Name your Top 5 underrated favorite mixtapes/Indie albums of all time

[silverfoxx]

MY TOP FIVE Underrated Mixtapes/Indie releases.

5.How Fly 2009

-The holygrail of stoner, backpack, easy going, underground music. It was a staple of the Golden era of the underground in 2009. :

-My impact- I never smoked lol, but this tape made me feel apart of something so cool and unqiue. It was my and alot of indie lovers little secret. This tape actually made me fall out of the mainstream loop, and intrigue me to dive "underground" to search for more dope artists. Wiz was my favorite rapper back then. His flow, voice, style, etc was different and gravitational.

-Standouts-


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4. Control System 2012

- With the recent emerge and buzz from K.Dot, and Section 80, fellow TDE hippy Ab Soul presence was felt when he dropped his indie album Control Sytem. The LP was conspiracy happy, trippy, chaotic, and emotional. The album was a clear representation of the whole strange year of the 2012 end is near fiasco.

- My impact- At the time, i was heavily indulged in the conspiracies of NWO and Illuminati 2012 Planet X. It was perfect timing and introduction to Ab-Soul for me. I can recall the IC hyping this album up and i stayed up all the way to 3am to hear it, it was early christmas for my level of excitement and intrigued. As soon as the tape started, Solo Ho3, i knew it was a classic/connection to what i was enduring and seeing at the time of media propagandas and Reptillians etc lol. The emotions, soul and conscious efforts Soul poured in this made this project truly ambitious and "important" too me. And the whole haunting tale of his lady Alori Joh, made the ending and tape feel beyond the mind but spiriiitual and chilling. One of my favorite projects ever.

-Standouts-




3. LilWeezyana 2006

- The rise of "Mixtape Weezy" was hilighted on this mixtape. Although overlooked, this tape showcased Lil Wayne supreme talents for slick metaphors and feel for beats. It also showcased the original YM team, which was quite impressive and full of personailty themselves.

-My impact- This tape came after the dedication 2, which made me a "Wayne head". At that point in new orleans, after Katrina, Roughly the whole city from the westbank, to the eastbank were Wayne heads and lurk for any song we can find for Weezy. It was like a great treasure to encounter new Lil Wayne verses on various mixtapes and singles. He fed the streets litearlly, as I can recall guys actually reciting new Wayne lyrics and impressing and baggin girls who were intrigued. When LilWeezyana came out, shit it was over fam. This nigga Wayne was the best rapper to us. He could do no wrong, and his wordplay was some of the craziest,funniest,and clever shit we can recall. This is my favorite mixtape from Wayne and the YM camp ever. "Nigga with money" is still the dopest shit i ever heard. This tape was just cool. Oh and DJ Rah Smoove, the greatest Dj in the WOOOOOOORLD!

-Standouts-
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[silverfoxx]

2. Nostalgia/Ultra 2011

- The time was Odd, as in Odd Future new found emergence in 2011. As viewers was checking out Cockroaches being eaten on Yonkers by Tyler the "Devil", A fellow and mellow young lad by the name of Frank Ocean released a project that was so ambient, innocent and soothing that people went ape shit when they found out he was connected to the ODD FUTURE WOLGANG KILL THEM ALL! crew. Nostalgia/Ultra broke grounds for the new school of RnB abstract artists like Ocean, the amazing The Weeknd, and Miguel.

-My Impact- Not knowing what to expect, i downloaded the tape based on a random youtube video and comments section. MY first listen of Strawberry Swing gave me a music high. Like I was really high bruh. The tape feel of alarming twisted darkness and sorrow, but in a calming and innocent manner really open me up into of world past the "love songs, and bitches and money". This tape allowed me to understand art and passion with words, tones, and song structure of soothing layers with airy rhytms. The levels of abstract and poetry behind dreamlike songs like "swim good" and "we all try" placed me in a postion discovering my emotions and my subconcious state where trips of mediation and "zoning" became a important staple of my life. Many may clown emotional records, but the truth is we all need them to look past this reality and relate to something. A Very powerful and spirtual mixtape IMO. Open me to alot of wonders and abstract works of art, and helped me in dark times in my life. "Swim good" was one of the most impactful songs in my young life. Trippy.

