January 22nd
Country and proud of it, Nappy Roots formed in 1995 around a sextet of students attending Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. Four members of the group were Kentucky natives (Skinny DeVille, B. Stille, Ron Clutch, and Big V), bolstered by a pair of Oakland-born transplants (R Prophet and Milledgeville). Nappy Roots began making music together at a local record shop-cum-studio named ET's Music, and released their full-length debut Country Fried Cess in 1998. Drawn to the group's distinctive twist on Southern bounce, the major labels began flocking, and they eventually signed to Atlantic. Their label debut, Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz, was released in 2002, and the follow-up Wooden Leather followed one year later.