Saviors of the South: A Celebration of Culture and Community

A Night to Remember

Presented by ONE Music Fest, “Saviors of the South” lit up a theater packed with culture-loving ATLiens. The screening and discussion featured members of Goodie Mob, Organized Noize, and more from the Dungeon Family—the collective that shaped the sound, soul, and social consciousness of Southern hip-hop.

On October 21, 2025, hip-hop’s living legends gathered for an intimate night of storytelling and community. The event, presented by ONE Music Fest, UATL, and ButterATL, showcased Dungeon Family icons like CeeLo Green, Khujo, Big Gipp, T-Mo, Sleepy Brown, Big Rube, and Killer Mike. The conversation was hosted by Rashan Ali, whose warmth and wit guided us through a night filled with laughter, nostalgia, and gratitude.

The Heart of the Matter

At the center of this inspiring story stood Rico Wade, the visionary behind Organized Noize. His basement studio, known as The Dungeon, became the birthplace of Atlanta’s creative revolution. Years ago, Wade and his mother opened their home to a circle of young dreamers. These dreamers would go on to define a generation of music. Time and again, Rico used his resources to keep that creative fire alive—buying food, creating space, and reminding everyone that greatness requires both grit and grace.

Each artist on stage spoke to Wade’s unmatched energy and the spiritual depth of his leadership. Killer Mike reflected on how Rico could “call you to your higher self” while still telling you the truth straight. The recurring theme? Even when the crew was literally in The Dungeon, they refused to let it become a place of despair. They transformed struggle into soul, pressure into poetry, and pain into purpose.

When HipHopTruth.com asked the panel where their sense of social consciousness and uplift came from, Khujo of Goodie Mob answered with quiet clarity:

“We had mothers that we loved, and we wanted to make music we could bring home to them.”

That line hung in the air like scripture—simple, true, and timeless.

A Festival for Us

J. Carter, founder of ONE Music Fest, shared his own “why” for creating the festival, which will feature the Dungeon Family’s long-awaited reunion performance this year. Carter explained that after attending major festivals and seeing the brilliance of Black performers on stage—but not seeing many Black faces in the audience—he wanted to create a festival for us, by us. “I wanted our people to experience that same love, uplift, and joy together,” he said.

The Saviors of the South screening felt like the embodiment of that dream. The audience sang along, laughed, and celebrated the genius of a generation that turned a basement into a movement. By the end of the night, one truth echoed through the room: what began in The Dungeon became light for the world.

Tips/Key Takeaways

• Purpose Starts Small: Rico Wade’s story reminds us that your basement, your idea, your crew—whatever you’re building—can shift culture if you lead with vision and love.

• Art Is Powerful: Even when the Dungeon Family was underground, their message reached great heights. Your love-filled creative work can carry healing and hope, even if you aren't a pastor in a pulpit preaching a word.

  
  

• Community Creates Legacy: As J. Carter showed, sometimes the greatest innovation is simply making space for your people to thrive together.

  
  

Next Steps & Questions to Ask Yourself

• Mindful Reflection: Where can I create space for others to grow, heal, or create in my own life?

  
  

• Explore Resources: For more mindful tools rooted in wellness and reaching your own heights, download the ChillSister App, visit our official compensated Amazon Influencer page, or check the resources page at HipHopTruth.com.

  
  

• Get Your Tickets: Tickets for ONE Music Fest 2025 are available now at www.onemusicfest.com/tickets.

  
  

The Power of Community

In the end, it’s all about community. The Dungeon Family showed us that when we come together, we can create magic. We can uplift each other, share our stories, and build a legacy that lasts. So, let’s keep that spirit alive. Let’s create spaces where everyone can thrive. Because when we do, we’re not just building a community—we’re building a movement.

Let’s keep pushing forward!