-Standouts-




1. Popular Culture 2012

-XV seemly last daunting performance in relevancy, His mixtape Popular Culture followed the theme of using his childhood shows or memories as a guide for the mixtape. Although it didnt garner the same praise as Zero Heroes, Popular Culture is a great coheisive project with a mix of pop,edm, serious toned hip hop, and rnb. Also as well as "squaria" songs like Jedi Knight which is inspired by Star wars and is a tale of love and trust. The whole project in IMO is the most underrated mixtape ever. Dont believe me? Go on youtube and look at the amount of views. The project itself seemly gets better with time, and touch on many subject matters that alot of listeners can relate too. This project deserves more credit then what it got.

-My Impact- Popular Culture is easily my favorite work from XV and my favorite mixtape of all time. Why? Will its becuase of me being able to relate to XV personality and subject matter so eaisly. The subject of samples ranging from Donkey Kong Country 2, Breaking Bad,Full House, Scarface, etc brought me back to my childhood and while staying relevant to current sounds and subject matters. The tape intro, followed by "Andy Warhol" and other songs flowed like water, and made perfect sense based on the mixtape theme. This tape starts of super ambitous, inspiring, and then turns into some "feel good music" and lastly some trippy zoning out sounding which was just a perefect blend for me. It really helped me through tough times, and great times. And to this day i still play the tape, getting better and better with time. The Production from the Awesome sound is underrated and genus, from the layers of texture in smaples, song building, and structure while staying on point with the mixtape theme. Although many fans will argue Se7en was XV best producer. Popular Culture is a classic in my book, and one of the biggest travesties based on its low impact on the game. This was the tape that should put XV on, but somehow pushed him away. An Album in my opinion. "Go On without me" still hits me hard AF today after hundreds of listens.

-Standouts-





These overlooked projects were major parts of my young life in good times and bad. There impacts made me the young man i am today. Whats yall list looking like?

 

[S2J]

Underrated or favorite? Here's my top 5 underrted

5. AZ- Undeniable- nggas are quick to say AZ is underrated, but they themselves dotn even know his work! Undeniable was up there w/ his prime best work

4. Freeway- Month of Madness- 30 songs, with Freeways A1 beat sleection. This shyt is insanely good.

3. Cloud 9, the 3 Day High- Skyzoo & 9th Wonder- 12 9h Wonder beats, Skyzoo before he kinda disappeared.

2. Phonte/Foreign Exchange- Charity Starts at Home/Connected- Charity Starts at Home is a 5 mic album. Period. Connected? Im about to make a thread to go into detail. That album was waaaay ahead of its time. It was a precursor to the game that exists today.

1. Mood Muzik 4- Mood Muzik 2, and sometimes 3, get all the praise, but imo MM4 was rthe best, and 1 of the best EMOTIONAL bodies of work ever. I only compare ealry Jay and 2pac as bein able to lay out personal emotional shyt so well.

 

[5 Grand]

1. Harlem World Christmas Rappers Convention 1981

2. Beat Kingdom - Ron G

3. 95 Live part 1 and 2 - Doo Wop

4. Kay Slay Drama Hour series

5. Old School - Kid Capri

 

[S2J]

Oh we doin r& b too!!?! Nostalgia Ultra was mean but....sigh. He's gay man lol I just cant listen to certain lyircs knowin....that...he.....nvm lol

 

[Built 4 cuban linx]

Difficult to put everything down to just 5 but Ill do the first that pops into my head that I loved but got overlooked

albums

oddisee- tangible dream

q- tip - the renaissance( I cant believe relapse beat this at the grammys)

reks- rhythmatic eternal king supreme

J dilla and madlib- champion sound

sticky fingaz- black trash

mixtapes

roc marciano- the pimpire strikes back

redman- muddy water 2 mixtape

raekwon- unexpected victory

fat joe- The darkside series

Blu- (so)ul amazing

 

[Ear2DaSt]

1.K.B. Da Kidnappa-Black Mamba

2.K.B. & Lil Flea-A Portrait of The World In a Violent Time-slowed & chopped by Beltway-8

3.Ace Deuce-Coming Up In The Ghetto

4.Gang Society-G'z Till We Die

5.Klondike Kat-Biography of A Made Man

 

[nickel-us P]

Here is a list of some mixtapes/indie albums that got overlooked IMO. Some of them impacted the game, while others had trouble to garner respect and listens. Ill list the projects that impacted me gorwing up.

