If you had your own destiny in your hands which one would you pick? The Underground Success and respect knowing that you are repping 'true' hip hop. Or being seen on MTV, BET all your Mainstream channels and Radio. The money, the fame, the women etc. and everything else that comes with Mainstream Hip Hop. And be honest, don't say underground just to try and look good or gain "net" respect. If you would really rather have the fame and money say that, and also give a reason on why you choose what you choose. So....What road would you travel?

Underground Respect.....the only way to go.....in a way, you have a chance to make more money going underground and with underground rap gaining appeal there is almost a definite chance that you'd get some kinda scrilla.....but even if no money was involved i'd go underground.....

mainstream..b.c u could always go the route of mos def, talib, nas and some of the other more poetic yet Real emcees w/o all the bullshit...b.c regardless...respect dont make u a pay check...make ya pay check w/ respect...

mainstream..b.c u could always go the route of mos def, talib, nas and some of the other more poetic yet Real emcees w/o all the bullshit...b.c regardless...respect dont make u a pay check...make ya pay check w/ respect...


good point....honorable......

Ehh...not really a thorough question. Can't really compare the two.

^
I'm not asking to compare 'em. I'm asking for ya to pick one :rolleyes:

get online u jew....^^^

Neither Honestly....I'm not really doing what i do for anyone else just for me...And for the love of it...I'm not trying to prove myself to anyone or to get fame in any way...So i'd have to go with neither on this one....Eventhough everyone likes to get respect for what they do...I'd just rather have ppl listen and/or read what i have to say ya dig...

^
Well I wasnt expecting someone to respond like that...Nice to see someone doin it for themselves...

mainstream..b.c u could always go the route of mos def, talib, nas and some of the other more poetic yet Real emcees w/o all the bullshit...b.c regardless...respect dont make u a pay check...make ya pay check w/ respect...^^He has a point... But if you're asking if I would rather sell out and rap like Jay Z for the money, or do my own thing and gain respect. I'd take the respect, no contest. Done it before, I would do it again. But I wouldn't really be rapping for the respect. I'd do it for the same reason I do now. It's what I love to do.

Ehh...not really a thorough question. Can't really compare the two.

Fine, I will...

Underground Respect: Having a bunch of internet kids and people from your home town know and like you. You make decent money if you're someone like Immortal Technique or someone of that stature compared to the average wage. (I believe he made $500,000 off one album...I don't 100% know) But, you can be kinda unknown and people might not feel your shit right away... meaning you're working another job to support yourself and possibly other people like your fam... I was under the impression an underground rapper wants to make it big... Hmm...I think that basically covers it...

Mainstream Respect: Most everyone who watches MTV, BET, etc., know who you are. You're a star. Shit gets done for you. Your own mansion, car, indoor pool, everything you could imagine to want basically without being too extreme. People like you. Not just on the net, all over. You sell out concerts, women throw their fuckin' panties on stage for you, you're a somebody. You feel above average with a higher self esteem. You rake in millions and millions with what seems to me as little effort. Most mainstream rappers are not too highly respected, but, usually by the underground fans. Life seems easy...


Sorry. I always try to prove people wrong.

As for me, I'd pick mainstream in a heart beat. However, I would, after being in pop-culture for a while, start to dish out the more lyrical side, sorta attempt to get the other guys up there. Get my foot in, ya know? I don't see a real reason why someone would want to be underground...

^^And as soon as you started going more for the lyrics, people will say you've fallen off and quit listening to you. Plus it's not as simple as that. When you're in the industry, you're owned by the industry. They tell you what to write, how to rap, who to work with. You no longer have freedom over your style. It's called creative control. Now most little sellouts don't have a problem with this, as long as they're making money. As for me, if I'm not me, I'm nobody.

Serious though, fame is overpopularity. If you're out of high school and still trying to be popular, that's a damn shame.

undergorund respect, like swishahouse had-- they ran houston, makin major figures that "mainstream cats" knew nothin about--
if you rule the underground long enough the "mainstream" success will follow--

rather than gettin a major deal and sellin 50,000 records and folling off the earth, like lots of dudes did

Underground.... I'd rather have my own underground U.K label, with some ill head's spitting real political/metaphoric/storytelling stuff then be owned by the industry.

underground still sells records, and as long as i have enough to keep home, wifey and my alcohol problem happy, i'm fine. fuck, if i can travel the world, make dope records and make people think... i wouldn't ask for more. i have no want for cars, women that want me for my money, chains, fur coats... thats not me, and i wouldn't even consider pretending to be someone else to live that life.

