ca. 2015 - Present
Project Statement

There was a time when I was an impressionable youth — at this time I heard a voice.

What I explore in this work are the characterizations of Southern Hip Hop that I perceive, read about and hear in the mainstream and ones I experienced growing up in the South. When I was discovering Outkast, UGK, Goodie Mob, Lil Wayne, Eight Ball and MJG, and more I was growing into my own person in a small town in South Carolina and subse­quently as a college student in only a slightly larger town in South Carolina. The music was essentially the soundtrack to my formative years. Rather than singing back the hooks that seemed maybe more in line with broader cultural aspirations around me (see shine, bling, etc.) I was drawn to — even consumed by — the individual nuggets of profound knowl­edge that transcended any sermon, lecture I received those days. These lyrical gems were the spice of life — literally sprinkled throughout for those who had the palate to discern them. These words stick with me to this day. 

Consider: 

"Solid on the surface as I crumble within. Legends are made out of vulnerable men."
— Bubba Sparxxx

"No one is free when others are oppressed, so we hit the stage and fly back to our nest."
— Andre 3000

"So they try to steal your pride, it's inside. Then find it and keep on grinding 'cause in every dark

cloud there's a silver lining. I know."
— Lil Wayne

"Take your time and concentrate on it — Take a stand and make your hand a fist — We got a reason to resist."
— CeeLo

A call to arms.

The message in this music was consistently to stick to your guns, relentlessly pursue your dream, and know it’s okay to experience setbacks as long as you learn and aren’t afraid to confront them next time around. My takeaway was not more chrome, more square footage, more Jordans even though it could be argued those were all good, yet worldly things. The truth was my day began with verses to "git out and git something" to coin a phrase. If you really listen, these sources of motivation and how to stay true to one's self in the face of the mainstream and systemic oppression were what was wrestled with line-by-line. You might call it your grind, but whatever you call it, it was critical that you be on it. 

"True I've got more fans than the average man, but not enough loot to last me to the end of the week — ­So I live to the beat, like you live check-to check — If you don't move your feet than I don't eat, so we like neck-to-neck."
— Andre 3000

What's left behind? 

While familiar themes exist in Hip Hop and music and art in general, my current pursuit is to ensure the perseverance, vision, individuality, tenacity, and defiance of Southern Hip Hop's roots are preserved in historical and reverent context. A documentation, if you will. "Hold On Be Strong," named after the intro to Outkast's seminal LP Aquemini, is about crystallizing music in tributes to seminal verses that shaped a chapter in Hip Hop and even American history, imploring the listener to persevere. The saying goes, "Hip Hop changed the world!" Even though this phrase originated north of the Mason-Dixon line, the broader Hip Hop movement is about transformation and achievement wherever you hail from. To put it bluntly, there’s no reason the South can’t have something to say on this stage when it comes to changing the world.

— Dave Alsobrooks, 2022

A labour of love.

This project will consist of 11 finished shrines accompanied by various accoutrements. They will be displayed in a multi-media installation including sound, light, and projection at a date TBD. An accompanying book is in development that relates the unique story and experience occurring at each and every location where dirt was collected. And these are truly stories worth telling! I refer to this grouping as Chapter One, fully aware it is unlikely a Chapter Two ever sees a Southern sky.