Firstly this is based off my opinion as an artist, writer, spoken word guy. I do hope some of this shed lights for some of you, I also provided a list of my favorite underground songs for you all to appreciate. I hope this opens many doors for you in your mind as well. Why is lyricism barely alive in mainstream rap now? It's not what our current generations youth wants... it's not a marketable feature for an artist looking to make money.. It's barely alive because like I said up above, people need music that's just cool, sounds good and makes you feel good and forget the real problems people have, because most of the kids in our generation, from what I've noticed happen to have a TON of problems and that music in some way helps them. Now, with knowing that at my age, I feel like, most of the youth in our generation hasn't gone through much real life problems which is why lyrically inclined artists don't make it, they only get a cult following in the underground from the open-minded folk, like the kid with a drug problem he can't scratch but wants to quit, or the new father in between jobs stuck in a hole he can't get out of it seems, you know, stuff like that, having nothing...having hopes that one day you'll do something you've dreamt about since you were young are in underground music, but kids don't know this, teens can't find it and when they do it's RARELY appreciated the way it should be because those that do stumble upon it are the kids who're huge RAP fans of all the wrong types and the people who never hear about it are the ones who've given up on rap because it all sucks, all they've heard on the radio is garbage...and so on. That is why I think lyrically talented artists aren't shining as bright as they could be. Here's my list to better introduce the real side of rap nobody ever sees. The greatest artists I've ever heard. Period. Note: I may not link everyone of their songs, but please look into all of these artists listed... so much talent. I do hope some of you read this and find something you like...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GejtNdNH0KQ - Hilltop Hoods Walking Under Stars Full Album - The reason I posted a full album first on the list is because these guys are the real deal. They do it all. They never stop. Their music is fresh sounding, amazingly crafted both with the mixing and beats but the writing.. it's pretty awesome. These guys are one of my main picks for anyone new to underground rap.

Rhyme Asylum ... in few words, this is the Modern Day updated Wu Tang IMO https://youtu.be/A1Q1cjUpbQI - Rhyme Asylum "Holding On" quotable "Venice Winter Reflecting My Mood"

https://youtu.be/KYRXEdj5r4Q - Rhyme Asylum "Broken Window"

https://youtu.be/EzaGj39NEis Rhyme Asylum For The Hate

https://youtu.be/5cvjZEQ2nP4 RA Poison Penmanship

https://youtu.be/0Za1WvllEoo Nujabes FT Cise Starr "Feather"

https://youtu.be/1WfZ7AQOA8c Ab Soul FT Kendrick Lamar (before he blew up) "Turn Me Up Some"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiDcP9sBZ-Y Grieves "Sunny Side Of Hell"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_CpMbfZ2_8 Joe Budden "Just To Be Different" Backstory: Before Joe Budden ever got famous, ever did anything big, he wrote a whole topical mixtape and dropped some bombs and this is my favorite from him. He's a genius, and this is the only reason I still listen to him. I highly suggest anyone to look up his old tracks and you can really see where his talent really is.

https://youtu.be/k8yKTuvRmPE Immortal Technique "Dance with the Devil" A quintessential underground track to listen to, whenever the mood strikes.

https://youtu.be/P4j3nCcMJfM JMT "I against I"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV3UNV9zCfs Sadistik "November"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA8hzUDXvtk Sage Francis "The Best Of Times"

https://youtu.be/gpg-yNJF2ds Eyedea "Here For You"

https://youtu.be/t1i8T1Z0QGI Sadistik "Black Rose"

https://youtu.be/bZo6ihtN3tc Kristoff Krane "Leave The Summer"

https://youtu.be/Anuc5cUn6uY Sol FT Grieves "Best Of Times"

https://youtu.be/uHAf39N0VdA Hollohan "My Lost Love & Addiction"

https://youtu.be/pfiyF62konU Sadistik FT Mac Lethal "Ashes to Ashley"

https://youtu.be/-D9Ko_-6U4I Sleep of Old Dominion "So Far Away"

https://youtu.be/habipiFnriI Sleep of OD "Say Goodbye" ft Zelly Rock

https://youtu.be/vOXVJ57z4GE Last Emperor "Gotta Have Love" This dude is amazing

https://youtu.be/puEPgYBAZaM Last Emperor "Away From The Sun" - (stay away from the magician who never reappears....)

https://youtu.be/cZs2BZZHrU8 Last Emperor & Too Poetic "One Life"

There's so much more I can link.... Just wanted to give everyone a taste.

