Ozone magazine is known as the southern voice for hip hop music. It represents the "dirty South".
Ozone Magazine was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 2002. It has since expanded its reach nationally. In 2006 the magazine relocated its headquarters to Atlanta. Ozone was founded by Julia Beverly who is still the editor in chief of the magazine.
Ozone has grown from a local publication to a national publication that can be found in major retailers such as Borders, FYE, Blockbuster Video, Books-A-Million, Cocunuts, 7-11, and Sam Goody. Availability at these retailers varies regionally. The magazine has helped launch and maintain the careers of many southern emcees such as Stat Quo, Pitbull, and T Pain but does not limit itself to coverage of only southern artists. Ozone has featured several artists that are not from the south, including New York rapper Saigon on the cover of the April 2006 issue and Chicago emcee Twista on the cover of its January 2006, and October 2007 issues.
The magazine has a small number of staff and contributors, most of whom have been with the magazine for an extended period of time.
In addition to publisher/editor-in-chief Julia Beverly, features editor Eric Perrin and music editor Randy Roper make frequent and significant contributions. Notable contributors include recording artist Killer Mike, Charlamagne the god, DJ Wally Sparks (known heavily for his successful mixtapes), Wendy Day (founder of Rap Coalition, contributor for other publications such as Murder Dog as well), and Rohit loomba.
The first annual Ozone Awards were held on August 6, 2006, and were hosted by Mississippi emcee David Banner and Miami emcee Trina. Ozone Magazine held its second annual Ozone Award Show at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, Florida, in conjunction with the TJ's DJs Tastemakers Conference. The awards were hailed as a great success for southern hip hop. Being the first awards show of its kind. The 3rd Annual Ozone Award and TJs DJs Tastemakers Conference was held on the weekend of August 8-11, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (which made national headlines when Houston Rap Artist Trae of the SUC got into a physical altercation with fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones). The awards focused on southern artists mostly and included performances by Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, Pimp C, and Too Short.
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