Dirty States of America: The Untold Story of Southern Hip-Hop documentary and soundtrack in-stores on June 1st

NEW YORK (www.dirtystates.tv/press release) - The first official Southern Documentary is finally here! Long overdue, but well worth the wait, Lyricist Lounge and Image Entertainment, Inc. present Dirty States of America, the documentary of the Southern Hip-Hop movement and soundtrack of the same name. The DVD documentary and album will be available in-stores June 1, 2004.
The film's director, James "FLX" Smith, along with Image Entertainment, Inc., MIC Media and Lyricist Lounge share their film with the world with the national in-store release June 1, 2004.

The film garners its transforming look into hip-hop and the South from the director's unique approach to life and filmmaking. Unlike many of today's young filmmakers who would rather do armchair research, FLX rented a car and a camera and spent a year and a half traveling throughout the South to find just the right footage to show the world what the South and its music were really all about.
"I drove to every Southern state in the union," says FLX. "I stayed in some states as long as two weeks filming two or three interviews a day, sometimes I'd do five to seven interviews a day. I wanted people to walk away with a sense of what the South was really like and I knew that in order to do that I had to be there." Dirty States of America aims to do several things: show the South the way it really is; dispel the stereotypes, and recognize the contributions the South has made to Hip-Hop.
"Southerners are a friendly people by nature, but they're a bit more reserved when it comes to revealing certain things about themselves. And I don't blame them. Too many people have stereotyped them. So I knew that I had to go down there and let them get to know me and see that I was sincere about portraying the South in a dignified manner. Once they felt where I was coming from, then me and the camera basically became a part of the community."

It is this approach that gives the film its hard-hitting edge and allowed FLX access to some of the South's most touted artists. Lil Jon, Lil' Flip, David Banner, and 8 Ball & MJG can be seen and heard on the Dirty States of America project, along with noted historian Charlie Braxton who also participated in documenting the South's trials, tribulations, and ultimate rise to success. In this landmark project, media, fans, and critics alike will have a chance to see for themselves the culmination of one filmmaker's hard work and vision and hear firsthand the unique sounds of the South the documentary works so hard to explain. The Dirty States of America CD will be available in-stores June 1, 2004.

"Now a new documentary will detail the region's rise to stardom to satisfy the curiosity for those wondering exactly how the South moved into the hip-hop house New York built," says BET.com. (additionally look for this and other reviews, mentions and features in upcoming issues of XXL, The Source and Blender). You can view the Dirty States of America trailer at https://www.DirtyStates.TV.