When did you First Fall in Love with Independent/Underground Hip Hop?

[RuffDraft]

OMG Boom Boom Boom takes me way back!!!

Thank you! You know another thing about Atlantic City that is so under the radar is its Hip Hop influence, when I was younger I would
hear music on like MTV, The Box, BET, and with the like! But the culture outside of that in A.C. was very small.
And we had rappers from here that tried to make it big as a rapper but never got that serious recognition.
There were artists like Q45 and Mack Capone which I know personally that didn't have that recognition, however
their content I never got into, the only dude who really got shine from here was New Jersey Devil (Game's producer)!

But anyways, alot of the artists I've listened to where from NY and Philly anyway,
So we were also fortunate to be within arms length of New York and Philadelphia and able to here that Boom Bap!

hahaha Boom Boom Boom was a classic record, I had that on cassette tape lol!

feel that and I understand the "need" for the term, just I don't care for it as time goes by, sort like i never cared for the term "neo-soul".....a true marketing ploy, which thankfully has been shunned to the point of non-existence

I know with "underground" hip hop there is a difference ,mainly cuz alot headz and even artists embrace the term with great pride.
Just that personally these last few years as mainstream rap sunken to depths greater still…. I think its THEM that should be labeling their shit for what it is…....Hip Pop.

Yeah, I'm going to stick by the term just to keep the hip pop fans away from The Essence though, unless they want to discuss what we refer to as 'The Real'. I was always inclined to 'neo-soul' as a way of describing the different sound, but not so much as a genre, agreed. It'd be more in reference when discussing with someone, it sounds what is now labelled as 'neo-soul'.

But yeah, they're never going to label it as Hip Pop, they're still talking about these artists being the GOAT's lol.

I hear that, I officially turned off the radio in 2004! !

Same haha but yeah, Eminem was ill on them Soundbombing tapes, I only got into him when he dropped the SSLP, but he was brilliant on those first two LP's and began his decline with TES.

the only problem with listening to underground music late, is that you miss on so much stuff and because its not widely discussed in the public, its difficult to do research. after Skyzoo, i bought black milk, Fashawn and little brother records and i was away. I was truly sold with Masta Ace and that dude Stricklin

Yeah, it's true that it's hard to find at times, but for the most part, we manage to stay on top of it all... especially at the end of the year when people get together and share their favourites, which is what I love about December. Should be another great year for independent hip hop, can't wait!

 

[Neslom]

Around '03-'04. I got tired of listening to the same stuff (not because it was commercial, just needed some new artists). I started listening to some rap from the late 80's and early 90's before I went into underground.

These albums really got me into underground

After that... Jedi Mind Tricks and Aesop Rock, a bit CunninLynguists, Little Brother.

 

[RuffDraft]

Around '03-'04. I got tired of listening to the same stuff (not because it was commercial, just needed some new artists). I started listening to some rap from the late 80's and early 90's before I went into underground.

These albums really got me into underground

After that... Jedi Mind Tricks and Aesop Rock, a bit CunninLynguists, Little Brother.

A Long Hot Summer is one of the greatest albums, ever. Can't wait for the new CunninLynguists to drop!!!

 

[Neslom]

A Long Hot Summer is one of the greatest albums, ever. Can't wait for the new CunninLynguists to drop!!!

Ace became an instant favorite rapper after that.Been too long since I really heard CunninLynguists, heard their Strange Journey Vol 1 mixtape. "Broken Van (Thinking of You)" is really good. When will the new album drop?

 

[MastaAceTheGOAT]

A Long Hot Summer is one of the greatest albums, ever. Can't wait for the new CunninLynguists to drop!!!

One of the few who improved with age. Disposable Arts is a classic swell. His debut take a look around is dope to. He is the only rapper I listen to that I can say he has not one wack songs

 

[Food & Liquor]

I took an interest in it in like late 2009 thanks to listening to the Blackstar album (I had heard their own solo stuff but never that album) and I wanted to listen to more stuff, I just couldn't find anything that I really liked until now.

 

[RuffDraft]

Ace became an instant favorite rapper after that.Been too long since I really heard CunninLynguists, heard their Strange Journey Vol 1 mixtape. "Broken Van (Thinking of You)" is really good. When will the new album drop?

22nd March :tu They've not released a complete album since Dirty Acres, so it should make for a good return!! Strange Journey's didn't really count.

One of the few who improved with age. Disposable Arts is a classic swell. His debut take a look around is dope to. He is the only rapper I listen to that I can say he has not one wack songs

Yeah, He was going to retire if Disposable Arts didn't get the respect it deserved, so I suppose any Artist strives when that's the case to improve. It's true, He's an incredible Artist.

