Surfacing the Underground Hip hop

Do you remember the university elections?

There are representatives from the political parties and then there are the ones who stand alone. Often the one, who stands alone, may be better or equally good… but goes unnoticed.

Something similar has been the story of Underground rap and hip hop. They are the unsupported independent artists. Sometimes they have support and financial assistance to carry forth their activities, but again this support is from even smaller labels.

What is attractive about them is that they use not “attractive” violent or abrasive themes. They may talk about the general subjects of interest but you won’t find them shouting into the mikes or dressing exquisitely to create a “public” image. They are just who they are. And they just do it.

One doesn’t have to be a non-supporter of commercial styles to be support them but being an avid listener and a genuine fan it becomes a subconscious responsibility to at least listen to them. They make real music. They make music because they want to and because they want to entertain. Underground Hip Hop hence deserves to surface, come up and taste success; even if it is just an acknowledgement. Let’s listen to free music and support this small section of rap songs and artists; at least merely by hearing what they have to say…. the least we can do.

Conscious Rap: Lost or Found?

Conscious rap as the very name suggests is a form of “consciousness”. The entire concept is about improving the way we live and societal norms thorough music. Rappers in the process condemn violence, word discrimination and speak out against other issues of society. The base of all such music is the belief that only knowledge of ones’ self and personal enlightenment can bring a change.

The style of the rapper here is generally positive and inspiring. The pulse is honest and aspires to touch the “conscience” of the listener. The beats are often smooth and comforting.

The only draw back is that most of this music is made for the “headphone” listener or the I-phone wizard. Not much of this music is heard on the radios where a mass appeal can be generated. Perhaps, this is also because generating mass appeal for something that is “good-for-health” becomes difficult.

Conscious rap is definitely a well-found genre of hip hop music to make a difference, but seems to be lost amongst the demand for entertainment, lack of opportunity and the few misinterpretations.