The late 1990s Underground Hip-Hop movement produced would-be stars like Eminem, Yasiin Bey, El-P, and Aloe Blacc. However, for every one of those examples of the mainstream embracing a particular voice, style, or message, there are hundreds of artists who seemingly never got their just due. Tonedeff is one of... Read more

For more than 15 years, the CunninLynguists paved the road for a "Southern Underground." Kno and Deacon The Villain symbolically formed the group in the early 2000s after meeting at a Morehouse open mic event. 2001's Will Rap For Food followed, launching a string of soulful releases that embraced concepts, brooding... Read more

Although he's not a new artist per se, Atlanta, Georgia-based Big REC got a huge, well-deserved boost this year, care of a Diamond D-produced album, Doomsday. One of the standouts on that indie LP is "The Dumb Out," featuring one of the epitomes of industry fortitude: R.A. The Rugged Man.... Read more

Heads might not be all the way up on Cunninglyguists. However, this Atlanta, Georgia-meets-Lexington, Kentucky Hip-Hop outfit has been around for over 15 years, with strong ties to Freddie Gibbs, Big K.R.I.T., Masta Ace, and Cee-Lo Green. DJ Kno, Deacon The Villain and Natti—the three current members of the QN5... Read more