GUR Tournament

I'm thinking about doing an Greatest Underground Rapper. THis will be a chance for some of the other great emcees to get some true shine without having to go against the typical guard.

So please rec a few rappers I may miss. And I guess the only criteria I can ask is that they have at least one official album. I am not going to try to list every underground rapper alive. I will make the final call on the list. But please give suggestions on some emcees.

Here's a few examples of people i'm thinking about to give you guys an idea of how far "underground" can go:

Styles P
Gift Of Gab
Z-Ro
Bro Ali
Immortal Tech
Gulity Simpson
Apathy
Sheek Louch
Murs
Mega
Skyzoo
Sugafree
Jacka

I'm thinking only 64 slots.

do you listen to enough underground rappers to do this? im not trying to break your balls or anything just asking, cuz i defiitely would not consider Sheek or Styles underground and i defnitely would not nominate Sheek...

Slang Editorial wrote:

do you listen to enough underground rappers to do this? im not trying to break your balls or anything just asking, cuz i defiitely would not consider Sheek or Styles underground and i defnitely would not nominate Sheek...

I listen to a good amounr of underground rappers just not a lot of the ones you listen too. That is why I asked for some rec's.

And Styles can be considered a hybrid and Sheek also. But I get what you are saying. I just wanted to show you I am not limiting my resoures to people only a neighborhood in a small city has heard of.

Skyzoo should be nowhere near here either...

id nominate

Ras Kass (this is arguable as if hes underground, id say yes)
Killah Priest
Vast Aire
Kool Keith
El-P
MF DOOM
Tech N9ne
MF Grimm
Brotha Lynch Hung
Vordul Mega
Sean Price
Starang Wondah
Guilty Simpson
K-Rino
Canibus
Killa Sin
LA The Darkman
Ill Bill
Sabac Red
Esham
Vinnie Paz (hate him or love him you cant have this tournament without him)
Jus Allah
Chief Kamachi
Apathy
Celph Titled
Lil Fame
Mac Dre
Mac Mall
Del the Funky Homosapien
OC
AG
Lord Finesse (probably not unergorund enough)
Big L
Megalon
Slaine
Aesop Rock
Vakill
Mr Lif
RA the Rugged Man
One Be Lo
Senim Sila
Boots Riley
King Tee

Hell Razah
Masta Ace

You wanna put King Tee, OC, Big L, Lil Fame, and Del but not Styles P? LOl....

And yes Skyzoo go's on this list. Other than that thanks for the rec's. A good amount of those will be added. A good amount I already had in mind.

TicNitty706 wrote:

You wanna put King Tee, OC, Big L, Lil Fame, and Del but not Styles P? LOl....

And yes Skyzoo go's on this list. Other than that thanks for the rec's. A good amount of those will be added. A good amount I already had in mind.

Styles P was always on a major and always in the headlines. Big L was underground, he got bigger after he died, most normal hip hop listeners dont know who the fuck OC, Del or Lil Fame are, but they will know who Styles P is

Eyedea
Copywrite
Termanology


Just a few names I didn't see...

Slang Editorial wrote:

TicNitty706 wrote:

You wanna put King Tee, OC, Big L, Lil Fame, and Del but not Styles P? LOl....

And yes Skyzoo go's on this list. Other than that thanks for the rec's. A good amount of those will be added. A good amount I already had in mind.

Styles P was always on a major and always in the headlines. Big L was underground, he got bigger after he died, most normal hip hop listeners dont know who the fuck OC, Del or Lil Fame are, but they will know who Styles P is

Styles has not been on a major since his 1st album maybe. And most normal hip hop listeners do know who Del, Fame, and Big L are. Big L got radio play and video play when he was living my man. I have no problem including him in this list because he is more underground than mainstream or midstream but he is not an obsure rapper at all. And Killah Priest is another pick that can go both ways if I want to look atr it like you are. Styles is not as known as you may think.

Oh yeah and than you put Canibus but no Styles P...? Come on Slang.

Also other cats like J Live and Esoteric would be included.

TicNitty706 wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

TicNitty706 wrote:

You wanna put King Tee, OC, Big L, Lil Fame, and Del but not Styles P? LOl....

And yes Skyzoo go's on this list. Other than that thanks for the rec's. A good amount of those will be added. A good amount I already had in mind.

