Yea...I stopped the guy today at work and bought a book off him for 20 dollars. It only cost 15, but I wanted to make a contribution because he said all printing was out-of-pocket. ANyway, I had him sign it for me and I was glad to have it.

I was amazed and sobered by much of what I read. The book is entitled, "Journal of Hip Hop: Who controls Hip Hop" and focuses on the culture's roots and on the influence/exploitation by the media and society at large. This book is full of facts and I learned alot about underground artists I'd never heard of. For instance, I had no idea that Grafiti actually began on the streets on Philadelphia and not New York. I also learned a term called "commodity fetishism" which explains how marketing of products is peddled through rap and the influence of our generation (X).

I once asked Triple N, "How am I supposed to appreciate underground artists if they don't make themselves known somehow. I would never know they existed." Well, this book--or booklet, it's 112 pages--included a short section analyzing the lyrics of some underground artists.

After reading this book, I am inspired to increase my knowledge of hip hop, underground hip hop, and the true meaning of hip hop, which is expression and reality. I plan to change my name from Tha Q to something with more personal meaning and value. I also realized that I'm an underground emcee. And, by underground I don't mean that I don't sell alot (or any) record. I mean that my message and words are personal, they are real to me and could possibly result in me not becoming mainstream (selling out or selling millions of records by watering down my lyrics).


I once said, "Any underground emcee who says 'I don't sell millions because I'm underground" was a cop-out. I retract that at this time. I feel that any underground artist has an obligation to be true to themselves, and to make themselves known via a medium that doesn't compromise their message.

I am a rapper.PERIOD. I'm also gay.PERIOD. But, I'm also a black man in an American society that isn't too forgiving of my culture. That gives me a voice. That gives me a powerful avenue from which to launch my career in rap, if I choose to do so. The question is, am I willing to "keep it real" and sacrifice wealth? I seriously doubt mainstream America wants to hear about the life, times, and struggles of a gay black man. NO. Since that's the case, I will remain underground.


^^^^This book inspired all of that thinking in me. It provides a detailed section on the history of Grafiti and marketing in rap. It also features poems by urban artists and a section on the rise of Tupac Shakur. I think that was the fastest I've ever read 112 pages.



Suggestions:

For the Songs forum, can we actually divide it into 2 forums: UNDERGROUND RAP and Mainstream Rap?
I feel that that will help alot of us identifyour styles and culture better. In the Underground forum, artists may rap about real shit. There will be no "bling blingin" in the underground forum. However, in the mainstream forum, artists can drop and get critique on pop/club tracks to develop a style they want to market to the masses.


I think one thing in that book that stood out the most to me was a statement that Jay Z just may be the most successful artist of our time because he managed to give the fans what they want, and still maintain his street credibility. If you disagree with it, let's spark discussion.


Pz.


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Youtube Video for my song "CARRY ON"

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werd...finally someone has opened their eyes to the underground level, I got respect for you Q

peace

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Not that hed care, but Jay Z def aint got no credit with me......

Cats are usually underground for a reason. The sound of their vocals... Bad producers... Repeditive tracks... Or the straight up in-ability to draw in a mainstream audience due to their sound being..........Too experemental or too deep into the lyric side of rap over the broarder music side that fans can vibe with.

Connections and hype is also another big factor, which is why you see so many wanna-be's rocking the mainstream cause they had good hookup's even though they aint got dick for talent.. And to be big time you need to be constantly on the come up doing things to stay in the public eye. Mainstream is essentually where the big time is at in this industry and it can take you to levels underground just cant reach reguardless of skill.

At the end of the day, its not about whether your rapping personal songs.. Its about innovation, origionality and being able to gain mass appeal through making awesome music and inspiring people in interviews and appearences while staying dope within the rap community. Most people cant do all that at once and thats why they fail with the big picture that they just couldnt deliver.

And a lot of rappers also just dont have ambitions to make it big cause their not into that. It just depends on who you are as a person, your talent level and what your movement is all about.. Whether your bringing something more than just another average emcee.

Always good to get on a learning tip. Sounds like a good book bro.

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RIP jono, peace out bboy.
Pardon Canada Criminal Record Pardons Services Toronto

Being underground isn't about anything but appealing to a non-commercial audience. Many artists start out underground and over their career develop a more commercial appeal, or are able to reach a larger audience because they have put in their time. Simply put let me define underground for you. "If you would do this shit even if you weren't making a dime off rap, then your probably underground". Name an artist who came up, and at one time I bet they were probably considered underground. For instance I remember the first time I heard Nas, it was on "Live at the Barbeque", with Large Professor, I was like who the fuck is this kid. Back then Nas was just a hot mc, that had shined on a few tracks and was making himself a name. Most of all being underground is about being true to the music!!!!!!!!

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I had to get a new couch, but as you can see the fun continues!

A.I.

I feel this Q. Although, underground's meaning still confuses me. What if you're true to your music and still sell millions? Are you still underground? I mean what if you make songs and don't show em to anybody? Are you underground then?

No, if you do that...Then your 'wasting your time'..

