What is your definition of "Underground"?

Question

And give me a few cats that fit your bill.

Answer 1

I assume you are talking about music

underground - not mainstream.. usually gotta catch their stuff on mixtapes or the net or bootleggers...

a couple that fit the bill:

papoose ( i don't care if he got a record deal.. where;s the record?)
red cafe (on his way to the mainstream)

i don't really consider Talib Kweli underground, alot people like to call him that, but he's not.. he's got albums out, we all know how he is.. it's just not as many people can appreciate him as we would like.

Answer 2

Most people already gave pretty good definitions of what underground is, so Ill just give you a few of those underground artists that have hit legendary status, or are def. worth checking out.

MF Doom - This guy is ridiculous. Production wise and lyrically, their arent many people out there with more skill than this guy. Almost everything he touches is classic.
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=zfl7lhJuTis

Typical Cats - IMO, they released the greatest album to come out of Chicago, and that includes Resuurection, College Dropout, and Food & Liquor, with their self-titled debut. Underground to the fullest
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYGWEa1fHU

Canibus - IMO, the most underrated rapper out today. After you get passed his scratchy voice, you'll realize that this guy has one of the most complex rhyme schemes out there
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=I80ZVcYPuek

Jedi Mind Tricks - They released an album which I consider to be the underground equivalent to Illmatic - enough said.
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=sE3qm3MoW7Y

Def. check all these guys out. You won't be dissapointed.

Answer 3

If their album is hard to find in stores, their underground in my book. Even though Outkast, Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Common etc. have underground approaches to music, their albums are easily accessible and their songs are sometimes heard on the radio, MTV, etc. If it's hard to find, it's likely underground.

Answer 4

To me Underground is guys who you ask the average fan and they say who. For example: you are talking to one of your buddies. You say: Man, that new Trae & Z-Ro is the shiznit. Your friend: Man, who is Trae & Z-Ro? You: Man U ain't never heard of Trae & Z-Ro, they represent that Texas chopped & screwed. Your Friend: The only cats I know from Texas are: Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Lil Flip, etc.


So basically that is what I consider underground. If you haven't seen their video on BET or MTV then they must be underground!

Answer 5

anything still on an independant lable
and I mean that they haven't been signed to a masjor producer, not that theyre sound is "indie" or "underground"

for example, many people consider Modest Mouse to have that underground soun dto them, when they are on a major lable and are frequently on the lable.

but therye are artists, say rappers [as a lot of rap is mainstream] that are still on and independant lable, like sage francis, or M.I.A.

in conclusion, it has nothing to do with sound.

Answer 6

I'm not good w/ the underground questions, cause I just play off ear. Like Nelly was underground at one time. underground is not mainstream...right?

Answer 7

To me it is rap that has a political point as well as a economic view...in other words people who did not live it...don't have a clue as to what is being said! They claim it is all about violence..drugs..etc. Not it is about the persons true life experiences..!
To me Ice T fits the bill! Dr Dre fits....Snoop fits..Scarface...Tupac...and I am going to add..Curtis Mayfield, he was not a rapper...but he told it like it was!.

Answer 8

In a nutshell, "Not Mainstream" , another way of saying "you have not crossed over" or "the industry has not crossed over to you."

Artist such as:
Super Natural
Safiir
Chino XL
Ras Kass
Aceyalone

Even though you may have heard their music, but chances are it wasn't on a "Clear Channel" radio station.

Answer 9

i think undreground would be sumeone who is being heard but not quite up there on the spotlight..a few examplees would be.....
azteck..from roc-a-fella
juice..from black wall street but i heard hes no longer with them......
334 mobb .....heard in south (lousianna,georgia,alabama) but not quite there..
tommy 2 time...from chicago
there are alot of people but if they team up with the right people they can get to fame pretty quick........334 mob has done songs with lil wayne....this will help them out alot

Answer 10

The subway in Chicago