Styles P was always on a major and always in the headlines. Big L was underground, he got bigger after he died, most normal hip hop listeners dont know who the fuck OC, Del or Lil Fame are, but they will know who Styles P is

Styles has not been on a major since his 1st album maybe. And most normal hip hop listeners do know who Del, Fame, and Big L are. Big L got radio play and video play when he was living my man. I have no problem including him in this list because he is more underground than mainstream or midstream but he is not an obsure rapper at all. And Killah Priest is another pick that can go both ways if I want to look atr it like you are. Styles is not as known as you may think.

Oh yeah and than you put Canibus but no Styles P...? Come on Slang.

come on man are you serious? I guarantee i can walk into a gym or some other place right now and ask 20 random dudes aged 17-25 which of these four rappers do you know: Styles P, Del, Lil Fame, OC, and ID BET MY LIFE that almost all of them would say Styles P and almost NONE of them would say the others. When i say normal hip hop listners i mean mainstream audiences

Lil Fame shouldn't be included... You guys are talking about major labels and whatnot, but it seems you're forgetting about M.O.P.'s G-Unit bid..

Shaun wrote:

Lil Fame shouldn't be included... You guys are talking about major labels and whatnot, but it seems you're forgetting about M.O.P.'s G-Unit bid..

lol where they released a total of 0 albums? and mixtapes that no one heard, cared, or knew existed?

MOP is a staple in underground hip hop and Lil Fame is one of the most underrated of all time, same with Billy Danze...

Nine
Dalek
Mic Geronimo
PSK-13
Dizzee Rascal
Consequence
Cyrus Malachi


Not saying that these guys would go far but just some ideas

holy fuck how could i forget Tame fucking One

Tame One = a Goat caliber rapper

Andre Nikatina

Reks as well

Shad I guess as well

Percee P wasn't listed, it seems. Aceyalone should be a shoe in. Royce is considered underground, right? There's a couple more.

Shaun wrote:

Percee P wasn't listed, it seems. Aceyalone should be a shoe in. Royce is considered underground, right? There's a couple more.

cosign all three

Tonedeff, Deacon, Pharoahe Monch, Freddie Foxxx, Jean Grae, Devin, FatLip, Elzhi, Brother Ali, Wordsworth, Decompoze, C Rayz Walz, Chino XL, Curren$y, Copywrite, Chali 2na, Black Milk, Phat Kat, Raashan Ahmad, Rodan, Keak Da Sneak. Also, if you need extra names, Jay Electronica and Saigon.

Can't believe we forgot Monch and Chino...they have to be in.

Monch is borderline underground, but if he is then he needs to be in

Geo & RA Scion

Slang Editorial wrote:

Skyzoo should be nowhere near here either...

id nominate

Ras Kass (this is arguable as if hes underground, id say yes)
Killah Priest
Vast Aire
Kool Keith
El-P
MF DOOM
Tech N9ne
MF Grimm
Brotha Lynch Hung
Vordul Mega
Sean Price
Starang Wondah
Guilty Simpson
K-Rino
Canibus
Killa Sin
LA The Darkman
Ill Bill
Sabac Red
Esham
Vinnie Paz (hate him or love him you cant have this tournament without him)
Jus Allah
Chief Kamachi
Apathy
Celph Titled
Lil Fame
Mac Dre
Mac Mall
Del the Funky Homosapien
OC
AG
Lord Finesse (probably not unergorund enough)
Big L
Megalon
Slaine
Aesop Rock
Vakill
Mr Lif
RA the Rugged Man
One Be Lo
Senim Sila
Boots Riley
King Tee

I can see where you're going with some of these, but there's a very fine line between underground and independant. In no way would i consider Tech N9ne to be underground right now, but if you're basing his nomination on his entire career, i could see it. However, if that's the case Killah Priest and Ras Kass may not belong if that makes any sense. I think it's best to limit it to artists who have never had any mainstream shine.

Thats where i'm going Terry. Basically the rappers that are skilled but are not a household name. If most of their career was spent on a indie they could qualify.

Thes One
Double K
Cise Starr

Slang is crazy, Skyzoo easily belongs on the list.

Andre Nikatina
Blu
Boots Riley
Brother Ali
Canibus
Chino XL
Esham
Esoteric
Eyedea
Freddie Foxx
Gulity Simpson
Hell Razah
Ill Bill
Immortal Technique
Jean Grae
J-Live
Killah Priest
Killer Mike
K-Rino
Vast Aire
Murs
One Be Lo
Pharoahe
Reks
Royce Da 5'9
Shad
Skyzoo
Slug
Styles P
Tame One
Termanology
Vinnie Paz
Z-Ro
Vakill
Trae Tha Truth
The Jacka
Tech N9ne
Suga Free
Slaine
Sean Price
Ras Kass
RA Rugged Man
Phonte
Paris
OC
Mr. Lif
Moka Only
MF Doom
Megalon
Masta Ace
Mac Mall
Kool Keith
Haystak
Geo
El-P
Devin The Dude
Del Tha Funkee
Curren$y
Celph Titled
Brotha Lynch Hung
Apathy
Akrobatik
Aesop Rock
Aceyalone


Here's a good look at the 64. I decided to leave off deceased rappers and old school artist who are not currently putting in work. Let me know any other obvoius omissions.

