tru or nah: Underground rappers are only underground because..

[H.I.M.]

What do their numbers look like...?

People hate on MC Hammer, but I was in Africa when MC Hammer was huge...He had a cartoon, the black kids use to argue about who is better between MC Hammer and Michael Jackson...They didn't even know about Rakim, Big Daddy Kane or Kool G Rap...

MC Hammer did MORE for hip hop on a GLOBAL scale than Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap...

Believe that....

So, why exactly shouldn't the acts you mentioned be praised for their achievements in hip hop...?

Lauryn Hill was SPITTING on The Score...That woman was LYRICALLY unstoppable....

If it is ok to list RUN DMC, then why NOT the Beastie Boys...

What is the difference between Jay Z and Nelly and why people love their music...? I love Jay Z's music for songs like "H to the Izzo" "Big Pimping" and etc...Like MOST people who know about Jay Z...To me that is the same lane as "Country Grammar" and "EI"...

Of course, a hardcore Jigganaut will beg to differ, and say "but Jay Z spits the truth about blah blah and his music really touches my soul. it is like he is directly talking to me blah blah" but that's how fans feel about their favourites...

When you are emotionally invested, your perspective is altered...You are no different than a woman who thinks her boyfriend is the greatest guy on the planet no matter how much he dogs her...

Logic and Objectivity >>>>>>>>

See, this is an opinion that i can actually respect. It's at least consistent.

What about Eric B & Rakim thou?

They got plat records, spit mainly lyrical shyt, and i cant recall any commerical songs from back in the day( not including the dr.dre stint)

if rakim could make it, why couldnt kool g?

Most people probably consider Rakim greater than Kool G Rap anyway. I don't understand your point.

Are you implying the fact that he was able to sell more records automatically makes Rakim a superior MC to Kool G Rap?

 

[Pinyapplesuckas]

Some just flat out suck! Let's be real. Some of the sorriest rappers be the ones talking about "taking it back to the essence" and "real hip-hop." I agree with OPs reasons, but a lot of fans don't want to keep it 100 why certain guys are underground

yeah in my eyes only someone from "the essence" can legitimately take us back to it. otherwise you just sound like a fan rapping about the stuff you liked as a kid.

 

[Abstract83]

If u looking for radio or BET to tell u whats hot I think that's a problem. The masses don't even know what they like. These days they're constantly being told what's hot on a everyday basis. I honestly think most not all underground rappers make better music than signed ones. I'm coming from a artistic perspective and not a business one. Who actually knows what's gonna pop or blow up honestly? These underground rappers probably can make that music but they choose not to. We've been shoved Ross, Gucci, Asap, Drake, Wayne, Jay, Nicki and who ever else is hot at the moment for how many years. So Ofcourse people will gravitate towards that more because that's all their use to. People are just now jumping on the TDE bandwagon. When them nyggas was doin it before GKMC dropped. Kendrick was out shinning cats back then. I actually think indy/underground is actually more experimental and creative than ur average mainstream rapper. I think the masses are the ones playing catch up to this internet age not the other way around. And once the artists get that big deal their value in music changes. (See Drake's So Far Gone) fitting title. And I'm not even a fan of dude. And there's some major label artists I like but I honestly prefer the ones that have more freedom before the big signature. Shyt changes after that.

 

[dirty_yo]

The question should be the other way around. 99% of musicians/artists are underground, you just havent heard of them. Only a select few have broad mass appeal to become mainstream.

 

[call_me_step_daddy]

Most people probably consider Rakim greater than Kool G Rap anyway. I don't understand your point.

Are you implying the fact that he was able to sell more records automatically makes Rakim a superior MC to Kool G Rap?

Truth be told,this thread was REALLY about that muthafukka k-rhino and how you guys constantly keep bringing him up like he deserves to be mentioned among the greats..he doesn't..I don't like nothing about that guy..his name shouldn't even be thought of when mentioning the top 5 rappers

I know some people may think it's cool to mention some less obvious rapper as their top 5 or whatever just to be different, but it's like somebody asking you to name the top 5 nba players ever and you say 4 obvious ones like mj,magic,kareem,lebron, but then you throw john stockton in mix..and I'm not sayin Stockton is garbage,but you all ready know that ain't right nor would it make sense..you can argue your case all you want,but in reality it's pointless..get it?

