert, or sharing a beer with us. Reading those reminds us of our purpose and what we set out to do when we originally came together at Western Kentucky University.
Q. Southern hip-hop is now one of the dominant forces in global music, but there was a time when artists from the region had to prove their voices belonged. Do you ever reflect on the role Nappy Roots played in helping open that door?
Nappy Roots: We were blessed to be in this position back in 2002, and we don’t take the role of ushering in or pioneering a more rural version of Southern hip-hop for granted. To be fortunate enough to open doors for other artists is a big responsibility, and we take it as seriously as possible.
The whole state of Kentucky has looked to us for hope that if you persevere and stay consistent, your dream can happen for you too. We are always humbled to be considered pioneers of the country rap genre of Southern rap, and it’s a blessing to witness how this sector of hip-hop continues to evolve and grow every year.
Q. From Country Fried Cess to Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, from “Po’ Folks” to “Ain’t Have Alot,” the story of Nappy Roots has always been about more than records. When the history books look back, what do you hope people understand about the legacy you built?
Nappy Roots: We don’t think what’s to be written about Nappy Roots in history is for us to definitively say. But we hope that our families, our friends, or fans are happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish for them and are proud of the legacy we built across music, beer, community, and culture. If we’ve been able to inspire at least one person to go all-in and follow their dreams, our careers will be well worth it.
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