^^And as soon as you started going more for the lyrics, people will say you've fallen off and quit listening to you. Plus it's not as simple as that. When you're in the industry, you're owned by the industry. They tell you what to write, how to rap, who to work with. You no longer have freedom over your style. It's called creative control. Now most little sellouts don't have a problem with this, as long as they're making money. As for me, if I'm not me, I'm nobody.

Serious though, fame is overpopularity. If you're out of high school and still trying to be popular, that's a damn shame.




.....Your generalization depends on the label and the artist and the producer.......the industry itself will sign someone because they see a gimic that they can spin off to the public eye........if an artist doesnt have public appeal than he wont sell....so why sign someone that you're going to have to mold (which costs more money) instead of signing someone that already has that "gimic" that you are looking for.....Plus.....there are plenty of people that are in mainstream that have that "fame" and still hold the respect of the underground.....Mos Def....Talib Kweli......almot anyone that's been signed to Rawkus....has both.......you can achieve the balance of having both underground respect and mainstream fame if you decide to still partake in the "events" that GOT you in the mainstream in the first place......doing shows at the small clubs.....doing the battles in the street....the whole nine........you cannot try to divest between the two because there ARE ways to be able to attain both.......

^
You make a hell of a point X

But the one thing I gotta say is dont it seem like there really arent too many peeps like Mos, Talib etc that want and possess both....Seems to me like peeps would either want one or the other....Thats why I made the thread, but I gotta admit this is bringing up some really good points without the bullshit I thought it would attract.

..........mainstream

.....Your generalization depends on the label and the artist and the producer.......the industry itself will sign someone because they see a gimic that they can spin off to the public eye........if an artist doesnt have public appeal than he wont sell....so why sign someone that you're going to have to mold (which costs more money) instead of signing someone that already has that "gimic" that you are looking for.....Plus.....there are plenty of people that are in mainstream that have that "fame" and still hold the respect of the underground.....Mos Def....Talib Kweli......almot anyone that's been signed to Rawkus....has both.......you can achieve the balance of having both underground respect and mainstream fame if you decide to still partake in the "events" that GOT you in the mainstream in the first place......doing shows at the small clubs.....doing the battles in the street....the whole nine........you cannot try to divest between the two because there ARE ways to be able to attain both.......^^True... But what if you see a person undeniably being better at the gimic than the person already with it? Would you train them instead of going for the person who's going to make you less money? Anyway, I don't really consider Mos Def or Talib Kweli fully mainstream. I mean, yeah they make a good lil bit of money, but they arn't really household names like 50 Cent or Eminem.

Mainstream fame because black people are shady as hell.

As long as my people are with me, I could care less about everyone else.

In terms of record sales, there is more money in the underground then there is in the mainstream.

Underground......no question......

Ok so its tied at 6 for Underground and 6 for Mainstream while neither has two...I know theres more of you people with your opinons on this shit..........So post 'em :)

As long as my people are with me, I could care less about everyone else.
Obviously you do care about everyone else if you said mainstream. I vote for underground. After listening to Immortal Technique how could anyone choose mainstream?
Most mainstream rappers suck anyways.

P.S.- detroit, Jay-z is not the best rapper by far. You obviously havent listened to many not-so-mainstream rappers.

I wish I could change my response...
Sadistyk brought this up for me...

Eminem was underground... was fuckin' sick... turned pop with Dre and whatever... stayed Slim Shady, stayed basically the same... but then started turnin' pop... so... I'd rather stay fuckin' sick and known as a force to be reckoned with, than a has been... not too many people thought Encore was even decent... Niether did I... first album I ever gave away...

Underground... earned respect does mean more in the long run...

^true....but how many peeps actually knew that eminem had a past when he started making singles.....

thats the sad part about it.....

Nobody really knows what true hip hop is....they think its girls, ass, titties and a benz....in eminem's case, he sold out to pop and they love it and label it hip hop....like in "Just Lose It".....that was the most annoying song ever, and somehow...they love it....they believe that's a creative part of "rap"....in most of our books its a piece of shit...
Eminem was a true lyricist...and a true writer when he was in the Underground....he used his mind and punchline style which was excellent.....

Commerical sells you out.

You people are lying if you say underground. If the opportunity actually came to you, I believe you would pick the fame, glory, money. I know I would. Getting money, supporting my family, and gettin women.

undergound rythes with thundremound so i pick mainstream

You people are lying if you say underground. If the opportunity actually came to you, I believe you would pick the fame, glory, money. I know I would. Getting money, supporting my family, and gettin women.

undergound rythes with thundremound so i pick mainstream

The both of you are queers....

mainstream success can be gone in an instant

women will only want you beacuse of your money, same with alot of freinds

if your a little gangster wannabe u could end up shot

fame+money does not equal happiness

you can still be underground and be imensely popular eg. Tech, MF Doom

^ wooooord....