Pull a rabbit out the hat...

[Iron Keys]

That makes a lot more sense, but to me KRS 1 is the epitome of underground hip hop, as is anything fucking half decent any more. So to call such a massive subgenre corny seems a bit extreme to me. Some of it is, and some of it isn't. It's getting harder to find any originality when everyone is trying to sound like somebody else or fit themselves into a box to get a pat on the back.

Yeah my point was meant to be everything has corny in it. Not that it's all corny.

Even some of the greats or our faves can be corny.

The only thing that isn't corny is the ill.

 

[Iron Keys]

Pop is actually both of what you both are saying.

There js a kind of generic "pop" music, typified by boy band and girl bands... Spice Girls, West Life, Lil Mix, BTS etc

But if your favorite underground rapper has a number 1, it's pop.

Having a pop hit is more about the formula of writing a hit song (and I don't mean copying the formula), it's about songwriting... verses, hooks, refrains. Etc etc. Hip Hop is the ultimate Pop genre --- it's all about hooks.

I think the records produced by Timbaland and Pharrell ,and Missy Elliot records are brilliant examples of this.
Was fairly atypical Hip Hop, and wouldn't call it pop, but pop by nature of the success and nature of the songwriting.

 

[Fade]

The only thing that isn't corny is the ill.

 

[Dusty B]

Mr @Fade also does something called "The Pop It"

 

[hosie]

I personally can't relate to underground hip hip. I've of course listened to it and I'm a hip hop fan so understand the roots/history, and there's a lot of underground hip hop I like, though mostly the classics. It wasn't until hip hop turned into hip pop that I became hooked.

Growing up it was cool/fun to listen to gangsta rap but I'm an older dude now with responsibilities and kids and live in the burbs. I can't relate to the gang banging lyrics. I've seen hip pop evolve into mature hip pop too, and I appreciate music that touches on broader culture/societal trends, and I think it's a good thing for hip hop to evolve as it keeps the average listener engaged.

- I'd be interested to hear what you consider to be the the underground hip hop classics. It feels like a very large net you've cast with that statement. I'd like to see your top 10 underground artists, albums or even singles. The issue you have is sub genres. Underground hip hop has sub genres just like mainstream hip hop. I would say Gangsta rap is far from my genre. I can appreciate it but it's not something I've actively sought or listened to even before responsibility, kids & burbs.

Whether you have kids, stay in a boat or flyfish at the weekends you can still listen to KRS One. KRS was bringing mature, conscious, politically charged hip hop nearly 40 years ago.

 

[Dusty B]

- I'd be interested to hear what you consider to be the the underground hip hop classics. It feels like a very large net you've cast with that statement. I'd like to see your top 10 underground artists, albums or even singles. The issue you have is sub genres. Underground hip hop has sub genres just like mainstream hip hop. I would say Gangsta rap is far from my genre. I can appreciate it but it's not something I've actively sought or listened to even before responsibility, kids & burbs.

Whether you have kids, stay in a boat or flyfish at the weekends you can still listen to KRS One. KRS was bringing mature, conscious, politically charged hip hop nearly 40 years ago.

The "underground" folks I've listened to most throughout my life are probably:

Common

Beanie Siegel/Memphis

Dipset

Immortal Technique

Mos Def

Talib Kweli


I've never really listened to KRS, before my time. Nothing against him, just never dug into his portfolio.