Underground hip hop, underground rap, or undie (to draw comparison to "indie" or independent rock) is an umbrella term for hip-hop and rap music outside the general commercial canon. Independent record labels are the major supplier of underground hip hop, but artists who are not signed to any label represent the independent scene just as much as their signed counterparts. This non-commercialized hip hop is represented through its other elements as well, such as graffiti, b-boying (break dancing), turntablism (djing), freestyle rhymes, and beatboxing. Generally speaking 'underground' artists rap about a different subject matter than their commercial brethren. Songs focus more on personal issues, politics, relationships, and philosophy, and tend to be more introspective and self-critical. However, underground hip hop also has roots in battle rapping, and "shit-talk" songs are quite common, as many underground rappers display the egoism and braggadocio common to rap music. Underground production tend to be diverse, drawing on such musical styles as jazz, funk, electronica, and techno, as well as more traditional hip-hop for beats. The music can also be more lyrically diverse and have less repetition than mainstream rap. Some artists also avoid lyrics that are violent, or misogynistic. The rise of Underground hip hop can be traced to the history of a few record labels and events during the 1990s, paralleling the creation of gangsta rap. At the same time that N.W.A. was pioneering the sound that would become "Gangsta Rap," rappers such as Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Organized Konfusion and Common were creating the sound which would be later categorized as "Underground." The early 90s saw the creation the Living Legends and Freestyle Fellowship crews, 1995 Rhymesayers Entertainment, 1996 Stones Throw, 1997 Anticon, and 1999 Def Jux. In 1996, Scribble Jam, a hip hop festival which has cultivated the underground scene and launched many of its best-known artists, was organized. The internet also played a very key role in spreading the appeal of underground hip hop to the masses. 1997-1998 saw the rise of audio websites such as UndergroundHipHop.com and file sharing sites like Napster quickly spread the music of indie artists at an unprecedented pace. If the 1990s saw the formation of underground hip hop, the 2000s saw it reaching mainstream audiences. Many artists, such as Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, El-P, and Atmosphere saw their albums chart on the Billboard 200. Rhymesayers Entertainment signed a distribution deal with Warner Music Group in 2007 which allowed several underground artists such as MURS, Abstract Rude, and Grayskul, among others, to be signed with a major label. The late 90s and early 2000's also gave rise to both old and new underground artists such as Oldominion, Cannibal Ox, MF DOOM, J Dilla, Lone Catalysts, Jean Grae, Typical Cats, Aesop Rock, Vinny Botz, Grayskul, Medusa, and Ill Bill, as many of these artists went on tours and put out mix tapes which led to further popularity.also definition of albuquerque nm only at the age of 14 manages to spit rhymes off the top of his head and without a demo album out yet he will in the up coming future.
