Ben Hated

Rapper Ben Hated debuted in 2001 with Mr. Ghetto-Fame, showcasing his flair for fancy cars and fine women. His persona was best summarized in "Escalades & Navigators," his ode to prestigious rides and their ability to reel in the sexiest women. Elsewhere on the album, Ben Hated continues to flaunt his player-supreme, ace-in-the-deck, Casanova-among-boys persona in both his songs and the album's humorous skits, which comment on the state of male-female gender roles in the South -- surely one of the Dirty South's most popular motifs. Though an underground rapper, Ben Hated's music sounds as polished and produced as major-label rap, featuring background vocalists and hi-tech production flourishes. ~ Jason Birchmeier