15 replies to this topic

[willpress]

Just a few questions to start us off:
1. When we say an artiste or MC is underground what do we mean?
(a)Should it mean that he/she is not signed under a major label or is not signed at all?
(b)Or do we mean that his content is not likely to be appreciated by a mainstream audience?

2. If the answer to 1 is (b) then if the mainstream appreciates this artiste's work, does it cease to be underground?

[Emigee]

what you brought about is so significant, for its educative. there has been this look when someone talks underground hip hop, and that look does not really fit in at the moment. for instance some UK double O MCs aint dope on the mic but will do clips in the ghetto giving image of life in ghetto, to me they are telling the poverty and low living standards in the place they did the clip.

Songs focus more on personal issues, politics, relationships, and philosophy, and tend to be more introspective and self-critical.to me underground signifies the struggle, like real struggle. being true to oneself, supernatural is underground but the good part of this world knows him, he was signed to a good recording deal made his greens from his music which radio stations don't show love to, but he got funs. KRS one, he was in the struggle to be heard for he had a word to share, some truth and he was not able to et in to main stream recording labels, but now he is iconic he is the techa and still underground. underground also signifies the content of what is written the level of truth and what really affects the whole population.

there is the aspect of many underground MCs don't have recording deals with the major studios. but to me if you 're true to oneself and you feel what you do then you can class your self. KRS one feels and knows he is aint underground MC, he refers to himself as an ol school Mc, not underground, for he has classed himself in that level. the other thing there are things that still acknowledge the Culture of hip hop, the MIXTAPES 80% of the main stream artists from East to West they go thru' the mixtapes, its a way to connect to the real music lovers,mixtapes are expressive and one is liberal to do all he or she wants, which main stream music industry will not give ear to, so basically getting to proper recording is done for cash but you have to build a relationship with the real music lovers. underground is dope and it sells but the radios, and established studios will never give room for them to grow and develop.they say its disorganized the mixtapes sell and thats underground.

underground has no definite meaning, its how you see it and understand it, but its just how true, original and creative one is. its the only way you can connect with the real music lovers and not seasonal groupies. Battle is underground, it does not mean being broke or leaving in slums KRS one ain't broke,Independent record labels are the major supplier of underground hip hop, but artists who are not signed to any label represent the independent scene just as much as their signed counterparts.the main thing is the content of the rhyme, how the beat falls and how one spits on the beat, not anyone who feels like doing whatever can be done called underground. Mwafrika killed the truth about underground and will play whack music in the name of underground.This non-commercialized hip hop underground needs on commercializing!!!!!!!!!

just keep it real and cut the crap of ghetto wanna be, it ain't underground look.

[Buddha Blaze]

Nice topic I have been trying to write about this for a long time. First I cant stand that word underground because many people want to misuse it.

What is Underground? Underground to me means someone or something that is in touch with the community. An underground artist is the one who still talks about whats relevant on the ground. So he could be signed or unsigned. He could be broke or paid. Underground is a state of mind not a situation of poverty.

Look at it this way. Some one like Common, Talib, Mosdef, Pharaoh, Immortal, Masta Ace I consider these MCs part of the underground. But it doesnt necessarily mean they should stay poor cos they are doing movies, soundtracks etc. Some of their songs can cross over to the media and they make money once in a while.

BUT: In Kenya some artists are hiding in the word underground acting like the radio doesnt play their songs. What they are forgetting to tell the masses is that maybe their songs are WACK to be played by radio. Underground does not mean WACK. IF YOU ARE WACK YOU ARE WACK. Like Talib said " Just because I dont understand what you saying, dont mean what you be saying is DEEP!!"

Cant stand to see a pissed off artist calling himself underground. Just because you do songs about dissing people and calling people names dont make you underground. Just because your song is about some ghetto ideals dont make you underground.

Common, Jay-Z and all them cats appeal to the underground but they dont live in the Slum. Artistes get yo acts together man. Underground dont mean poor, underground dont mean pissed off, underground dont mean confused and violent.

Underground is also sweet and universal.

[Couzifer]

u's right on point Emigee, been underground is been tha' truth and as u know; lots of people don't like hearing tha truth including tha major record labels, Fm stations, TV stations e.t.c ; so if u's an Hiphop artist and walk in a major record label spitin nuthin' but realness seekin' to be signed by that label tha chances are high that they will turn u' down and even if u' insist and get signed, then they will make u' rhyme to some of their "nursery anthems" and they are these "nursery anthems" that gon' make u' mainstream because that's what everybody else or the majority want to hear and therefore this record labels will use u' to make money, although u' will also make money yourself and this brings me to this point; - mainstream artists are out to Entertain and make Money only whereas underground MCs are out to Educate, Entertain and also make some money.

[willpress]

Buddha Blaze said:

What is Underground? Underground to me means someone or something that is in touch with the community. An underground artist is the one who still talks about whats relevant on the ground. So he could be signed or unsigned. He could be broke or paid. Underground is a state of mind not a situation of poverty.

BUT: In Kenya some artists are hiding in the word underground acting like the radio doesnt play their songs. What they are forgetting to tell the masses is that maybe their songs are WACK to be played by radio. Underground does not mean WACK. IF YOU ARE WACK YOU ARE WACK. Like Talib said " Just because I dont understand what you saying, dont mean what you be saying is DEEP!!"

