I just arrived back in Las Vegas from a little holiday in the Durdy Soufff (that’s Dirty South, ya’ll) and I’m still feeling extremely DURDY. By that, I mean covered in mosquito bites, 5 lbs. heavier (thanks to a massive amount of fried chicken, pecan pie, and gumbo), and slightly less eloquent.

Seriously, it only took one week in the Lowcountry to reactivate a few slangs and twangs I had long since buried from my college days. I spent my freshman and sophomore years at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, which to this day, even with all their hillbilly ways, remains one of my FAVORITE cities in the world!

For those of you who have never visited any of the Southern states, I strongly urge you to go. It is an entirely different world south of the Mason Dixon line. A world of rebel flags, sweet tea, and Young Jeezy. I’m surely not saying the south doesn’t have its major flaws (racial tension, significant poverty, educational lackings and LOTS of bugs), but it is filled with history and character and has a LOT to offer.

One of the things I love about the South is the music; and I’m not talking about Soulja Boy. When I was in school back in 96-97 (LOL), the Dirty South rap was IT. Outkast, Cash Money Millionaires and No Limit were representing the South in a big way.

Now it’s just stupid Jeezy and other bad rap that’s just better off as a cellphone ringtone… Some of the other music I got into, compliments of the South was heavy metal. I listened to a lot of classic rock and mainstream rock back in high school in Ohio, but I truly started listening to heavier stuff in the South.

Most people don’t know that there’s a huge underground heavy metal scene in the South; I really got into bands like Pantera and Corrosion of Conformity for a while. Then, just to round out my musical experiences in Charleston, it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the ENORMOUS hippie scene down there, which I happily participated in.

Oh, the parking lots at the Phish and Widespread Panic shows…I was never really a full blown “Spread Head” or hippie, but I did love the good times, cool people, and chill music. To this day I still listen to all of that stuff, so at the poker table my iPod shuffles from Master P to Down and back to the Grateful Dead… Good music in the South, fo sho!!!!

Anyway, I’ll be doing a cultural 180 next week, as I leave for Europe for a month of Euro-poker. I’ll be going to the South of France first, so I’ll get to experience another county’s “Dirty South” or perhaps the French might say “Les Sale au Sud”. LOL!

BTW, I included two of my FAVORITE YouTube videos to give you an idea of how “dirty” the South really is… Please note the amateur sketch!

Watch this video first, to see the actual news story…