BEST SOUTHERN AMBASSADOR: BIG K.R.I.T.

"On record, Mississippi's Big K.R.I.T. embodies all the best lyrical elements of Southern rap: street wisdom, freaky sex, car culture, sports metaphors, general weirdness. Live, the charismatic emcee seems an apt candidate to represent the entire movement. Performing from both the stage and the floor, he switched back and forth between bouncy fast-rap and slow stylish verse with ease on tracks like "No Wheaties" and "Moon & Stars." His instructions to the crowd were either drawled to perfection or the point of incoherence, depending which side of the Mason-Dixon you hail from. He wore a custom medallion with his state's shape cut out of its middle. And as if to cement his diplomatic status, K.R.I.T. dedicated crowd favorite "Hometown Hero" not only to the recently deceased Nate Dogg, but to the victims of the Fukushima disaster. -- C.M."

Props to One Music Portal