Ozone Magazine
Encyclopedia
Ozone magazine is known as the southern voice for hip hop music
. It represents the "dirty South".
Ozone Magazine was founded in Orlando, Florida
, in 2002. It has since expanded its reach nationally. In 2006 the magazine relocated its headquarters to Atlanta. Ozone was founded by Julia Beverly who is still the editor in chief of the magazine.
Ozone has grown from a local publication to a national publication that can be found in major retailers such as Borders
, FYE
, Blockbuster Video, Books-A-Million
, Cocunuts, 7-11, and Sam Goody
. Availability at these retailers varies regionally. The magazine has helped launch and maintain the careers of many southern emcees such as Stat Quo
, Pitbull
, and T Pain but does not limit itself to coverage of only southern artists. Ozone has featured several artists that are not from the south, including New York
rapper Saigon
on the cover of the April 2006 issue and Chicago
emcee Twista
on the cover of its January 2006, and October 2007 issues.
The magazine has a small number of staff and contributors, most of whom have been with the magazine for an extended period of time.
In addition to publisher/editor-in-chief Julia Beverly, features editor Eric Perrin and music editor Randy Roper make frequent and significant contributions. Notable contributors include recording artist Killer Mike, Charlamagne the god, DJ Wally Sparks (known heavily for his successful mixtape
s), Wendy Day (founder of Rap Coalition, contributor for other publications such as Murder Dog as well), and Rohit loomba
.
The first annual Ozone Awards were held on August 6, 2006, and were hosted by Mississippi
emcee David Banner
and Miami emcee Trina
. Ozone Magazine held its second annual Ozone Award Show at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, Florida, in conjunction with the TJ's DJs Tastemakers Conference. The awards were hailed as a great success for southern hip hop. Being the first awards show of its kind. The 3rd Annual Ozone Award and TJs DJs Tastemakers Conference was held on the weekend of August 8-11, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (which made national headlines when Houston Rap Artist Trae
of the SUC
got into a physical altercation with fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones
). The awards focused on southern artists mostly and included performances by Lil Wayne
, Trick Daddy
, Rick Ross
, Pimp C
, and Too Short.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. It represents the "dirty South".
Ozone Magazine was founded in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, in 2002. It has since expanded its reach nationally. In 2006 the magazine relocated its headquarters to Atlanta. Ozone was founded by Julia Beverly who is still the editor in chief of the magazine.
Ozone has grown from a local publication to a national publication that can be found in major retailers such as Borders
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
, FYE
Fyé
Fyé is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
, Blockbuster Video, Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a company that owns the second largest U.S. bookstore chain and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company operates over 200 stores in the South, Midwest, Northeast...
, Cocunuts, 7-11, and Sam Goody
Sam Goody
Sam Goody was a music and entertainment retailer in the United States and United Kingdom, and was owned and operated by Trans World Entertainment which also runs FYE, Saturday Matinee, and Suncoast Motion Picture Company. It specialized in music, video, and video game sales...
. Availability at these retailers varies regionally. The magazine has helped launch and maintain the careers of many southern emcees such as Stat Quo
Stat Quo
Stanley Benton, better known as Stat Quo, is an American rapper. Benton worked his way to college and attended University of Florida, where he majored in economics and international business in 2000. Benton was contemplating law school, until veteran Southern rapper Scarface encouraged him to rap...
, Pitbull
Pitbull (rapper)
Armando Christian Pérez , better known by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. His first recorded performance was from the Lil Jon album Kings of Crunk in 2002, after which he released his debut album in 2004 titled M.I.A.M.I. under TVT Records...
, and T Pain but does not limit itself to coverage of only southern artists. Ozone has featured several artists that are not from the south, including New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
rapper Saigon
Saigon (rapper)
Brian Daniel Carenard, better known by his stage name Saigon, is an American rapper and occasional actor.Saigon is currently signed to Suburban Noize Records and Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment record label. After years of delay due to former record label interference, his album The Greatest...
on the cover of the April 2006 issue and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
emcee Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
on the cover of its January 2006, and October 2007 issues.
The magazine has a small number of staff and contributors, most of whom have been with the magazine for an extended period of time.
In addition to publisher/editor-in-chief Julia Beverly, features editor Eric Perrin and music editor Randy Roper make frequent and significant contributions. Notable contributors include recording artist Killer Mike, Charlamagne the god, DJ Wally Sparks (known heavily for his successful mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
s), Wendy Day (founder of Rap Coalition, contributor for other publications such as Murder Dog as well), and Rohit loomba
Rohit loomba
Rohit Loomba is a hip hop journalist based in Chicago, Illinois. Rohit founded Chinatown Productions with his partner, Mike Li, in 2004. Chinatown Productions has since become the entertainment company through which both Rohit and Mike have launched various hip hop–oriented projects...
.
The first annual Ozone Awards were held on August 6, 2006, and were hosted by Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
emcee David Banner
David Banner
Lavell Crump , better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000...
and Miami emcee Trina
Trina
Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"...
. Ozone Magazine held its second annual Ozone Award Show at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, Florida, in conjunction with the TJ's DJs Tastemakers Conference. The awards were hailed as a great success for southern hip hop. Being the first awards show of its kind. The 3rd Annual Ozone Award and TJs DJs Tastemakers Conference was held on the weekend of August 8-11, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (which made national headlines when Houston Rap Artist Trae
Trae
Frazier Thompson III, better known by his stage name Trae, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He is a part of the underground rap collective Screwed Up Click. Trae and Z-RO, along with Dougie D, are the founding members of the group Guerilla Maab...
of the SUC
Screwed Up Click
The Screwed Up Click is an assortment of rappers mainly from the southside of Houston started by DJ Screw.After appearing on numerous screw tapes and spreading their name throughout southern hip hop, they have become well known. Despite the deaths of several members and the incarceration of...
got into a physical altercation with fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones
Mike Jones (rapper)
Michael "Mike" Jones is an American southern rap artist, who initially was affiliated with the record label Swishahouse, then left to be the owner of Ice Age Entertainment....
). The awards focused on southern artists mostly and included performances by Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Trick Daddy
Trick Daddy
Maurice Young , better known by his stage name Trick Daddy, is a certified platinum American rapper and producer from Miami, Florida.-Music career:...
, Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
, Pimp C
Pimp C
Chad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...
, and Too Short.