It was released in 1996 via LaFace Records as the third single from Goodie Mob's debut studio album Soul Food (1995).

Production was handled by Organized Noize, who also served as executive producers together with Babyface and L.A. Reid.

The song takes on a gritty theme and deals with life in the streets,[2] such as sex trafficking, with mentions of certain people and places.

[3] Tom Doggett of RapReviews wrote "'Dirty South,' the unofficial anthem, ups the ante.

In regard to the overall performance, he wrote "By name-dropping and mentioning specific places, they manage to put the listener right there with them.