"Here's a good look at the 64. I decided to leave off deceased rappers and old school artist who are not currently putting in work. "

Good plan.

Umm last I checked, Eyedea is deceased.

Good list though.

Yeah drop Eyedea and put Nine in I guess

Half wrote:

Yeah drop Eyedea and put Nine in I guess

Are you talking about Nine from the 90's?

I thought about Freddie Gibbs, Buckshot, or Dalek?

And does Megalon really need a spot? Trotter is his only fan I think.

TicNitty706 wrote:

Half wrote:

Yeah drop Eyedea and put Nine in I guess

Are you talking about Nine from the 90's?

I thought about Freddie Gibbs, Buckshot, or Dalek?

And does Megalon really need a spot? Trotter is his only fan I think.

LOL

id put Buckshot here, and Terry how is Tech N9ne not an underground artist. I understand hes had shine but he is straight independent and everything about him is underground


my only gripe with the list is MF Grimm needs to be included IMO. Grimm has been doing his thing since the early 90's and hasnt released a bad album and actually managed to release a dope triple lp. Currensy and Skyzoo and other guys dont have half the catalog, skills, or fan following Grimm has. Grimm is also one of a select amount of people to have been given the "Grand Master" title. Currensy doesnt even have a real studio album out...

Curren$y has two real studio albums out.

What about Chamillionaire?

TicNitty706 wrote:

Curren$y has two real studio albums out.

What about Chamillionaire?

Cham has a plat plaque though. Also I think eyedea should still make it. He only died a couple monts ago.

TicNitty706 wrote:

Curren$y has two real studio albums out.

What about Chamillionaire?

i thought the pilot talks were just street albums but i guess they are studio albums. Still they arent touching Grimm's catalog, they were released by Def Jam and most people dont check Currensy for his skills...at least the people i talked to...

Cham is definitely not underground, probably the least underground named so far. Wasn't he that 'Ridin Dirty' mofo? Everybody heard that song.

Other than that, I think some of us underestimate our nerd-dom. Styles P is underground...Priest, Tech N9ne...all underground.

Nine has been putting out albums recently, they just suck.

parker lewis wrote:

Cham is definitely not underground, probably the least underground named so far. Wasn't he that 'Ridin Dirty' mofo? Everybody heard that song.

Other than that, I think some of us underestimate our nerd-dom. Styles P is underground...Priest, Tech N9ne...all underground.

Nine has been putting out albums recently, they just suck.

i agree with everything except Styles P being underground but i can see the argment. Also i havent heard any new Nine but thanks for the heads up

Slang Editorial wrote:

id put Buckshot here, and Terry how is Tech N9ne not an underground artist. I understand hes had shine but he is straight independent and everything about him is underground


my only gripe with the list is MF Grimm needs to be included IMO. Grimm has been doing his thing since the early 90's and hasnt released a bad album and actually managed to release a dope triple lp. Currensy and Skyzoo and other guys dont have half the catalog, skills, or fan following Grimm has. Grimm is also one of a select amount of people to have been given the "Grand Master" title. Currensy doesnt even have a real studio album out...

Tech is still independent. I'd hardly consider him underground anymore though. to me they are 2 different things. I have no problems with him being called underground, but his shine rivals a lot of mainstream acts. The only difference is the major vs indie labels.

Q-Unique...smh.

And I like Megalon, but not to the extent that Trotter does.

I added Q-Unique.

Took off Curren$y.

Is the Moka Only a solid pick? I think so.

Yes on Moka Only. Dude has like 70 albums, and the ones I own from him are really dope.

And I major co-sign on MF Grimm, he needs to be on here.

I'll find a spot for MF Grimm.

What about Yukmouth?

I think Black Milk and Elzhi should be on there as well.

TicNitty706 wrote:

What about Yukmouth?

I don't bump Yuk much, so I really can't say. I'm just not a fan of his.

I was going to mention Yuk, but I didn't. I wouldn't mind seeing him here.

id like Yuk on here

What about Tragedy Khadafi? dude is way more qualified than a lot

Cormega?

and how many people really are going to vote for Geo? no offense Tran lol