THE UNDERGROUND SOUND
Welcome to The Underground Sound Web-Page where you'll find all the latest news and
updates from the Underground Hip-Hop scene. In Connecticut you can catch The Underground Sound hosted by Sly on WWUH 91.3FM on Mondays
from 1-4PM or anyone in the world can listen with real audio at http://wwuh.org.
What Is The Underground Sound?
The Underground Sound began when some kid was sick and tired of hearing bull-shit commercial rap and wanted
to take matters into his own hands so he hit the AM radio waves at the University of Hartford. In the summer of '97
that kid, Sly, took his quest of bringing only the best Underground Hip-Hop to the FM airwaves and has since then
blown up in Connecticut interviewing Guru, Cappadonna, Big Punisher, Mos Def, Killarmy, plus many other underground and established artists.
Listen to Shakespeare, 7L and Esoteric on Real Audio
In case you missed the live Internet concert a few weeks ago, you now have the cance to check it out on our archive. If you wish to listen to this clip, be sure to have the latest version of Real
Player G2 from Real networks(www.real.com). Look for another concert coming soon.
Sly's Top 5 Records of the Week
This is my personal Top 5. Some of which may be on the playlist and some my not due to various reasons. Enjoy!
1. Prodigy "Keep it Thoro" Loud
2. Reks "Final Four" Brick
3. Sticky Fingers "Get it Up" Universal
4. Big L w/ AG & Party Arty "Holdin it Down" Rawkus
5. Milano "Deal with a Feeling" DITC
Playlist For The Week Of 7.31.00
Sticky Fingers--Get it Up--Big L--MVP 2000, Holdin it Down w/ AG & Party Arty--OC--Straight No Chaser--AZ--I Don't Give a F*ck--El the Sensei--Got Dat?--Canibus w/ Journalist--Die Slowly--Iriscience, Maylay Sparks & Last Emperor--Copenhagen--Sadat X w/ Diamond D--X-man--Planet Asia & Kweli--Don't Let Up--Capone N Noreaga w/ Foxy Brown--Bang Bang--Camp Lo--Cyber Sex--Reservoir Dogs w/ Royal Flush--Cold World--Reks w/ Esoteric, J-Live, Sahdeeq, Pacewon, Young Zee, Lonnie B & Danja Mowf--Final Four--Jurassic 5--L.A.U.S.D.--Busta Rhymes--Ready For War w/ MOP--Group Home w/ Jeru--Real N*ggas Don't Die--Blade--Look 4 My Name--Iceburg Slick--Can't Stop Me: The Iceburg Story--Mykill Myers--Killing Spree (RMX)--East Flatbush Projects--Everything We Spit Is Hard--Milano--Deal With a Feeling--Chico & Coolwada w/ Kurupt, Defari & Juice--Wild in the West--Eddie Ill & DL--Nothing's Changed--Lone Catalysts--Rush Hour--Dilated Peoples--The Platform (RMX), Basics w/ Defari--Eminem--The Way I Am--Cash Brown w/ Royce the 5'9--Double Homocide--Dice Raw w/ Malik B & Black Thought--Thin Line--The Creators w/ El the Sensei--The Music--Shabaam Sahdeeq--3-D--Pop da Brown Hornet--Sun Neva Chill--Apathy--The Smackdown--Lord Tariq--This Cold World--DJ Revolution--The Backbone--Black Eyed Peas w/ Charli 2na--Get Original--DITC--Get Yourz (RMX)--Visionaries-Together or Separate (RMX)--3rd Degree--Hi Energy--Bahamadia w/ Rasco, Planet Asia & Chops-Special Forces
News from the Underground
This section is dedicated to all the news that I hear in the underground. This consists of rumors, happening, and upcoming events in Connecticut. I remind you that some of the things that are said are rumors and events are subject to change.
Look for Big Changes in the Next Couple of Weeks to the Site!!!
2/27/00
I'm going to be adding a couple of new sections over the next couple of weeks. The interviews section is going to be downsized and the breakbeat section is going to be replaced with my weekly top 5.
I'm also going to bring my man Diabolic on and we are going to start doing a reviews section. We are going to review albums and singles that can be bought by the general public or can be bought on CD.
