Hip Hop Honors Ignore Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - If the VH1 Hip Hop Honors passed you by Monday night. You should take a second look. The music network saluted the "Dirty South." But, they left out Memphis, the heart of the inspiration for rap artists around the country.

The Memphis hip hop community was shocked Monday night. So were its fans. Twitter and Facebook lit up when the show ended without a mention of Memphis and its history in the industry.

"If you ask T.I., Lil' Wayne, Jeezy, all the people that are out now, some of their influences, they're always going to say Scar Face, UGK, and 8Ball and MJG when it comes to the South," K97 DJ Devin Steel said.

Steel said the absence of Memphis was the ultimate show of disrespect.

"I think someone really didn't do the research, honestly," Steel said.

Memphis is the home of the Blues. The birthplace of Rock 'n Roll. And, the muse for countless rappers.

The Bluff City beat started on the shoulders of DJ Squeeky. He produced for 8Ball and MJG in the late 80's, early 90's. They went on to sell more than 20 million records.

"I think they should have at least invited 8Ball and MJG," DJ Squeeky said.

VH1 even left out Memphis' current scene. Yo Gotti, Drumma Boy, and the only hip hop group to win an Oscar, Three 6 Mafia.

"For them not to even say anything about us is like, you didn't even start (anything). But you'll come take our music, steal our songs, (pretend) to sound like us... but you won't credit it for us though," DJ Squeeky said.

DJ Squeeky says it'll take all of Memphis to get recognized on the national stage.

"I hate to say we're used to it. But it should make everybody want to do better and want to do more," Steel said.