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Once again my mailbag has been bulging
with underground treats for me to tip you off on and of
course, as mentioned before, the pre-requisite low
quality products that turn up too. I thought that I
would follow up my last article quickly with some more
items to check out. While it has been a bit slow on U.K.
hip-hop getting over to me (feel free to reach out to
me) I have had some nice U.S. material through -
depending on which sort of styles you check for of
course…
 To begin with I have a first to my
knowledge - Boo-Ray from Buffalo, New
York could well be the first rapper/lawyer. Following
poor police conduct after being falsely accused of armed
robbery in 1996 he went to law school and passed the bar
exam - but remained focussed on hip-hop and became
co-owner of Intellect Records. Now with
an album out I was able to check out a three-song E.P.
called, “Gemini” which perfectly addresses
Boo-Ray’s double-life, with the streets
on one hand and his intellectual lawyer side on the
other. The title track addresses this apparent split
personality and while “Game Tight” gives a solid
demonstration of his skills, it is “Pretty in Pink” that
will most likely garner the most commercial success, as
Boo-Ray steps out of the dock to
stretch his ‘mack-game’. Check out http://www.boo-ray.com/ for more
information and to buy his music.
 For lovers of an old-school sound
Musik-G and The Underground
Army (http://www.undergroundarmy.com/) have
“UGA Throwdown” b/w “I Do Dat”. The first track is a
call to arms as the crew show their lyrical firepower
over some stuttering beats rounded off with some nice
cuts on the chorus. The flip meanwhile offers a
neck-snapping rim-shot snare with a deep bass that gives
a beautiful old-school sound. This is some real
underground heat and certainly worth checking for -
highly recommended.
With summer now firmly in place (there goes the ‘kiss
of death’ on the weather) Orphan Fam
(http://www.orphanfam.com/) are right
on time with their new single “Hurt Me” b/w “In the
Summer (Remix)”. Both tracks offer light-weight escapism
from the hard-core posturing while the first brings a
Latin guitar feel it is the second track that I was more
into. Although no doubt a certain track by Jazzy
Jeff and the Fresh Prince
springs quickly to mind it is nice to just take it back
to a more innocent level occasionally and that is not
such a bad thing, surely? Oh, and for those into it they
have a full-length album out too…
 After the good-time feel of
Orphan Fam’s single it seemed only
right to give some love to something a little harder.
Kamal comes right from the underground
declaring himself to not be, “the Motherf*cker to be
messing around with”. With tracks like “Pimps and
Hustlas”, Dangerous Mindz”, and “Whatchu Wanna Do” it is
pretty clear which direction he moves lyrically. But for
those into a harder edged hip-hop this is pretty nice
with lines like, “All the Pimps, hustlas, playas, and
crooks, Worldwide, out getting money off the books, keep
your eyes on the dough never chase the fame get money
y’all if you playing the game” you know what you are
getting but the heavy beats, heavy bass, synths, guitar
loops, and strings it all adds up to make sure this
keeps moving. Visit http://www.kamal2000.com/ for more
details, information and so on…
 In an original move Omega
Red has dropped his debut album, “Juggernaut”
on 3rd Eye Records (http://www.omegaredstar.com/
for more info etc). In a bold move the former inmate
from Boston has allowed fans to vote on everything from
track lists, cover artwork and which song should be the
radio release. Garnering some 45,000 votes on the way
the album is now ready. Omega provides
a good mix of themes and styles from hardcore themes to
club tracks like, “Right Chea” to smoother tracks that
are aimed at his growing female fan base such as the
synth laced, “Turn you on” and to tracks like the more
heartfelt, “Hold On”. With something for everyone this
is a competent release and is worth looking out for -
especially if you voted for something on it! I have to
say I like the album concept and wish 3rd
Eye well with such a bold venture.
 Lastly comes a late entry courtesy
of Science Fiction - an artist on
Third Earth Music home of the
Juggaknots and Jean
Grae (http://www.thirdearthmusic.com/). With
the release of “Walls Don’t Exist” this Nigerian
musician bring something a little different here to
round off proceedings. With some very mellow melodies
held together by break beats this is the perfect
background music for relaxing to on a sunny day - think
Lewis Parker’s “Masquerades…” without the raps crossed
with aspects of Branford Marsalis’ “Buckshot LeFonque”.
Basically some really beautiful instrumental stuff for
heads to lounge to…
That’s it for now and I hope there is something to
pick up on here - until next time take it easy - and to
any labels that want to reach out to me - feel free of
course, my postman needs to be kept in employment!
Slim
read
the first part of Underground Round Up here
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