One year shy of the 10th anniversary of their critically acclaimed 2002 debut Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz Kentucky based rap group Nappy Roots is back with their 5th studio album Nappy.Org. BET.com caught up with the Kentucky reppers during a private album listening session at Universal Music Group office.

After enjoying mainstream success with their platinum debut’s hit singles “Awnaw” and “Po’ Folk” along with their 2003 gold follow up album Wooden Leather the group has been through some significant changes over the years.

Despite not having the backing of a major label and minus original member R. Prophet the now five-man rap group has managed to stay relevant with independent releases and touring. Still unable to recapture the commercial success spawned earlier in their career the country-bred rhyme slingers seem to comfortable being independent.

Nappy Roots member Big Vito told BET.com “This is still independent and it feels like it’s on a major ‘cause it’s two major powers that’s coming together”.

Confident in the quality of their upcoming effort and appropriately titled - Nappy.Org the Kentucky MCs have enlisted the help of veteran Atlanta production power house Organized Noize the trackmasters behind groundbreaking groups like Outkast, Goodie Mob, and TLC.

“We’ve done our last carnival trick, its time to make the fair bigger and that’s what this project is about. They’re [Organized Noize] the most identifiable beat makers in the south and in the world period…I don’t know nobody better” says Big V  

And making “the fair bigger” is just what the group is poised to do with smooth album cuts and soon to be banger “Pete Rose” featuring Khujo Goodie (of Goodie Mob). Known for putting out conscience material the same can be expected from their upcoming effort according to the projects first official single “Hey Love” featuring Samuel Christian– with a southern bounce of course.

Nappy.Org is slated for a September 27^th release

(Photo: Anis Panjwani)