We realize that not everyone out there is a DJ so we are trying to help the average Hip Hop consumer. Look for more changes in the weeks to come. I also wanted to tell you all about this new event that I am help putting together. It's called "Elements" and it is being held every Wednesday night at Cherry Bombs in Springfield Mass located at 98 State St. The event will start around 8:30/9:00PM and run to about 12:00AM. We want to invite all local artists to come up and showcase their talents similar to
how the Lyricist Lounge does it in New York. So MC's, DJ's, and spoken word poets are all welcome to sign up. We are looking to bring through a special guest every week, with Tragedy, Cap One, Common, and 7L & Esoteric planning appearances as we speak. For more info or to sign up, hit me at the e-mail address below.
Inspectah Deck: INS For President
In the wake of his debut album release, I had the chance to speak with Inspectah Deck from the Wu-Tang Clan. Here is what he had to say.
Sly:I remember reading a lot of interviews with various Wu-Tang members, and they would always say one of their early influences was Inspectah Deck. Can you tell us about the early days and how you got started off with the Clan?
Inspectah Deck:We was always the Clan, even before the record. Dating back to our mothers going to the bar together, being watched by the same babysitters, going to school together and everything. We all came together as one from different walks of life. And me, I was coming home from jail, just getting my lyrics serious and I took it to Rakiem. Rakiem was the one with the record out at the time. When his record didn't work out and Genius put a record out and his record didn't work out either. Not taking anything away from them lyrically or musically, but the deals just didn't work out. So RZA came and he said we had to come with this crew. We need to get together and come in as one. All of us had the opportunity to make it as solo artists on our own.
Sly:How do you think that the Clan, with yourself included, has evolved from where you guys were in 1993 to where you are in 1999?
Inspectah Deck:In 1993, Inspectah Deck was fresh off the streets. It was like coming from out of town at your first day at a new school. Everybody has been there before, but you're trying to learn the ropes.
Sly:Are we going to see more of a mature Inspectah Deck on this album?
Inspectah Deck:Definitely. I was an ill emcee coming off the block with hustler tactics. In the industry, it's still a hustle, but you got to play by a different set of rules. I had to learn the industry guidebook real quick. Now, five years later, Inspectah Deck returns with the solo album and you're going to hear a lot more mature thoughts. All the people out there who are expecting the "C.R.E.A.M.," "Protect Your Neck," "Triumph," and all those types of verses, they are going to get hit off lovely for this album.
Sly:How do you feel the Clan has changed the face of Hip Hop music today?
Inspectah Deck:Well, what we are doing now is going back to what you call ground zero. When we first blew, everybody wanted to be a solo artist. There were no eight man crews or nothing like that. As far as I recall, the Hit Squad was the only one out there, but they were going through a break up. We revolutionized this because it just wasn't being done. You got an eight man group. Each one is different and each can hold his own. Their first song is five minutes long with no chorus and Karate chops in the beat. Nobody heard nothing like that. Then each solo album went out to signify that members chamber. Now we are coming back to show this whole industry who the originators are
Inspectah Deck's debut album will be in stores this summer!!
Reviews
Freddie Foxxx-Industry Shakedown
"I am prepared to face many obstacles in my journey" read a message scribed on the back of a then youthful and slender Freddie Foxxx's '89 seminal LP, "Freddie Foxxx Is Here". Is it possible that he could foresee the path of his renegade-like position for the the next decade and beyond? Bouncing from BDP to the Flavor Unit and all points in-between, Foxxx's transient roaming of the industry has garnered worldwide recognition, with hardly a handful of releases to his name. No longer slim, trim and rapping about how "somebody else bumped your girl", Freddie Foxxx is the militant-mack Bumpy Knuckles, whose integrity is about as indestructible as his physique. Its due time the rap world got it's ass whipped and what a better person to do it that Bumpy Knucks through his often-intimidating "Industry Shakedown".
