What Is Underground Hip-Hop?

Underground Hip-Hop is an obscure music genre not typically heard on mainstream radio. Unlike commercial rap, underground artists produce work with a deeper meaning that is not intended to reach broad audiences. What do you consider about Conscious Hip-Hop Music Group.

Underground rappers typically possess unique styles, catchy rhymes, and an enthusiastic local following. Though not signed to a label, many continue their craft out of passion alone.

The Definition

People typically associate underground rap with gritty political music scenes with complex rhyme schemes and lyrics focused on social issues and homemade production methods. Although that may be true in parts, there's more to underground rap than meets the eye.

Underground rappers needed to receive more notice from label execs, distributors, and magazine editors. However, they still needed to build communities and use various strategies to get their music heard by an ever-increasing number of listeners. Thanks to the Internet, distribution is now just a click away!

Spotify's Carl Chery considers the Internet's direct-to-consumer model "a game changer for underground rap." As a result, artists can release music with less pressure than before, yet he remains uncertain about what "underground" really means in 2021.

The Influence

Hip-hop music culture has grown from beginning on the streets to becoming an international musical movement. Its four fundamental tenets--DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and visual/graffiti art--continue to influence young people worldwide.

Rap artists of the 1990s and 2000s were widely celebrated for their nonconformist, independent styles; however, developing such an underground hip-hop identity required hard work and commitment; it took time for loyal followers to be built up; however, given the economic bubble of late '90s, this became an increasingly unachievable goal.

As it was hard for underground artists to earn significant financial rewards over an extended period, many needed help to make ends meet. That changed with digital distribution platforms like SoundCloud, where small artists could gain widespread attention through blogs, message boards, playlists, direct-to-consumer relationships developed between consumers and artists, and lucrative direct sales agreements created directly between artist and consumer relationships cultivated on such websites - helping rap culture find its footing by producing music independent of mainstream pop culture restrictions.

The Style

Underground hip-hop's DIY ethic is at the core of its appeal; independent artists relying on their community for fan development and promotion of their music, such as Slug's Rhymesayers team who would travel throughout the US even when attending shows or conventions, wasn't profitable to do so.

Today's artists have the tools necessary to produce music in their bedroom studios and become independent distributors with just the click of a button. Although their sound may differ from underground rap in the 1990s, their methods still reflect an independent spirit and DIY attitude.

Jay Electronica and Earl Sweatshirt represent this new wave of left-of-center rappers, who would have typically found an audience on indie labels like Rawkus Records during the 90s; now, their music can reach millions via direct-to-consumer platforms like Spotify. Westside Gunn has long been a force in this scene, using his unique high-pitched voice over grimy beats produced by top producers Daringer and The Alchemist.

The Sound

Hip-hop music comes in many varieties, and each artist brings their distinct sound. While some artists may draw influence from mainstream rappers and songs, others strive for an individualistic sound not widely enjoyed among rap fans.

Underground rap began its rise when the Internet became an effective medium for listening and sharing music, and independent labels flourished during the mid-'90s. Artists rejected by the industry began banding together with fans to form underground communities.

Underground artists sometimes use their lyrics to discuss contentious issues like racism and war while simultaneously using music to spread cheerful and powerful messages that make a difference in people's lives, making their music distinct from its peers in the rap genre.