Welcome to my secret stash. Underground hip-hop may not be a secret to some, and in the following weeks, I will present music that moves me, but people may not have heard of it. Selections will span from the past to the present. I want to spread the word there are quality artists in the world who will never get the exposure they need to appear on MTV. And actually, that is just fine with me.
The best backdrop to rugged hip-hop lyrics is slow, melodic beats that encompass everything from piano riffs to flute combinations. A quality song has lyrics that make listeners fiercely nod their heads and beautiful beats that make their hearts cry. That's good hip-hop.
Cunninlynguists' second album, Southernunderground, does just this. The group's style is similar to Jurassic 5's, bordering on soul hip-hop, but still gritty enough to have street credibility. The MC's lyrics aren't particularly deep, with topics that touch on love, politics, and old schoolism, but like J5 or Heiroglyphics, they are witty enough to make the listener laugh along and reminisce.
Also like J5, the beats are what make the album. The artists aren't afraid to steer away from typical hip-hop beats, which results in Asian and American Indian-inspired beats. The group's flows wrap smoothly around the captivating rhythm, making Southernunderground perfect to fall asleep to, or better yet, make out to.
Cunninlynguists is made up of artists Deacon The Villian, Mr. SOS and Kno. All three are from different parts of the South, and unlike fellow southerner Lil' John, these indie rappers tell stories with intellect and insight.
On "Old School," the trio pokes fun at the "new jacks" on the scene of hip-hop, claiming they are "so old school they were at the Last Supper serving soul food."
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"Dying Nation" begins with one of President George Bush's classic quotes, than goes into a sharp commentary on the state of our nation. The chorus is hypnotic, and it is one of the many hooks on the album where a sad voice sings sad lyrics, provoking listeners to either smile or cry.
Southernunderground is definitely backpack hip-hop, a term sprung from the idea that some MCs are underground enough to have sold their CDs out of their backpacks on the street. But the beats on this album sound so professional, the group is beyond stereotypical backpackers. It's the kind of music that sounds best if you are staring out your window on a rainy day.
If anyone is a fan of unknown hip-hop artists worth checking out, e-mail Jessica at Jdel@unm.edu.
Southernungerground
The Cunninlynguists
Freshchest Records