I took an interest in it in like late 2009 thanks to listening to the Blackstar album (I had heard their own solo stuff but never that album) and I wanted to listen to more stuff, I just couldn't find anything that I really liked until now.

You've got a huge catalogue of albums at your disposal now too, going to be a good year of listening :tu

 

[ty the great]

I heard a few "underground" joints before became an underground head. I was young and remember hearing The Blast and Definition played on the old Source Sound Lab show that used to come on UPN (didn't get BET or anything back then where 'm from lol). I thought those songs were cool.

But really I got into underground Hip Hop through Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 2. Seen a very positive review for it on the old HipHopSite and I wanted to try something new, only been circulating Hip Hop sites for a short time. Downloaded it and my mind was blown by the punchlines and shit he was referencing (was only like 13 or 14 at the time). I actually did a Google search to find more information on the album and that is how I found the original IC way back in the day in like 2003. Once I got on the boards I just kept trying new things.

 

[renagade410.]

I heard a few "underground" joints before became an underground head. I was young and remember hearing The Blast and Definition played on the old Source Sound Lab show that used to come on UPN (didn't get BET or anything back then where 'm from lol). I thought those songs were cool.

But really I got into underground Hip Hop through Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 2. Seen a very positive review for it on the old HipHopSite and I wanted to try something new, only been circulating Hip Hop sites for a short time. Downloaded it and my mind was blown by the punchlines and shit he was referencing (was only like 13 or 14 at the time). I actually did a Google search to find more information on the album and that is how I found the original IC way back in the day in like 2003. Once I got on the boards I just kept trying new things.

your story sounds similar to mine..especially the bolded

 

[RuffDraft]

I heard a few "underground" joints before became an underground head. I was young and remember hearing The Blast and Definition played on the old Source Sound Lab show that used to come on UPN (didn't get BET or anything back then where 'm from lol). I thought those songs were cool.

But really I got into underground Hip Hop through Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 2. Seen a very positive review for it on the old HipHopSite and I wanted to try something new, only been circulating Hip Hop sites for a short time. Downloaded it and my mind was blown by the punchlines and shit he was referencing (was only like 13 or 14 at the time). I actually did a Google search to find more information on the album and that is how I found the original IC way back in the day in like 2003. Once I got on the boards I just kept trying new things.

You been here since 03?! That's when I discovered the I.C. too :tu

 

[Stew]

then

then

Yea took me awhile but I found it sooner or later...

 

[RuffDraft]

Yea took me awhile but I found it sooner or later...

3 great albums though, which one's your favourite?

 

[Stew]

3 great albums though, which one's your favourite?

Love them all but A Long Hot Summer is the clear fav.

 

[RuffDraft]

Love them all but A Long Hot Summer is the clear fav.

That's possibly my pick too, but The Gates is better than any track on ALHS, IMO. I don't know if that's just me, but I've listened to that track over 100 times and I'm not even exaggerating. I listened to it for about 3 hours straight when I first heard it lol

 

[traestar]

I heard a few "underground" joints before became an underground head. I was young and remember hearing The Blast and Definition played on the old Source Sound Lab show that used to come on UPN (didn't get BET or anything back then where 'm from lol). I thought those songs were cool.

But really I got into underground Hip Hop through Immortal Technique's Revolutionary 2. Seen a very positive review for it on the old HipHopSite and I wanted to try something new, only been circulating Hip Hop sites for a short time. Downloaded it and my mind was blown by the punchlines and shit he was referencing (was only like 13 or 14 at the time). I actually did a Google search to find more information on the album and that is how I found the original IC way back in the day in like 2003. Once I got on the boards I just kept trying new things.

Haven't heard from Source Sound Lab in a looonngg time!

 

[ty the great]

You been here since 03?! That's when I discovered the I.C. too :tu

I was a much more active poster on the "original" IC, during the mid parts of the decade. Gotta give props tho, it was the IC that got me into a lot of the shit that I listen to .

 

[RuffDraft]

I was a much more active poster on the "original" IC, during the mid parts of the decade. Gotta give props tho, it was the IC that got me into a lot of the shit that I listen to .

Dope, well, it's good that you keep stopping by :tu I was the same, I had more time back in those days lol. And agreed, The original Essence got me into all this... along with the Net in general.

 

[traestar]

I was a much more active poster on the "original" IC, during the mid parts of the decade. Gotta give props tho, it was the IC that got me into a lot of the shit that I listen to .

I got into IC around 03-04 as well

 

[RuffDraft]

I got into IC around 03-04 as well

I thought you were all newcomers post-upgrade, dope :tu

 

[traestar]

I thought you were all newcomers post-upgrade, dope :tu

Hell no!!! I've been on here for a long time!!! Been through all the bullshit this forum been on!