Yup I totally agree with you Blaze...It has always baffled me that when I ask some MCs why they are not promoting they music, they say "You see , me am underground dawg!"
The fact that you are underground doesnt mean that your audience is also supposed to be limited... Besides some cats use this as an excuse of not trying to better themselves...in fact the more people you touch will show how deep the messagte was, au sio?

[tha high priest]

Nice question wil pres.Its been on ma mind too.look at cats like wu,guru,taleeb,roots .there content isnt commercial its deep hip hop but are they underground.for me underground is like mcees who are doin some deep hip hop but they never break as in cant be heard on radio cos very few people is listening. e.g can ox,sage francis.godessa fro s.africa.maybe they are comon there but out of there how many cats heard of them.
okay my opinion is not all underground mcees are dope and not all mainstream mcess are wack.
on the other hand for some people underground is a state of mind not about airplay.its the diversity of opinions thats why someone said luda is the gratest mcee of all time u dig.
but we have to agree radio stations so for al deep hip hop gets limited air play cos the masses are into party music thats why genge and kapuka is all over radio.
rememba wakilisha on nation fm in 99 hosted by kshaka,it didnt last for long did it.or tha joint by mwaf.i think if someone with some cash came up with a radio station to promote deep ,socially concious hiphop,it would be great i like to beleivethere is a reasonable no of people who would prefer to dig deep hip hop in kenya.look at wapi not bad is it.hopuin newmcees will step up so that wen talkin bout hip hop in kenya wew can mention several names not just uko flani.or wat do u think so we ask radio to look beyond kapuka and genge.

[d2]

lemme me use myself as an example...sum djs and radio stations once told me dat my mixtape wont make it....dat lessened my status,thinkin i wont do well...but dat doesnt mean nobody gon feel yah...i belive "underground is lyk putting d truth 2 death" so dey dont airplay.

[Buddha Blaze]

D2 Dont despair man. Deejays who dont feel your shit are just those DJs. If you look at Jay-Z career, there are people that told him he couldnt make it when he started out. That made him go independent and formed Rocafella Records now the biggest record label in hip-hop time. Its all about belief in self and not in categories and boxes. Dont be boxed. A good song is a great song man regardless of underground or not. I use the word TRUE more than I use underground cos I do an event called WAPI and many of these artists are scared of success thats why they hide under the banner Underground just as an excuse NOT to compete in the world of music.

Desist from being boxed. Do good music.

[Emigee]

d2 said:

lemme me use myself as an example...sum djs and radio stations once told me dat my mixtape wont make it....dat lessened my status,thinkin i wont do well...but dat doesnt mean nobody gon feel yah...i belive "underground is lyk putting d truth 2 death" so dey dont airplay.

D2 dont let Djs kill what you have, i mean if you're dope just as Budha said don't be afraid to shine out, i mean don't do music just because you can do it and got talent, do it because you love it, i know am good and i do my ish for i love hip hop. the mixtapes are the way out, i mean for non-established MCs, do your cuts and hustle up. when Dre was working to be the next big thing nobody believed in him, snoop was already distributing with no limit, warren G was still not sure what to do but he trusted his work and he is big and does classic hits, if you're real your real; period! keep it real and work hard for what you do and dont let underground limit you audience, seek for that audience..............

[Buddha Blaze]

Word MG and D2. We should never let the same rules/ boxing and classification that haunt all other genres to haunt us. Keep doing ya thing and keep it shining. People can talk all the want but your record will play on. There are so many categories and titles. Its funny that even so called Hip-Hop purists are getting caught up in that same net of being categorised. Now they have titles etc..............

You should check out WAPI where we welcome everyone to perform. The crowd is the one to decide.............................

[Couzifer]

I Co-Sign wit' u' guys; if u' real u' real and those who wont recognize u realness they aint real em'selves becoz real recognize real.

[d2]

u speak word!!!

[D_Infinite]

Excellent topic, "underground" dudes LESS TALK, more GRIND. Stop making music for your boys...cast a wider net and lastly look at your competition and be real with yourself, not everyone can rhyme.

[Emigee]

D_Infinite said:

Excellent topic, "underground" dudes LESS TALK, more GRIND. Stop making music for your boys...cast a wider net and lastly look at your competition and be real with yourself, not everyone can rhyme.

@ D_infinite: i get it your dissapointed with Wenyeji its ok to be but know it hiphop is real, it never lies its to spell out the truth in a constractive manner and a more clear form, and your boys are your true funs forget the rest, listen to what KRS ONE said it doesnt matter who buys the music what matters is do you have confidence with your music. KRS did over ten albums and i know there are few who have listened to his music, and thats the diffrence between commercial music and real music done for a reason. if you're doing music do it how you feel it, as you want it to be. it cant be all about money...... i do understand why your dissapointed.

[Couzifer]

I'ma quote Primo here:

Quote

...Respect this shit (Hiphop) and don't fuck wit it, everybody can't rhyme, everybody can't Dj, everybody can't be in the music biz' becoz u' down wit' ma'fakas that make records, if u' aint nice don't fuck wit' it, we keepin' it funky everytime...

[Emigee]

Couzifer said:

I'ma quote Primo here:

Quote

...Respect this shit (Hiphop) and don't f*ck wit it, everybody can't rhyme, everybody can't Dj, everybody can't be in the music biz' becoz u' down wit' ma'fakas that make records, if u' aint nice don't f*ck wit' it, we keepin' it funky everytime...

this is pure truth, clear than crystal...... hip hop is natural its in blood, you can learn it but you cant change it!!