Ya know I been sparked off to write this editorial from an email I got saying
that we just appreciate the underground shit on this site and dis anything
left coast or commercial...which for those of you who followed us from day
one will know that ain't true. The truth is we are dedicated to the
Undergound side of hip hop but we don't ignore what else is going on, c'mon
if we were doing that we wouldn't have more commercial music under the banner
of 'New ish' and our alternatives section wouldn't exist. This editorial
isn't to justify my taste or show how real we are, like my first intro on the
sites first page in July 98 read 'I don't like east,west,north, south, UK,
french, german, japanese or any other form of rap I like GOOD HIP HOP'.
You may think I'm talking shit here but there is a thin line between
commercial and underground hip hop, its an easy line to cross, too easy in
fact, one wrong step and the artist can lose their street credentials
forever. Theres been too many good examples of this, who would have thought
when they first started out in the game that the charts would be housing acts
like Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, Eminem, Nas, Big Pun, Fat Joe, even Redman is
now doing the platinum thing thanks to one hit record. They all built their
name and rep on the underground, doing their cameos and freestyles while we
all salivated for their next move, most of us will have now abandoned them
under the banner of 'underground' as they are household name. Very few with
the exception of the late great Biggie could maintain a place in the hearts
of us true heads and the pop crowd with equal respect.
The industry is fickle period, but not us as a hip hop community, if an
artist remains true to themselves with their music and showing that
dedication by lacing us with the goodness we will always have love for them.
That's where we differ, the pop crowd only want the latest fad, the latest
catchy tune, all fed on the MTV diet like Ice cube put it 'They'll have a new
nigga next year'. Did you really think Eminems 'Hi my name is' would be
playing 24 hours outta ya radio?, cos I didn't!, sure it was catchy and
Eminem had that Beastie Boys appeal but his success has rocketed. I wonder
how many of you out there have now deserted him cos of this?, he said 'Don't
call me underground just yet' but have you heard anything from him that is
appealing to the commercial market lately? Nope he remains the same Slim
Shady we knew 18 months ago and it seems 'My name is' was just a blip in
getting him attention he deserved even if it did attract the wrong crowd.
I mean a lot of Indie stuff is complete crap, literally demos pressed onto
vinyl, containing bad lyrics and mediocre production but some kids just jump
on it cos it's a white label or he guested on so and so's bomb posse cut
about 8 minutes ago so it must be the shit. I mean the independent scene has
a sort of B Boy dedication attached to it so naturally we all should show
love but believe me after ploughing through dozens of 12"s every week the
wack emcee is alive and kicking. Its obvious I'd rather listen to a new Busta
track than the latest 12" by Indie emcee number 4057, cos Busta no matter how
large he got is still entertaining on the mic. Eventually its an even
balance, you always have good and bad in both areas, I don't prefer an artist
just cos they doing the independent and I don't hate em if they gone to a
major and If you are doing that I think you better wake tha fuck up. Groups
like Styles of beyond and natural Elements are now on majors and people are
sitting up and taking notice, just cos they are with the big money guys don't
mean they compromised. In fact their material is getting even better.
In the end we should embrace all hip hop, who gives a fuck if its on an
indie, a major, they are underground or the group or artist has had a hit, as
long as its good. I mean would you turn your back on an LL Cool J song if he
brought it real tight lyrically and the beats blew you away? Of course not,
Ok it don't look like its gonna happen any time soon but some of us are just
too quick to judge an artist by past success or the fact they have the wrong
criteria of what we expect.
People tend to forget that this is music we are listening to and if we like
it then NOTHING should change our opinion.
- PHIL
