#SouthGotSomethingToSay

Twenty-five years ago, Andre 3000 spoke on the state of hip-hop. And 25 years later his words still ring true — but now for the state of the NBA.

OutKast broke onto the national scene unannounced. They were unwelcome guests in a house shared by the East and the West. Fitting that the Atlanta Hawks are announcing their return to prominence the same way. While ESPN, Fox, basketball Twitter, and the rest of the media are busy slobbing over the Giannises and Hardens and LeBrons of the league, the Hawks got a demo tape that nobody wants to hear.

But the demo tape is in your face now. The playoffs are here and the streaming numbers are going up. It's time to accept the inevitable. The Hawks are for real, and they're not going no where.

The South got something to say.