Impressively enough, Foxxx produces a significant chunk of the album himself, and in prime form too. "24 Hours" sets the pace both musically and lyrically, as Knucks is more than fed with the industry's not so friendly ways. "The Masters" is another surprisingly tight self-production featuring the assistance of some equally raging emcees, MOP. Outsiders come through lovely to only add gallons of fuel to the ever incensed fire within Knucks. Premier lends the mix-tape banger, "Part Of My Life" as well as the intense "Real Nigga Shit". A spicier Primo concoction that's so ready to be killed that Foxxx can barely contain himself during the hooks - a good combination, indeed. "Bumpy Bring It Home". has Diamond instilling a slower roll into the big-man's usual braggadocio as MOP proclaim to "leave Bumpy alone" during the chorus. Foxxx's new partner Pete Rock (as they are set to do an album together) drops 3 gems, with the title track, "Industry Shakedown"., being the most alluring. The bassline alone will keep heads in motion no doubt, but it's Fred's run-down of the rap industry that'll keep them listening. There's just something about name dropping and calling out fools that remains a Hip-Hop staple and Foxxx does it with a honest compassion and aggression that generates immediate respect from those familiar with Rule #4080 and it's cohorts.
And that is what Freddie Foxxx is all about, speaking his mind no matter what the fuck the consequences might be. He's aged finely this past decade, never compromising his sound or style. Just peep "MC's Come & MC's Go". Anyone that can get away with making a bumpy old dance joint so hot deserves nothing but millions of daps and record sales. - Peter Agoston from hiphopsite.com
Dilated Peoples-"The Platform" LP
Finally the trio of Evidence, Iriscience, and DJ Babu, collectively known as Dilated Peoples have brought forth a full length after dropping numerous singles. The trio first caught everyone’s attention with their second single release entitled “Work the Angles.” From their, the group would begin an attack which would lead to underground anthems in “Guaranteed,” “Strength,” as well as numerous guest spots and production across the underground. A lot of people began to believe that the group was the second coming of Christ and on their debut album, Dilated has set out to meet everyone’s expectations.
The album begins strong with the Babu led intro into which they go into the lead single title track off of the album. Although different from previous singles, “The Platform” once again brings the mic chemistry of Evidence and Iriscience backed up with production by the Alchemist. From their, the group jumps into “No Retreat” featuring B-Real and none other than the infamous T-Ray. The highly slept on producer made famous by his production for the Artifacts and the Soul Assassins, he serves up a fairly decent track for the three emcees to rock over. From there, Dilated keeps rolling right into “Right On” featuring the Alkaholiks. The E-Swift track works with both groups trading blows and a verse to remind everyone what Tash can do when he has dope beat to rock. From there, things begin to slow down. Flipping the same sample last heard in 7L & Esoteric’s “Def Rhymes,” “Service” suffers from a poor chorus and uninspired rhymes. And although Babu does his thing, the beat just doesn’t hold your attention. “Annihilation” has production that doesn’t really match the group’s style and hence they don’t come off in the song. The group does come back strong with “Ear Drums Pop,” the remix featuring Planet Asia, Defari, Everlast, and Phil the Agony, and the incredible Evidence solo banger, “Last Line of Defense.”
Although Dilated brings heat in various points in the album, it suffers from putting too many previously released songs on the album. Although no song is really bad, there are a few that don’t bring that intensity that we have become accustomed to (“Years in the Making” and “The Shape of Things to Come”). The love they have for the West coast can be seen throughout the album, enlisting veterans (Everlast, the Liks, Aceyalone) and new jacks (Planet Asia and Phil the Agony), which only adds to the album. Evidence comes through lyrically with Iriscience taking his back. Although often criticized, Iriscience does his best to compliment Evidence and although he doesn’t come off as well as his counterpart, he always brings something provoking and positive. The absence of his solo track is also missed. Overall, the album might not be the Illmatic people might have been expecting, but it has enough gems to keep their listeners happy and lays down a solid foundation for the group to build on. -Sly-
This Web-Page Mastered by Chris D'Orso for D'ORSO PRODUCTIONS and Sly for UNDERGROUND SOUND PRODUCTIONS
Links
Real Audio on WWUH
HipHopsite.com
Krib.com
The Web-Masters Homepage
DJ Egon at 113 Audio Resources
Sandbox Online Hip Hop Store
UndergroundHipHop.com
Email: undergroundsound@usa.net
