Underground hip-hop (also commonly known as indie hip-hop or underground rap ) is an umbrella term for hip hop music that is outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed to independent labels or no label at all. Underground hip hop is often characterized by socially conscious , positive, or anti-commercial lyrics. However, there is no unifying or universal theme – AllMusic suggests that it "has no sonic signifiers". "The Underground" also refers to the community of musicians, fans and others that support non-commercial, or independent music . Music scenes with strong ties to underground hip hop include alternative hip hop and conscious hip hop . Many artists who are considered "underground" today were not always so, and may have previously broken the Billboard charts .
17-509: Underground hip-hop encompasses several different styles of music. Numerous acts in the book How to Rap are described as being both underground and politically or socially aware, these include – B. Dolan Brother Ali , Diabolic , Immortal Technique , Jedi Mind Tricks , Micranots , Mr. Lif , Murs , Little Brother , P.O.S Zion I and Madlib , among others. Underground artists with critically acclaimed albums include Atmosphere , Binary Star , Blu , Cannibal Ox , Company Flow , Del
34-420: A foreword by Kool G Rap . Publishers Weekly states that it “goes into everything from why rappers freestyle to the challenges of collaboration in hip-hop”, and Library Journal says, "instruction ranges over selecting topics and form, editing, rhyming techniques, putting words to music, collaborating, vocal techniques, studio tips, and performance". How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques
51-794: A good "general" overview. Dana Gioia , poet and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts wrote, “ How To Rap marks a cultural coming-of-age for Hip-Hop … [it] is the first comprehensive poetics of this new literary form. …Edwards has made his bid to become the Aristotle of Hip-Hop poetics ”. It also received positive comments from hip-hop journalists and authors such as Kembrew McLeod , Dan LeRoy, Alex Ogg, Mickey Hess, Russell Potter, and Pancho McFarland , and from artists such as Georgia Anne Muldrow , Egon of Stones Throw Records , Badru Umi, and Speech of Arrested Development . In
68-577: A review of the Kanye West album Yeezus , news outlet The Daily Beast praised the book, saying: "In Paul Edwards’s comprehensive tome How to Rap , the author surveyed a plethora of rap emcees—104, to be exact—in order to demystify the rap process." Black Star (rap duo) Black Star is an American hip hop duo formed in 1996, from Brooklyn, New York City . The duo is composed of rappers Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli . The duo
85-513: A while". The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show was a notable underground hip hop radio show that was broadcast on WKCR , and later WQHT , in New York City from 1990 until 1999. It featured rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G. , Big L , Jay-Z , and Eminem , as well as groups like Wu-Tang Clan , Mobb Deep , Onyx (hip hop group) and Fugees , all before they gained any popularity. In 1999, Prince Paul and Breeze Brewin' created one of
102-610: Is also published by Random House in Australia. It was translated and published in Japanese by P-Vine Books in 2011 (part of P-Vine Records ) and translated and published in Korean by Hans Media, also in 2011. The book is compiled from interviews with rappers; the interviews comprise the majority of the book's content. The following artists were interviewed by the author: It also includes information on other artists, who are commented on by
119-511: Is compiled from interviews with 104 notable rappers who provide insights into how they write and perform their lyrics. How to Rap 2: Advanced Flow & Delivery Techniques is a sequel to the book, also on hip hop music and rapping by Paul Edwards. It includes more insights from the interviews done from the first book. How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC was published by Chicago Review Press on December 1, 2009 with
136-421: Is named after The Black Star Line , a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey . Their critically acclaimed debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star was released on September 29, 1998. After decades of only releasing singles and appearing on compilations, Black Star released their sophomore studio album No Fear of Time May 3, 2022 on the podcasting platform Luminary . Black Star arose from
153-526: The Red Hot Organization 's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo , a tribute to Duke Ellington , which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease. In 2002, the song "Hater Players" was used in an episode of The Wire , " The Cost ". In 2005, hip hop website TheSituation.co.uk reported Kweli said that a new Black Star album was "in the pipeline". A second album, to be produced entirely by Madlib ,
170-702: The Funky Homosapien , Roc Marciano , Danny Brown , Freestyle Fellowship , Hieroglyphics , Juggaknots , Jurassic 5 , Kool Keith , Little Brother, MF DOOM , Non Phixion , Planet Asia , RJD2 , MC TP, among many others. Additionally, many underground hip hop artists have been applauded for the artistic and poetic use of their lyrics, such as Aesop Rock , Aceyalone , Busdriver , Cage , CunninLynguists , Dessa , OhSo Kew, Doomtree , El-P , Eyedea & Abilities , Illogic , Onry Ozzborn , MF DOOM , Rob Sonic , billy woods , and Sage Francis , among others. Some underground artists produce music that celebrates
187-588: The art and craft of the MC, anyone who's serious about becoming a rapper should read this first… a vital and vibrant expose of a much misunderstood art form,” and Campus Circle give it a “Grade: A+”. XXL magazine said "over 100 rappers have offered their insight on the artform for aspiring wordsmiths", while Yale University Press 's Anthology of Rap referred to How to Rap' s "rich array of interviews with old school and new school artists," and Oxford University Press 's How to Fix Copyright recommended How to Rap for
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#1732852538505204-432: The first rap opera albums, named A Prince Among Thieves . Rolling Stone gave the album a 4.5/5. In the late 1990s, progressive rap acts such as Black Star and Juggaknots helped inspire and shape the underground hip hop movement that would follow in subsequent decades. How to Rap How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC is a book on hip hop music and rapping by Paul Edwards. It
221-449: The fundamental elements or pillars of hip hop culture, such as Artifacts , Dilated Peoples , People Under the Stairs , and Fashawn , whose music "recalls hip-hop's golden age ". In hip hop's formative years, the vast majority of the genre was underground music, by definition. Although The Sugarhill Gang gained commercial success in 1979, most artists did not share such prominence until
238-424: The interviewed artists, including: The book was positively received by critics and press outlets. Library Journal says it is, “filled with real tools and overflowing with inspiration… a good read even for nonartists interested in learning more about hip-hop creativity, personalities, and history, this offers insights into music and poetry. Highly recommended,” Hip Hop Connection called it “a complete guide to
255-438: The mid-1980s. Ultramagnetic MCs ' debut album, Critical Beatdown (1988), is seen as one of the earliest examples of "underground hip hop". It was described that the album was characteristic of what would later be known as "Underground Hip Hop". New York underground rapper Kool Keith received notable success with his album Dr. Octagonecologyst , gaining more attention than any contemporary independent hip hop album "in quite
272-615: The underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records , an independent record label stationed in New York City . They, together with other members of the Native Tongues Posse , helped shape underground alternative rap , bringing it into the mainstream. Both Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli have gone on to greater commercial and critical success in their solo careers. In 2001, Black Star performed "Money Jungle" with Ron Carter and John Patton for
289-513: Was also published by Chicago Review Press on September 1, 2013 with a foreword by Gift of Gab of Blackalicious . In the sequel, reviewers note that, "Edwards asks advanced wordsmiths for advice on rhythm, melody, pitch, timing, enunciation, percussion, playing characters, rhyme schemes, and rhyme patterns." How to Rap is published in the UK by Random House on their Virgin Books imprint. This edition
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