That hippity hop music

Thread started by
DetroitRider at 03.7.08 - 12:22 am
Rather then hijack the Immortal Technique thread any further, I thought I'd start one specifically for the discussion on hip hop and music in general.
1. What equates to underground? This could be in any form of music, but what would you define as the point where an artist leaves underground status and becomes mainstream?
2. Is mainstream a bad thing?
3. Are there any people who would consider themselves hip hop heads amongst Midnight Ridazz?
I personally don't know what equates to underground. I think the term can mean way too much and varies from one person to the next. I guess I would have to say they become mainstream when I hear them on any radio station. But what's messed up is what you hear on KROQ now, you might not hear in Michigan until this summer. So, is it still underground in the midwest until then?
I think we all tend to knock it because, I believe anyways, that a lot of what makes it on the airwaves is crap. It might start off as unique and interesting, but overplaying rapes it of any of its original style. But, without music reaching a broad spectrum of listeners, styles and other music might never change. I equate it to a pendulum...it has to reach the very end before it can change and come back to something revolutionary again.
It seems bike culture, at least in part, is about rebelling against the norm, overcoming the stereotypes of spandex and funny looking helmets, and fighting back against worthy causes....and yet, with all the similarities to hip hop, the music doesn't seem to be much of an influence.
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http://midnightridazz.com/viewPhoto.php?artistId=6&galleryId=17260&pgnum=1
ruinedbyidiots03.7.08 - 12:40 am
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Ohhhh shit, I thought I was on a Bike site..My bad ..I must have stumbled on one of many hip hop blogs.Any one know where I can get info on bike rides?
deesimple03.7.08 - 3:52 am
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@deesimple
-I actually came here thinking some info on the recurring Looney Tunes Kangaroo would be here.
I'm appalled at this treachery.
bentstrider03.7.08 - 4:15 am
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They're underground as long as they keep it real!
User103.7.08 - 9:07 am
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Dee - No comment would be preferred over a pointless one. I was simply asking a question to possibly *gasp!* keep an intellectual discussion going and not hijack a thread. Looking at the column on the right, I see 5 other threads no relating to bikes, one of those actually being the second music thread. Biking is a culture and it is made up of people who, from what I have seen, tend to be very passionate about the music they listen to.
DetroitRider03.9.08 - 7:08 pm
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bush knocked down the towers. now sound like a broken record and SPREAD THE FUCKING WORD.
ruinedbyidiots03.9.08 - 8:00 pm
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fergie fucking rules. She's a three time grammy winner, so she must be good.
bone_yer_bike03.9.08 - 9:18 pm
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Fergie kills us all by going back to her "Wild-Orchid" days.
Shame on her, and the rest of the Black-Eyed Peas.
Although, "The Boogie That Be" still makes my head bob.
But, that's about it.
bentstrider03.9.08 - 11:21 pm
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im more of a bebop fan myself..
....fuck it im a junglist......
theshues07.15.08 - 5:31 pm
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No such this as underground anymore.
The term "Underground" has evolved into a complete marking gimmick to get people to buy into it.
Graham07.15.08 - 6:25 pm
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Imagine if the blacked eyed peas kicked out fergie replaced her with Andre 2000 from outcast and had the Neptunes produce everything.
blackout_blacklung07.15.08 - 7:10 pm
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"It seems bike culture, at least in part, is about rebelling against the norm, overcoming the stereotypes of spandex and funny looking helmets, and fighting back against worthy causes....and yet, with all the similarities to hip hop, the music doesn't seem to be much of an influence. "
That's because the rebelling against the norm aspect of hip-hop mostly died out over a decade ago, and now, there are only a few little-known and less-heard groups that actually have something to say and an interesting way of saying it.
Much of hip hop, especially the mainstream stuff, has become a celebration of wealth, materialism, and social disfunction, which are pretty much not what bike culture is about, so I'm not surprised there's not much of an overlap. (This is probably also why hip-hop sales are trending downward, as people are wising up and realizing that being violent and stupid doesn't make you more "authentic". See e.g. Dave Chappelle's "When Keepin' it Real Goes Wrong")
Either that or I'm getting old. Or both.