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RIP jono, peace out bboy.
Pardon Canada Criminal Record Pardons Services Toronto

About the songs forum, I agree with that....

'cause hip hop these days is divided into so many diffrent styles....and rv audio has people droppin bangaz, freestyles...mixtapes....and straight lyrical traks, also it'd keep the songs forum in check and make it seem more organized, good job lover boy. you came up witta dope idea, yo.

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lover boy? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

call me baby





haaaa

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Youtube Video for my song "CARRY ON"

Here is the site for the book...One of the co-creators is posing with Common. I met that guy. I actually had a debate with him about the influence of the media on today's youth.


http://www.johh.org/



Holla


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Youtube Video for my song "CARRY ON"

your 'emo rap'. Straight up. Plus, if I had to pick one of THOSE two, you'd be commercial hip hop EASY. I've never heard you spit one thing underground... You act like a commercial artist can't spit about personal issues or feelings.... ignorant. And boo to dividing the audio section.... hip hop is hip hop. word.

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ur right...to this point, I haven't been spitting things that would qualify it as underground...and it is possible to be commercial and still be real about personal feelings (Jay Z)...but to be truly "real" would mean sacrificing some wealth...but my "ignorance" was addressed in this thread...I didn't know the difference in many cases and now I'm gaining a better understanding...and as for the audio section, I think it would actually help people elevate because their efforts would be more focused.

People don't want to hear the truth. They want to hear what'll make them forget about the true problems they face in the world. Underground hip hop is the truth. "IMMA GIGOLO SPENDIN LOTS OF DOUGH" <--- that, my "friend" isn't TRUTH. That's commercial/capitalistic cartoonish caricature bullshit.


nuff said.

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Youtube Video for my song "CARRY ON"

word............

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This song does a good job of explaining what it means to be Underground. It's by KRS One. The lyrics are below, you need to hear the song to truly appreciate it but he does a good job explaining what it means to be underground.




Artist: KRS-One
Album: Kristyles
Song: Underground
Typed by: OHHLA Webmaster DJ Flash

[Chorus]
What does it mean to be UNDERGROUND?
It means you gotta be free to be UNDERGROUND
Yo, you got your own key when you're UNDERGROUND
If you're listening to me yo you UNDERGROUND

[Verse One]
It's time that I open with a thunder sound
Now look around your own town for the UNDERGROUND
Yo, you rhymin for the TV, or a million CD's?
You ain't a MC, you ain't UNDERGROUND
You could be platinum or gold, hot or cold
But it's the respect you hold that's UNDERGROUND
When the critics don't get, that for the streets you spit it
When your lyric they fear, that's UNDERGROUND

[Chorus]

[Verse Two]
Yo, white kids, black kids, skinny kids, fat kids
Them Asian cats be UNDERGROUND
Chicanos, Palestinians, Milanos, fuck the Lone Ranger
Where's Tanto? That's UNDERGROUND
Freddie Foxxx, Blackalicious, Kweli
M.O.P., GangStarr that's UNDERGROUND
Mad Lion, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot
Armageddeon T.S. that's UNDERGROUND, UHH!

[Chorus]

[Verse Three]
Yo, the t'cha returns, I told y'all I went to Cali to learn
And that shit was UNDERGROUND
If the cops be eyein you, cause survive is what you try to do
Yo I'm wit you, you UNDERGROUND
If it's justice you want, and you protest the ice they flaunt
You want skills that's UNDERGROUND
Yo it's not about a rugger rapper, or an actor
It's about your subject matter that's UNDERGROUND
LOOK!

[Chorus]

[Verse Four]
Chevonne Dean from Ruff Ryders, all the Outsiderz
Young Zee, that's UNDERGROUND
When all your money's spent, and you're still hangin on
to 50 Cent (get it) you UNDERGROUND
When you rep the collective consciousness of hip-hop
Not hip-pop, you UNDERGROUND
Yo it ain't about jewels, bitches and cars
It's about Nas, that's UNDERGROUND, yo!

[Chorus]

[Verse Five]
To be underground simply means that you're down
for the struggle, get 'em up, that's UNDERGROUND
You could be a classy lady or a whore
But if you protest the war, for sure, you UNDERGROUND
If the government can't see you, or deceive you
You love your people, believe you UNDERGROUND
If you refuse to play the game, you go against the grain
You ridin the train, you UNDERGROUND - get it!

[Chorus]

[Verse Six]
Yo, yo, that blast from the past, like Grandmaster Caz
Bam and Flash, that's UNDERGROUND
Doug E. Fresh, Lord Finesse, KRS
If you listenin to this you UNDERGROUND
Turn it up now KRS about to show you how
They go wow, BLAOW for the UNDERGROUND
Mr. Walt, Evil Dee, KRS, BDP
Kenny P, that's UNDERGROUND - do it!

[Chorus]

[KRS-One]
(Alright!) Turn it up ah, turn it up ah
Turn it up ah, turn it up ah
Turn it up ah, turn it up ah
Turn it up if you UNDERGROUND - LISTEN!

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I had to get a new couch, but as you can see the fun continues!

A.I.