Honorable Mentions- These projects were not listed based on their popularity/ slightly making the cut.

COVERT COUP- I swear this was some next level shit. My favorite Spitta project ever. Him and Alch was in another world and I wasnt ready nor worthy of this classic masterpiece.

SECTION 80- Kendrick's Illmatic IMO. It took me 2 years to move on from this powerful work.

PREMIER POLOTICS- One of the most freshest/dopest projects that moved me as a youngin. Shit was just a cool ass tape. "Sale Dope" is still one the fattest, dopest, coolest songs i heard. Shit makes you wanna buy some Old school Nautica, rock a gold chain, and chill with a bad bitch.

4EVA IN A DAY-Krit most coheisive, and put together project. It seemly flows literally like a day. His best work IMO

KIDS- Mac Miller may be unliked heavily here, but no one can doubt this fresh and easy riding mixtape was an important part of IMO "golden era of the underground" circa 08-12. Shit was just dope, smooth, and retro which open alot doors for 90's babies of the new era.

Agreed except for michael rocks. It was aight but doesnt compare to Covert Coop

 

[silverfoxx]

Here is a list of some mixtapes/indie albums that got overlooked IMO. Some of them impacted the game, while others had trouble to garner respect and listens. Ill list the projects that impacted me gorwing up.

Honorable Mentions- These projects were not listed based on their popularity/ slightly making the cut.

COVERT COUP- I swear this was some next level shit. My favorite Spitta project ever. Him and Alch was in another world and I wasnt ready nor worthy of this classic masterpiece.

SECTION 80- Kendrick's Illmatic IMO. It took me 2 years to move on from this powerful work.

PREMIER POLOTICS- One of the most freshest/dopest projects that moved me as a youngin. Shit was just a cool ass tape. "Sale Dope" is still one the fattest, dopest, coolest songs i heard. Shit makes you wanna buy some Old school Nautica, rock a gold chain, and chill with a bad bitch.

4EVA IN A DAY-Krit most coheisive, and put together project. It seemly flows literally like a day. His best work IMO

KIDS- Mac Miller may be unliked heavily here, but no one can doubt this fresh and easy riding mixtape was an important part of IMO "golden era of the underground" circa 08-12. Shit was just dope, smooth, and retro which open alot doors for 90's babies of the new era.

Agreed except for michael rocks. It was aight but doesnt compare to Covert Coop

It was just cool AF to me Lol. Sir Michael deserve more shine

 

[BoogaSuga]

My favorite (not really underated) mixtapes are...

and all of Big Krits legit album mixtapes (not counting the see me on top series)

Section 80 too but im pretty sure that was actually an album that was released digitally

 

[S2J]

My honorable mentions:

All Young Roddy's mixtapes

Freeway & Jake One-Stimulus Package

Joe Budden-Halfway House

Peedi Crak & Indy 500- Cant even remember the name, but i had this on Napster! Rght when he signed to the Roc. Classic joints like the original 'Want Me Back', Make a move ft E Ness, 1 for Peedi Crak, etc. I was tellin everybody he was gon be a star Peedi had that Meek Mill energy, but was a better spitter

 

[Peezy_Jenkins]

underrated, in no particular order

i see people sayin this is his least greatest free album, i disagree

thugga was in rare form

fuck what they say about sean on here, dude was spitting and showing good songwriting abilities on here

might have been killa cam's last great project

this mixtape has changed the opinion of quite a few people who thought this rapper was nothing more than a shack living, east coast hating, non rappin and producin ass nigga

 

[freshb651]

t/s is real for dropping that Mikey Rocks joint,Cell Dope was my shit too.

"Old white folks thinkin' that I sell dope GO GO GO GO,got my mama thinkin' that I sell dope"

 

[jono]

Just the first five I thought of.

 

[S2J]

Yea i dont think any of Krit's music can be underrated. He's consistenly mentioned as one of everyone's "undergorund" favorites.