JB07.15.08 - 7:28 pm
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I DONT LIKE PEOPLE PLAYIN ON MY PHONE.
i know all the words to ready to die.
ruinedbyidiots07.15.08 - 7:30 pm
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what? the black eyed peas were never really underground. ask anyone. joints and jam was the ish and one or two other songs... but you could tell they weren't in the same category as blackstar or dilated peoples or the visionaries.
personally, i differentiate the two brands as follows:
that which you make for the masses
and that which you make for yourself and the masses happen to like it.
"I'm here to say what's in my heart, and you call it a style" - dmx
July07.15.08 - 8:37 pm
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TELL ME SOMETHING,
IS HIPITTY HOP MUSIC FOR HIPSTERS?
OR DO HIPSTERS LISTEN TO ONLY HIPPITTY HOP MUSIC?
eddieboyinla07.15.08 - 8:44 pm
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I never said any of them were "underground" I just said they were fun and would be more fun if they joined forces.Oh and the Idlewild soundtrack was great.
blackout_blacklung07.15.08 - 8:46 pm
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barlye - what is seen, cannot be unseen. the horror.
ephemerae07.15.08 - 8:57 pm
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I'm still a hiphop head regardless of whether I listen to it less than I listen to friggin' Hot Chip nowadays... Radio and TV are just pitiful, I feel sorry for our youth that stay glued to the tube.
As far as rides go, I wish more people with music trailers played more hiphop-electro-funky-dub-reggae-shit rather than cliqboppy beats and emo digital rock. Cause I really like to dance. Goddamit.
jericho1ne07.16.08 - 1:48 am
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The best "mainstream" hiphop band that doesn't suck has been and is still is Outkast.
jericho1ne07.16.08 - 1:49 am
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UM I DONT THINK SO I LIKE OUTKAST BUT DUDE THERE IS WAY better hiphop than that.. the rbl posse, bus driver, shapeshifters, living legends, nwa, easy e, too short, etc etc etc....
bro im a jew french/mexican i know my shit and i dont even look it.... you want hiphop i'll show u.... i love all music i love the word and the sound.....
thefrenchconn07.16.08 - 1:55 am
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I said mainstream band. I know more about the mainstream than I do about the underground, so I'm not making any claims there. To me, there's hiphop that doesn't suck and there's hiphop that sucks, and therefore could be thrown into the rap category for all I care.
And I do my best to listen to up and coming artists nowadays, but I always seem to fall back on mid and early nineties De La and Tribe.
jericho1ne07.16.08 - 2:05 am
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I'm as Romanian as they come, and I also know my shit (so?) (what's my point?) I dunno. Just being sarcastic i guess. Don't offend your elders.
jericho1ne07.16.08 - 2:07 am
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Underground means you dont make any money
Purp07.16.08 - 9:38 am
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1. What equates to underground? This could be in any form of music, but what would you define as the point where an artist leaves underground status and becomes mainstream?
It's underground of you've never heard of it.
2. Is mainstream a bad thing?
no, people got to pay rent, overproducing is a bad thing.
3. Are there any people who would consider themselves hip hop heads amongst Midnight Ridazz?
yes, you should have heard the crowd of riders scream when Ganstar's DWYK went on on the Pillow Fight ride. ridazz even did a sing along,
dannyzuko07.16.08 - 9:54 am
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Wow, it's kinda simplified but it might be dead on. Once you start making money, is that what puts you out of the underground realm?
Outkast has always been sick. I hate the fact that they are known for BOB and songs that, while good, aren't really as expressive as they are and can be. Def not underground since like 95.
I think the reason people hate mainstream is simply because they are selfish. You want to feel like they are "your band" and once the person who likes The Thong Song also likes them, you don't want to associate yourself with "your band" as much. Music is a way to identify yourself and you don't want your style to overlap into that of someone who rocks out to N'Sync.
DetroitRider07.16.08 - 9:54 am
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the best hip hawps are from california and texas. and fuck a label if its good its good.
HANDBONE07.16.08 - 10:00 am
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I tend to favor the east coast, although DJ Quick is da homie,
I dont mind people going mainstream, it's when the fucking do SPRITE commercials that hurts,
culture for sale, same thing happening to bike Kulture, yay! $$$
dannyzuko07.16.08 - 10:08 am
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