underground VS. mainstream

[WhALE]

start...


I see it, I see them coming together. The underground acts are now wise to putting party back into their records and not being all lame ass consious downer all the time, and the mainstream are getting more clever and better with their raps.

the beats on both sides are getting pretty even too.

my pals claim my theory is just true because I'm getting older , I dunno...

does anyone else like "underground" and "mainstream" as much as the other? I know there's still the UG nerds that won't play a Luda record cuz he's on Def Jam and has millions of dollars of marketing behind him, and I know people worn't fuck with some underground shit cuz they don't...

huh?

[dooz]

Originally posted by WhALE
start...


I see it, I see them coming together. The underground acts are now wise to putting party back into their records and not being all lame ass consious downer all the time, and the mainstream are getting more clever and better with their raps.

the beats on both sides are getting pretty even too.

my pals claim my theory is just true because I'm getting older and more open to stuff, I dunno...

does anyone else like "underground" and "mainstream" as much as the other? I know there's still the UG nerds that won't play a Luda record cuz he's on Def Jam and has millions of dollars of marketing behind him, and I know people worn't fuck with some underground shit cuz they don't...

huh?

you make some good points but there is still absolute shit in the mainstream that has wack beats and lyrics in a "its proven so its safe" mentality. the underground still has wack beats and lyrics in a "Im gonna be different for the sake of different" mentality. of course that is all my opinion and very generalized. I dont bump luda on the regular but its not because i think he sucks. I wont bump chingy on the basis that he sucks

[Lynwood]

hip hop = hip hop

fuck all this undergrond/mainstream bullshit


i look at it like this : broke rappers and rich rappers

[WhALE]

Originally posted by Lynwood
broke rappers and rich rappers

I s'pose, true

but I'm more concerned with if anyone has noticed that the game is changeing.

see how the styles are moveing.

I know, I know, I hate the "underground VS. mainstream" thing, but I don't know how else to call it in this instance.

how far off is an Acey feat. Jr. Writer track?

[Lynwood]

Originally posted by WhALE


how far off is an Acey feat. Jr. Writer track? it could happen ...i wouldnt be suprised

[WhALE]

that's my prediction for hip hop.

the underground heds are gonna say "we can get some of this paper" I bet some rappers are kinda pissed they were to UNDERGROUND to sign now...

[complete]

Originally posted by WhALE
start...


I see it, I see them coming together. The underground acts are now wise to putting party back into their records and not being all lame ass consious downer all the time, and the mainstream are getting more clever and better with their raps.

the beats on both sides are getting pretty even too.

my pals claim my theory is just true because I'm getting older , I dunno...

does anyone else like "underground" and "mainstream" as much as the other? I know there's still the UG nerds that won't play a Luda record cuz he's on Def Jam and has millions of dollars of marketing behind him, and I know people worn't fuck with some underground shit cuz they don't...

huh?





hhhhhmmmmmm.

[TheadoreStriker]

I think it just boils down to

Scarub (and his content)vs your mainstreamer

Eligh(content/beats)vs mainstreamer

Equipto vs..I won't even go there

I mean..even NAS illmatic, it's got some underground flav..vs
a mainstreamer

there's only so many times someone can produce some poppy beat and talk about gats, the "respect" they get in the club, their money, clothes,etc..until every mainstreamer thinks that they're the one...
but those clubbies and "G's"are buying their albums..good for them..
the Underground,
Well,
shit....peep MURS commurshul<--mispelled, or F'real, that shits fun,creative, hard, true, and intellegent.I mean I would rather be listening to ," my verses reek more havoc on an MC"S personal life than curses,,...MURS is..and so on..
then..up in the club..the homies show me love...ice on my wrist..baby lookin fine.....got back..blah..blah..blah..someone can't just tell me that they're cool..or a good mc..you can't just "say so"...

[UG Fiend]

I just don't see it, at least not yet. I just want hip-hop to get back to the point where there are more than two dope videos on Rap City during the entire course of that program. I remember when heads used to TAPE the motherfucking videos. And whether party, serious, stream-of-consciousness, gangsta, or abstract, everyone knew who was wack or dope.

Let's face it, we can apologize for mainstream/commercial all we want, but we've converged on these boards because we like Living Legends music, and underground music in general. I thought 1993 would go on forever, but there was a noticable dip in the quality of mainstream product, starting in the mid-90's. The tapes we'd buy based on the advice of friends, word-of-mouth and Source lacked consistency. I got tired of buying albums with three good songs and I wanted better. Thank God for the internet (well at least when I first got into this shit heavy; I'm sure a lot of non-urban, non-West Coasters can feel me on this). I can't be the only one that came along that mid/late-90's hip-hop fork in the road....where you could either be a part of the MTV/Source/Rap City element (along with most of your friends) or drive down the lonely underground path. What I loved about 87-88 was stumbling along rap most had never heard of and being excited if the shit was dope. Coming across some dope underground gives me the same excitement. One difference, however. Quite a few of the 87 groups (BDP, EPMD, PE, Native Tongues) blew up AND still remained dope, never compromising their sound...actually getting better. The same cannot be said for the groups out now, save Outkast and one or two others. And the way the politics, agendas and overall corporate landscape is laid out now, I see the disconnect remaining. I doubt you'd see another PE or Wu-Tang come outta nowhere and smack fools in the face. And groups like Dipset, as well as all this crunk crap would get fucking laughed at were they in the 87 or 93 eras. Now they get legitimized and in some cases jocked, even on underground forums. And because of all this, we are in by far the worst era EVER in hip-hop. It's to the point where there's no incentive for me to give commercial rap a chance, to hope for a "bridging of the gap", and I'm perfectly fine with that.