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Here's the types of songs I write if any of you were interested. This will be recorded next, all my influence is from underground artists.

This is about my brother and his drug addiction/experiences I've had with it

Titled "Chris?.."

I wrote this to a unique instrumental: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBZtSwoBsng

God has given you life and within you his eyes, yet you cover his face.// thinking our mother's to blame for the world throwin' you under it's train,// stomach full of truth serum and too inebriated to plead the fifth, // how is it you can still bare to be seeing this beneath "it" Chris?// you HIDE the truth and LIE to You, always begging to find "This" proof,// behind all of your problems, wearing "this" mask failin' to realize it's you,// we hear the deception in your voice that's darkened your mind,// I can even see the spark in your eyes starting to die,// your face is emotionless and looks like you're breathing the ocean in,// drowning in thought; choking where no solace is,// now the coldest, grim, smolderin' memories are coaxing in this depression, // impulsively battling these euphoric struggles, throwing fists of your vengeance,// always unfocused and misdirected, wandering aimlessly in hope of affection,// you're lost in the boldest aggression and feeling nothing but the coldest of essence,// you only live once, so tell me why do you limit yourself, why am i givin' you help,// do you really live with your health? Why is this stage of your life a mimic of hell?// I've seen you back when you lived in a cell and when you were grippin' the twelve,// when i held your life in my hands, fate was ringin' a bell and God was in me to tell,// the night you overdosed, thought your life was over bro, almost cried with no control,// habit took over my mind and overthrown, scared of the thought where your soul will go,// Mom was crying, tiffany's frozen, dad's givin' me notions, but i wasn't givin' you roses..// we are confined by the limits we've chosen, and i hope one day you'll live in the open,// so gimme your focus and listen, when the night has come and you think life is done,// 'cause you had problems with the girl you tried to love,// Just remember man, you a better man, you'll get a second chance,// and we all know you'll get a new girl better than you ever had,// but if you ever need help from me, just ask and i'll lend a hand,// And I'll guide you thru God's stellar plans in this hellish land ...//

verse 2: I've cried too many times to count always questioning if this will make me a man,// looking up to you till that one day you stood in place with a stance facing the facts!// hoping everyday that the time is now and you fight this violence, live or die trying..// all I seen were red lights, sirens.. heads high, crying, a stretcher then driving..// Man..Mom is scared, Dad don't know and I'm here just waiting for you,// this your baby brother sayin' this dude, we're all here waiting patiently too// everything I'm about to be saying is true as you lay on this hospital bed paying your dues// I feel goosebumps and hate within you, something that could kill and take away any fool// you're in a battle with something caught at 22, I'm seeing your face turnin' blue and I tire of it,// this life is something, it's funny how you start peacefully then almost dying fighting..nothing..// see, I saw it progress till you were lost in the head caught in this bed, it's awfully retch,// but this is as soft as it gets, this hits harder than death, I can't be silent no more & copy the rest,// you failed to realize what the human mind was capable of when you started taking those drugs!// you said you'd change for your son, and that you'd make a way cos you 'love'// yet you can't take a minute and say that you're done and do away with it, son,/ you made everything a lie, you kept making them up and our truths weren't waking you up!// I cant hate, you're my blood, these are just statements of love for you to embrace with a hug// this is the basis of trust and I take it to heart! this is what momma said she'd place within us!// now we're men and I'm still reaching to say it's enough! tryna break those chains with the rust!// see I can take it with some but I can't take it with blood, now it's a fight till it's a break in the cuffs,// I'm not waitin' to say to your son that all it takes is a drug to take away what we love!// that his father bruised his veins cos of love, pains and lost lust, went insane and lost us.// what will it take? you in a grave and us praising above?....waiting for us?// cant you just take the minute to say you're willing to change?..// maybe take a look at this face, because now it's your son in my place....// Not me/

-- me and him before any of this, years ago. http://i.imgur.com/DSZ3aqa.jpg