The Underground Railroad:Hip-Hop’s express to escape the Minstrel Show PART 2

“She dances seductively and is always seen with her pimp or thug”

Every African American man and woman does not deal with street violence, drugs and pimping women. They deal with everyday issues that any white, Mexican or Asian person would struggle with. Topics such as religion, school, genuine love, friendship, homo- sexuality and abuse are discussed in underground hip-hop. These are very important issues that someone may face in his life, but commercial hip-hop stays away from it. One underground artist who does not stay away from it is Common.

Common is a Grammy award winning hip-hop artist who is known for spending the majority of his career in the underground. Just recently, mainstream media has be- gun to give him the credit that he so rightfully deserves. His catalog of music is one of the most impressive and critically-acclaimed hip-hop music since its birth. He has constructed songs that every man woman and child can relate to. Some of the serious topics he has covered include abortion, finding religion and death. Common is one of the most respected hip-hop artists in the genre today.

Common’s 2002 album Electric Circus is his most personal and diverse. He covers topics such as the effects of child molestation, cancer, homosexuality and true love. Many hip-hop albums before and after Electric Circus have not delved into those topics with so much sincerity. Critics recognized the range of topics discussed on the album and praised it for its bravery. “The album may not be for everybody,” according to a December 10, 2008 Prefix Magazine review of the album. “Songs like "Heaven Some- where," which includes many of the guest artists singing gospel, may turn you off. But Common brings together many different textures and goes off on several musical tangents but still man- ages to have DJ's cutting over a few tracks -- a refreshing touch. Still, Electric Circus is one of the most daring albums released in a while, and Common shows a lot of balls to put out such a diverse collection, regardless of how hip-hop fans might react to it. If you like conscious rap mixed with a fresh, original sound, you should dig this.”

Another issue that is rarely, if ever spoken about, in hip-hop is the acceptance of adultery. Little Brother is an underground hip- hop group whose song “Breakin’ My Heart” on their recent album, Getback, tackles the issue head- on. In the second verse of the song, Phonte of the group raps about a woman who learns that her husband is having numerous affairs. She ends up leaving and taking the children to her mother’s house. Although the scenario could be described as typical, Phonte’s set of lyrics give light to a very real issue that is never discussed. Phonte raps, “Momma was like, "Baby now, I hate to see your tears / But I been with your daddy for bout 35 years / And in my day, I had to turn a blind eye to cheatin'' / but I ain't never had to wear no black eyes from beatings / As long as he doin right, by you and the kids / How you gon expect that man not to be who he is? / I ain't sayin’ that it's right, but we often pay the price / cause a woman's life is love, a man's love is life / and he gon live it to the fullest, / and I ain't tryna pull you down, or sound like a broken record / But you should know by now that ALL n**as is dogs / Better to have a rich Pit than a broke German Shepard, uh!” In commercial rap, the Ho accepts infidelity only for the chance to have her revenge. Phonte’s verse shows that all women don’t want to have their own affair. It shows that some women really do love their husbands, but it is their mother who tells them to continue living a mistreated life.

Real issues such as the ones that described above are hidden from a person who just turns on the radio to hear music. The real issues are hidden from those who are trying to find people that are talking about them. It is because of artists like Common and Little Brother that make underground hip-hop so great. They are talking about real issues that everyone con- fronts at some point in their life. The growth of underground hip-hop will show that African Americans are more than thugs, gangsters, pimps and hoes. Despite what commercialism has done with rap, underground hip-hop maintains the essence of what hip-hop has always been about. It holds the reality of everyday life that people from all ages can enjoy. That is what made hip-hop grow into one of the largest forms of musical entertainment in the world today. Its ability to define a culture in a way that everyone can see and relate to is what makes the growth of underground hip-hop to mainstream media important and morally right. There are many artists nowadays that are saying motivational things but just need the chance to be heard. Artists such as Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and MURS rap about topics that are relevant and fun.