underground hip-hop

dead prez is a hip-hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, and formed in 1996 in New York. They are known for their sometimes confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice, and also positivity. The duo maintains an ethical stance against corporate control over the media, especially hip-hop record labels.

Chino XL (born Derek Barbosa, April 8, 1971, in The Bronx, New York but raised in East Orange, New Jersey) is a rapper well respected among hip hop enthusiasts for his battling abilities. He is notorious for his usage of self-consciously over-the-top punchlines (which usually take the form of puns or similes) and for his exaggerated egotism. He is also well known to many for a brief feud with Tupac Shakur.

There are at least three artists called John Smith: 1. John Smith is an up and coming guitar player and singer from Devon. His technical adventurousness and passion as a live performer have secured him support slots with John Martyn amongst others. His debut album (2007), The Fox and the Monk was followed up by the 2009 release Map or Direction. 2. John Smith is a Canadian emcee with releases on Peanuts & Corn Records. After the first release, Blunderbus, which met with critical acclaim, came School Day 2 Garbage Day 4 (2000) with mcenroe and DJ Hunnicutt (as Park-Like Setting).

Residing in the boogie down Bronx, Rob has been devoted to music since he was a kid, maintaining a deep connection to it in multiple forms (The Beatles, The Stones, Melle Mel, Run DMC, Kraftwerk, The Soul Sonic Force, The Talking Heads, Zeppelin, BDP, Public Enemy, Muddy Waters, UltraMagnetic MC’s, The Clash, Devo, Goblin, David Bowie, EPMD). He developed his expressive abilities through grinding for 10 + years in New York City, living life in a way unique to the New York experience – hard fought, hard luck, high stress and no money tempered by huge dreams.