[dooz]

Originally posted by UG Fiend
I just don't see it, at least not yet. I just want hip-hop to get back to the point where there are more than two dope videos on Rap City during the entire course of that program. I remember when heads used to TAPE the motherfucking videos. And whether party, serious, stream-of-consciousness, gangsta, or abstract, everyone knew who was wack or dope.

Let's face it, we can apologize for mainstream/commercial all we want, but we've converged on these boards because we like Living Legends music, and underground music in general. I thought 1993 would go on forever, but there was a noticable dip in the quality of mainstream product, starting in the mid-90's. The tapes we'd buy based on the advice of friends, word-of-mouth and Source lacked consistency. I got tired of buying albums with three good songs and I wanted better. Thank God for the internet (well at least when I first got into this shit heavy; I'm sure a lot of non-urban, non-West Coasters can feel me on this). I can't be the only one that came along that mid/late-90's hip-hop fork in the road....where you could either be a part of the MTV/Source/Rap City element (along with most of your friends) or drive down the lonely underground path. What I loved about 87-88 was stumbling along rap most had never heard of and being excited if the shit was dope. Coming across some dope underground gives me the same excitement. One difference, however. Quite a few of the 87 groups (BDP, EPMD, PE, Native Tongues) blew up AND still remained dope, never compromising their sound...actually getting better. The same cannot be said for the groups out now, save Outkast and one or two others. And the way the politics, agendas and overall corporate landscape is laid out now, I see the disconnect remaining. I doubt you'd see another PE or Wu-Tang come outta nowhere and smack fools in the face. And groups like Dipset, as well as all this crunk crap would get fucking laughed at were they in the 87 or 93 eras. Now they get legitimized and in some cases jocked, even on underground forums. And because of all this, we are in by far the worst era EVER in hip-hop. It's to the point where there's no incentive for me to give commercial rap a chance, to hope for a "bridging of the gap", and I'm perfectly fine with that.

yeah...what he said.














damn homie...always droppin knowledge

[Nasty]

I have to agree to a certain extent. I think that its going in that direction and eventually Hip Hop will just be seen as hip hop and there wont be such a talked about difference. Artists like NERD doing whatever the fuck they want. Kanye West bringing heads like Common, Talib, Jay-Z and whoever else at Rockafella together. I know ?uestlove and the Roots are trying hard to bring up some unkown acts. De La Soul and MF Doom.

Its definitely going in that direction and I see it as a good thing.

In the end its all music and thats all that matters.

Fuck labeling things.

[eamon]

One thing i notice is some of the more visible "underground" artists trying to make it clear that they aren't on some coffee shop/conscious/backpacker shit and that they do have some street in them and some of the mainstream artists trying to prove that they are clever/socially aware/conscious whatever...

Because this year it's trendy to be the conscious emcee, but next year who knows what we'll see - NaS

[TheadoreStriker]

Originally posted by eamon
One thing i notice is some of the more visible "underground" artists trying to make it clear that they aren't on some coffee shop/conscious/backpacker shit and that they do have some street in them and some of the mainstream artists trying to prove that they are clever/socially aware/conscious whatever...

Because this year it's trendy to be the conscious emcee, but next year who knows what we'll see - NaS ^^that's where it is..I was trying to get actually that exact sort of point across..damn, i hate being so judgemental..and I'm usually not..
and that's why bitches don't talk to me as much as they SHOULD and I always end up in my own head at the clubs, but has any "musically concious" "hiphopper" looked at the bars or clubs lately..maybe even the shows, i don't know..although I do know..but is it me..or are people going out..to show off the style that YOU practically invented,(you know what I mean)to everyone else doing the same thing..saying..I used to be dork..now i wear puma's and DC's...and it's either a fake thug fest..or a shy/lame highschool dance senerio..anyone..or is it just me.these are the people that are listening to the radio thinking there cool and down..these are the same people going,"ahah look at his baggy pants..he doesn't match..what an ugly..something or other..and spent the whole day doing it..this is YOUR fan base..
who you gonna spit to..
the glow in the dark, angry, ralph lauren model hiphopper, or the nerdy ass, maxed credit card, with a jz shirt..who's so much more down now because of it.

[WhALE]

I like how the responses to this thread are long. (no homo)

[mad$een]

years ago i would say underground...but now its mainstream

[klemson*msg*atx]

This post=Gay.

[Nasty]

Originally posted by klemson*msg*atx
This post=Gay.

You + your boyfriend = Gay

[Hacksaw Jim]

Originally posted by Nasty
You + your boyfriend = Gay





that=gay

[Nasty]

Originally posted by dumb-c
that=gay

I think we found his boyfriend.

[Hacksaw Jim]

"cut it out" uncle joey

[Karma]

good music is good music...popular or not...i don't dance so i don't listen to bullshit rap.