actually when I think of crunk and its start I dont even think of lil john at all,even though he is a big part of it being in the mainstream.Now hen it comes to the differences and similarities of crunk and hyphy it is open to interpretation.I know crunk has been around a long time..I remember cause I shook my head then..didnt like it then like I dont like it now.Arguments like this are pointless for both sides cause in the end you gonna beleive what ya wanna beleive,and also does it all really matter.who started what?My major complaint is rappers and fans trying to take ownership of things...like the saying going dumb,these wer known terminology back in the 80s gettin stupid....now the meanings difer a bit....but in any case I would find it easy to beleive that lets say someone from new york to try and validate this convo cause...the songs wich created are somewhat timestamped,and give dates to at least when something was recorded.I beleive someone from the south could have a valid arguement that hyphy is a spin off from crunk...again two things with similarities and differences ..open to interpretation....If we really wanna get technical jamaicans could be mad and say they started rap,and every rapper in the U.S.A. stole there style,and there would be some validity from that.My point is even though we construct ideas,and mold things as ours..the thought usually is influenced from past ideas and things,usually takin from one thing and making it bigger and better....thats life,thats how things evolve...truth is I dont like crunk,hyphy,thizz,booty bass,miami bass,bounce,buck...however i understand and can appreciate that someone could like that..we all have different tastes,does it matter who likes what,who is right and wrong? Im saying that we have to pay homage to where it all started.