Comments on: Wards Of the “Underground”

By: Slav Kandyba

Slav Kandyba — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:50:22 +0000

Good subject to tackle, MG. IMO, underground in hip-hop is that “next” shit that has not bubbled up to the mainstream.
Rappers or cats that say they they’re underground are clueless. They’re not upward-mobile thinkers. Shit, they probably don’t know what upward mobile means. Read a book or a newspaper would be my suggestion.
Anyway … within underground there are variations, so you have that to consider as well. I mean, Copywrite could’ve had a chance to leave underground behind if he chose to go with Dame Dash at one point and vice versa.

By: Killer mike

Killer mike — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:18:51 +0000

Underground is music that serves as an alternitive to the status quo. underground artist r directly liked to there fan base and the most effective promo is fan pushed ie word of mouth and even internet.
I love the Underground. Murs, J Dilla, And GRIND TIME RAP GANG BANG BANG BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Underground lives lets keep supporting. Dope Blog too Maurice

By: DuBOSE

DuBOSE — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:58 +0000

jay electronica = underground

By: Da Bizness

Da Bizness — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:27:22 +0000

Underground used to be linked to an act having a following or fan base without a major label push. Thus meaning for one to have a “fan base” or “following” one would have to earn the title by touring or selling a decent amount of units, again, without a major label. A lot of these “artists” we are talking about have not sold any units, nor have they toured outside of they own hood…which means it is impossible for them to be deemed underground. These self proclaimed “artists” are the one’s ruining the game by making these torrible (terrible+horrible) songs just to get on the radio..usually some type of “battleground” feature, only to have their entire family call in to vote for the song…thank god the labels are short on money, hopefully these types of “artists” quit recording and go back to being consumers.

By: Chaka

Chaka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:37:27 +0000

For me I think the term underground signifies an artist who is keeping it real and making dope hip hop music but who has not managed to cross-over to mainstream.Hence,those who are using the term for an artist are infact saying that artist is only known by true heads and not by everyone.He is just under waiting to blow.AZ is one artist who will perfectly fit this my definition of the term underground.Peace an hip hop head in Africa wrote this.

By: Trey Stone

Trey Stone — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:37:16 +0000

do people actually believe this “love for it first, money second” BS?

how ’bout they wanna make money doing something they love? this whole idea that you’re more “pure” if you don’t wanna make money making music has gotta stop

By: THE UNDERWRITER

THE UNDERWRITER — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:55:07 +0000

Big Oomp could be considered underground, before Unk finally broke nationally. That’s kind of the only group I can think of, besides Cash Money in New Orleans before the Universal deal.

Shout to Ghetto Mafia. Real Gs. Feel good. Smoke good. Drink good. Old cash. New Car. New Crib. Same hood.

By: Dub Sac

Dub Sac — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 04:56:32 +0000

No offense taken.

I by no means think that the groups I listed encapsulate what “underground” is. That’s just the first batch of artists I think of.

I totally agree that region plays a huge part. Like Bay area rappers such as Mac Dre and Keak Da Sneak qualify as underground though they may be well known to people in that area. But they have their own style that doesn’t have mainstream cross-over appeal. And for people from different parts of the country, the artists are going to be different.

Dunno. Guess I don’t really have an answer to the question. Just speculation.

By: FLIP

FLIP — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 03:59:24 +0000

“So if the radio ain’t playing you, it’s not because you’re underground, it’s because you suck.”

That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.

By that logic, AZ, Cormega, Killer Mike, El-P, and GZA all suck.

By: Fire

Fire — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:26:56 +0000

Thanks for reminding me, I think that backpacker is one of the most biased and full of shit terms that hip hop has ever spawned. A lot of smart music gets lumped in that category with self righteous fake activists, and like you said, it sucks. Artists like Talib Kweli shouldn’t get put in with that.