The D.O.C. and LilJuMadeDaBeat's Fireside Chat: What We Learned About Dallas' Influence on Hip-Hop

As a celebration of Black Music Month, Dallas Weekly hosted an event on June 27, the unofficial Houston holiday that honors DJ Screw recording his magnum opus, the "June 27th" freestyle tape. 

The event, titled “The South Got Something to Say,” had legendary producers The D.O.C. and LilJuMadeDaBeat as panelists to break down the South’s impact—especially Dallas—on the sound and soul of hip-hop. Two hip-hop legends gathered in Dallas for “an unforgettable evening celebrating Dallas’ deep roots and rising influence in Southern hip hop.” The sold-out event was filled with Dallas hip-hop heads and lovers of the culture at the South Dallas Cultural Center.

20 years ago, at The Source Awards in 1995, Outkast’s André 3000 uttered the infamous words “the South got something to say!” on stage in response to being booed for winning the Best New Rap Group title in a time when East Coast and West Coast rappers were leading the genre. Since that historic moment, the South has proven itself to have a voice and longevity in the industry that can not be shaken. Artists continue to create a legacy imprinted in the music and history continues to be made. Since 3 Stacks told the crowd the South had something to say and stood on business, years later, OutKast is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2025.

The statement was the inspiration behind the event. The event curator, Cimajie Best, stated Dallas was not included in the infamous statement made at The Source Awards all those years ago. She went on to say that this event was her “love letter to the city of Dallas” with the purpose to “enlighten, educate and connect.”

With it being held at the South Dallas Cultural Center, she paid homage to the retired executive director, Vickie Meek, by giving her flowers for her contributions to the city and the community after serving 20 years at the center. Before the panel began, there were performances by up-and-coming Dallas artists Billy White, a rapper with a poetic flow and engaging stage presence. After White, the group Boogie Land provided us with a brief lesson on the Dallas Boogie and provided a performance to the soundtrack of the dances created in Dallas that were often stolen and claimed by other cities. As they reassured us, “Jiggin’ ain’t dead,” it was clear that the audience was ready to have a dance break with them. An R&B artist named Hanani mellowed out the vibes with his smooth vocals and Trap Soul-esque tracks. Next was the charismatic rapper Qiyah Abdul, who flowed over flawless beats with a unique voice and catchy tracks filled with affirmations.

While the new generation of artists showcased the versatility of the city's current music, it was time for the past and present legends to hit the stage for their fireside chat, moderated by award-winning journalist Jae Jones. The D.O.C. is a West Dallas native who is known for his time with N.W.A. and iconic solo albums, his pen contributing to some of the most influential songs ("Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang") and albums in hip-hop. DeSoto native LilJuMadeDaBeat is a Grammy Award-winning producer who has worked with 2 Chainz, Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion.

The two graced the stage and shared some gems about the music business, their story and how Dallas is still on the rise. Here are 10 things we learned from the fireside chat.

1. The D.O.C. has recently launched a non-profit

The D.O.C. recently launched a nonprofit and is building a curriculum for a school called the Dreams Experience Academy that he unveiled on April 3, 2025, at the Kessler Academy, which has already raised over a million dollars after Snoop Dogg pledged to donate $200,000. According to his website doccares.org, "The DEA is a nonprofit, community-based learning and student-led business enterprise purpose-built to open career pathways into the $3 Trillion Media, Entertainment,and Technology industries.” The curriculum is currently being tested at the nonprofit For Oak Cliff.

2. The D.O.C. once tried to unite the late Mo3, Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy

He admitted to trying to convince the three rivals to make a song together at the height of their careers. The rap pioneer reveals he spoke to each of them individually, saying, “The city is beginning to blow, and you guys are all individuals. You all have different flavors. You all are great, and if you can come together and make one record. You know what I mean? You're in a position, but they were upset at each other at the time and couldn't see it happening. But just imagine with that record would have been like?”

3. There is a D.O.C. documentary on the way

The film was shot over two years ago and features Dr. Dre, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik and so many more speaking on how D.O.C. was the machine behind the sound that shook the world from the West Coast. He confidently boasts, “When I tell you, it is easily the best hip-hop documentary ever made.” However, there was pushback from the film industry due to him not being an “A-list” celebrity in their eyes. Luckily, a call from Snoop has changed that, and with his new production company on the rise, the film will be released with his former labelmate and friend’s film production company.

4. D.O.C.'s key elements to a great song

“There are three things that you have to have in order to make a great record, in 99.999% of the time, you’ve got to have this stuff. And that is a really interesting voice, really good production and a really good idea of how to build a song, not just a bunch of words you throw together,” he shared.

5. He thinks Dallas radio needs to support local artists

Although the internet is a driving force for music now, he admits that the radio still is important for showcasing artists, especially showing love to their homegrown acts, and that’s not the case when he visits other cities. He reflects on dropping his first song: “My first song I ever made, and Tom Joyner played that song on the radio every single morning, and it was one of the reasons that I began to get traction around there, so shout out Tom Joyner.”

6. It’s due time for Dallas to receive credit for its contributions to music

LilJuMadeDaBeat makes a point, but we still have so much to prove. He says, “We are the underdogs. I feel like we’ve shaped a lot, but we did not get any of the credit.”

7. Dallas shaped LilJuMadeDaBeat's music identity

An artist doesn’t have to be from the city for their music to impact the culture and Ju speaks on how artists from the past still influence his sound today, “On Megan's album last year, we sampled Kstylis, even though he's not from Dallas, I feel like 'Booty Me Down' is a hit. So I would say when I first started making a beat in 2008, the boogie movement was at its height, it was doing its thing. So my first beats were literally like jiggin’ beats, it’s embedded in me.”

8. His production on Beyoncé’s Renaissance was not intentional

LilJuMadeDaBeat worked on reference tracks with producer and writer Ink around 2019-2020. Years later, she randomly texted him one day the bee emoji as a signal that one of their tracks made the album. He recalls hearing the song "Thique" for the first time in shock. “I’m like, ‘This is Beyoncé voice over my beat.’ I do not believe this. I can believe it because I worked hard to get here.”

9. LilJuMadeDaBeat and Cimajie Best are working on creating a nonprofit

“I want to give back to the community. I want little kids from where I’m from to know that just because you're from Dallas, Texas, doesn’t mean you can't go see the world and the world see you,” he says. While they're still working on the plan, the passion for the community is prevalent.

10. LilJuMadeDaBeat thinks the New Dallas movement has next

“I feel like the New Dallas movement is getting that right, Montana, Zillionaire Doe. They're getting it right, right now. All the boys just got signed to 300 and Yo Gotti, and I feel like Dallas, we are right there on that thing. Like I said earlier, underdogs, like we are the underdogs, I wouldn't say underrated.” The night concluded with the guests interacting with the audience and photo opportunities, displaying their humility and love for the community. While their fame is what got them their platform, their love for giving back to Dallas will continue to shine through and remain a fixture in the community. The Triple D pride starts from within. This event showed that growth is on the horizon as more people organize, work together and support each other.