Organized Noize: The Blueprint For Atlanta Hip-Hop

On this episode of Conversate, Killer Mike, Cutmaster Swiff, and Bear sit down with two of the most important architects in music history, Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray of Organized Noize.

This conversation goes far beyond hit records. Sleepy and Ray break down how Atlanta developed its own sound by blending soul, funk, live instrumentation, and hip hop when the city was still considered an outsider. They reflect on shaping the music of Outkast, Goodie Mob, TLC, and countless others while building a culture rooted in community, collaboration, and pride rather than competition.

The episode explores mentorship from legends like Curtis Mayfield, the importance of soul music in Southern hip hop, and why Atlanta was always more than a city. It was an idea. From talent shows and strip club politics to Grammy moments and generational legacy, this is a rare oral history of how a movement was built from the ground up.

This is Atlanta told by the people who made it what it is.