Underground 411 Weekly – February 7th, 2021
It’s that time of the week again! Hip hop in particular is always ripe with new stories and notable moments. This week we take a look at The Game’s confident claims, a tragic death in the underground community, a Talib Kweli interview, and more.
The Game Calls Himself the Best to Ever Come from Compton
Clubhouse itself has been an exciting land for new hip hop content, and of course has been no stranger to controversy. While previous headlines have centered around hate speech and other nefarious happenings in the chat rooms, no one saw this bombshell coming: The Game appearing to chat about how he is leagues ahead of any other Compton rapper to this day!
We all know that it’s commonplace for rappers to claim the GOAT status, it’s practically a requirement if you want to use your bars to brag. But when you start throwing dirt on Kendrick Lamar and the other legendary names to come out of Compton? You might get checked. Eventually, the rapper would admit that he got a little ahead of himself due to being under the influence when he began his rant. It may be a little bit of a long shot to claim you are the best to ever do it from Compton of all places, but The Game really has torn it up his entire career, so we’ll hold our tongue on this one!
Double K of People Under the Stairs Passes Away
People Under The Stairs is remembered by many as a diamond in the rough, the underground group that shunned all labels and expectations. Avoiding the common themes of gangster violence and material wealth in their music, many of us can say we listened to the duo for their relatable and personal subject matter. The significance of the group may have outshone even their own commercial success, and they left their mark on the scene. When the news broke days ago of Michael Turner (Double K)’s death, it struck the hearts of many across the industry.
At a young age of 43, it’s a tragedy to hear of a real student of hip hop passing away. Contemporaries such as Immortal Technique, Chuck D, Questlove, and others have voiced their support and sadness on social media. As of now, there is no confirmation from the LA County Medical Examiner for cause of death. Out of respect for his family, those close to him have held off on announcing his death since the day of January 30th.
Talib Kweli Appears on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Discusses New Album and Book
Jimmy Fallon and the Tonight Show are no strangers to hip hop. For one, The Roots themselves are the de facto musical backing for many guests and sets on the show. Every big name rapper and album has been featured for a night or two on the show, and this time around the star was Talib Kweli of Black Star. The legendary rapper had an album and a new book to cover in his interview. Gotham is the MC’s 15th studio album, a Diamond-D-produced project releasing later this year. Kweli also offered insight into his forthcoming book Vibrate Higher, which covers much of his formative years and the influence that the Brooklyn lifestyle had on him.
Underground MC Caper Drops “Lords of Chaos 2”
If you’re a fan of classic boom bap underground tunes and haven’t heard of Caper yet, you’re in for a treat. A producer, businessman, and lyrical talent, Caper released the 8th installment in his discography online this week. Nostalgic bars and classic instrumentation ring in a great 2021 album for the Darkstarz Records founder. You can head to your preferred streaming service to check it out today!