 

[Like Water]

XV - Zero Heroes:

XV in general was criminally underrated. Fuck Warner for droppin the ball with this young artist. I fuck with all of his projects, but this may have been my favorite.

http://www.datpiff.com/XV-Zero-Heroes-mixtape.220051.html

Big Sean - Detroit:

Nothing else to needs to be said other than: It should have been his second album.

http://www.datpiff.com/Big-Sean-Detroit-mixtape.390127.html

Rapsody - She Got Game

Another artist that's criminally underrated. As far as lyricism is concerned, she's the best woman doing it, and she's also one of the best, period. Any artist that can hang with Jay Elec, Phonte, Common, Chance, Raekwon, Mac Miller, and Wale on a project is worth looking into.

http://www.datpiff.com/Rapsody-She-Got-Game-mixtape.523310.html

Mick Jenkins - The Water(s):

Another new artist from the Chi that's currently killin the game. However, I feel like he's somehow getting lost in the shuffle of up and coming talent from the Windy City. His concept album is based around the necessary element, water, and how Mick incorporates his own spin on this is worthy of multiple listens. Both cohesive and fresh.

http://www.datpiff.com/Mick-Jenkins-The-Waters-mixtape.638443.html

Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (OG):

I know Lupe fans that don't even know about the original version of his debut. Completely different from the retail version and has some of his best work on it. The only drawback is there may not have been such a dope story like 'The Cool' since 'He Say, She Say' is not included on the OG version. Lupe is still pissed about it leaking and forcing him back to the drawing board, and he's rapped about it numerous times. He told the fans that have it to just call it Fahrenheit 1/15: Part 4. As dope as his debut was, even he knows it was better.

Check piratebay. The one with underscores in the title.

 

[silverfoxx]

t/s is real for dropping that Mikey Rocks joint,Cell Dope was my shit too.

"Old white folks thinkin' that I sell dope GO GO GO GO,got my mama thinkin' that I sell dope"

Nigga still doing that bussin down dance bruh. Fly shive music.

 

[IceBergTaylor]

XV - Zero Heroes:

XV in general was criminally underrated. Fuck Warner for droppin the ball with this young artist. I fuck with all of his projects, but this may have been my favorite.

http://www.datpiff.com/XV-Zero-Heroes-mixtape.220051.html

Big Sean - Detroit:

Nothing else to needs to be said other than: It should have been his second album.

http://www.datpiff.com/Big-Sean-Detroit-mixtape.390127.html

Rapsody - She Got Game

Another artist that's criminally underrated. As far as lyricism is concerned, she's the best woman doing it, and she's also one of the best, period. Any artist that can hang with Jay Elec, Phonte, Common, Chance, Raekwon, Mac Miller, and Wale on a project is worth looking into.

http://www.datpiff.com/Rapsody-She-Got-Game-mixtape.523310.html

Mick Jenkins - The Water(s):

Another new artist from the Chi that's currently killin the game. However, I feel like he's somehow getting lost in the shuffle of up and coming talent from the Windy City. His concept album is based around the necessary element, water, and how Mick incorporates his own spin on this is worthy of multiple listens. Both cohesive and fresh.

http://www.datpiff.com/Mick-Jenkins-The-Waters-mixtape.638443.html

Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor (OG):

I know Lupe fans that don't even know about the original version of his debut. Completely different from the retail version and has some of his best work on it. The only drawback is there may not have been such a dope story like 'The Cool' since 'He Say, She Say' is not included on the OG version. Lupe is still pissed about it leaking and forcing him back to the drawing board, and he's rapped about it numerous times. He told the fans that have it to just call it Fahrenheit 1/15: Part 4. As dope as his debut was, even he knows it was better.

Check piratebay. The one with underscores in the title.

Goat'd you off the strength of the OG Food & Liquor. That shit was/is flames. I'll never forget when he was performing in Brooklyn once he goes "how many of yall downloaded F&L..." Crowd goes wild & he replies "I got Jay-Z on the new version so fuck yall!" Lmao!

 

[its....JOHN B]

I don't think the realness qualifies or that would be posted too

 

[A$AP_A$TON]

Got It 4 Cheap Series-Clipse/Reup Gang

Tales from the Darkside Series-Fat Joe

Church League Champs-Pac Div

The Original Dom Kennedy-Dom Kennedy

Rich Forever-Rick Ross