BLACK MUSIC MONTH: WELCOME TO ATLANTA

Far away from the glitz, glamour and grime of the coastal culture factories sits a sprawling musical metropolis—Atlanta. A thriving source of jazz, country, gospel, blues, soul, classical, R&B and hip-hop, the Georgia capital has produced an astounding array of vibrantly original artists, including Outkast, TLC, Gladys Knight and Jermaine Dupri. (Who can forget Dupri's "Welcome to Atlanta" f/Ludacris, the city's unofficial anthem?)

With Black Music Month upon us, we're busily assembling our yearly print celebration, due to thump onto desks and doorsteps on 6/18. Last year's special championed hip-hop's 50th anniversary; this year we focus on Atlanta and its ongoing contributions to popular music.

We'll tell you all about William Bell and his short-lived but memorable label, Peachtree Records. We'll go underground to explore the Dungeon Family's trailblazing contributions to hip-hop and chat with other Atlanta music pioneers like Speech of Arrested Development, LaFace Records co-founders L.A. Reid (pictured here with Outkast) and Babyface, and Ludacris' longtime manager, Chaka Zulu.

That's just for starters; stay tuned and pass the peach pie.