 

[C-Styles]

it's simple really and no one has the right answer here which im surprised since most of y'all are "Expert analyst". The answer is you go as far as how BIG YOUR MARKETING BUDGET IS!!! Being a successful platinum artist is equivilant to running for president. The one with the bigger budget usually gets the popualr vote while the independent canadiate gets lost in the middle of the race even though he might qualify more than the democratic and republican. If you have the major dollars to promote your project and make appearances everywhere like on magazines and radio interviews then hell you can do exactly what Macklemore did. Macklemore's sound is almost the same as what people refer to as "underground hip hop" and someone had a point when they said Eminem could have stayed underground had he not caught a few breaks. You're right, the co-sign and interscope's marketing dollars is what catapaulted Eminem into what he is today. 50 is doing the same thing right now that's why you see him do an interview every chance he gets, releasing music with videos every week, 50 knows what he's doing as far as the promotion of a project is concerned.

 

[Brandsdale]

some are too obscure to appeal to mainstream audiences

some chose to stay underground to avoid paying off record labels, keep artistic integrity and pocket higher percentage of the money they make off albums and touring.

That's what Curren$y did at least, and I'm pretty sure Freddie Gibbs is following this ideal right now as well since leaving CTE.

 

[Get Right]

He wasn't underground though

And I admit I could be totally off base because I've never heard a g rap song before

Sounds like he would be in the Pusha T type lane.

Pusha isn't underground

 

[call_me_step_daddy]

it's simple really and no one has the right answer here which im surprised since most of y'all are "Expert analyst". The answer is you go as far as how BIG YOUR MARKETING BUDGET IS!!! Being a successful platinum artist is equivilant to running for president. The one with the bigger budget usually gets the popualr vote while the independent canadiate gets lost in the middle of the race even though he might qualify more than the democratic and republican. If you have the major dollars to promote your project and make appearances everywhere like on magazines and radio interviews then hell you can do exactly what Macklemore did. Macklemore's sound is almost the same as what people refer to as "underground hip hop" and someone had a point when they said Eminem could have stayed underground had he not caught a few breaks. You're right, the co-sign and interscope's marketing dollars is what catapaulted Eminem into what he is today. 50 is doing the same thing right now that's why you see him do an interview every chance he gets, releasing music with videos every week, 50 knows what he's doing as far as the promotion of a project is concerned.

I promise yo wack ass could have a million dollar budget and still wouldn't go aluminum

 

[RTF]

Depends what is considered "underground". MF Doom can tour and cake. He's made a living purely off music. He can tour the US and other countries with ease should he decide to actually turn up. He's not underground to me.

 

[Bickin Back Being Bool]

underground is a term losers that try to be hip hop created

back in the day, we would listen to fugees, and turn around and bump some jeru

it's all hip hop

 

[infamousred]

it's all dependant. some of them don't want to "blow up" because they know they'll have to follow the sound of whatever got them there in the first place(which most of the time isn't quality, alot of people just happened to like it) others will try any and everything to appeal to the masses. then there's the third category who simply can't construct a proper song. all they know is how to rhyme and flow. when it it comes to actual song writing ability they suck.

 

[emoney]

I'm a bit out of the loop

What is the dividing line between underground and mainstream right now? Because it seems as though lines have been blurred

 

[2manyFCKNrappers]

i honestly don't think everybody wants fame. there are still some people that just enjoy the craft and being known amongst their peers. and then there are the people that are useless and shouldn't even be labeled underground....they just need to stop rapping.

 

[Yoda]

there really are rappers who choose to stay underground.

like Lil Ugly Mane.... he's quitting after the next album because he was getting too popular. some people would rather have the freedom of music with one fan than a million fans with the pressures of making bullshyt.