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Audible Treats

"Underground" hip-hop

By DOMINIQUE HENDELMAN | September 12, 2007

Knobody

When the word “underground” gets attached to “hip-hop,” we’re apt to imagine white boys spouting SAT verbiage in a feeble imitation of the real thing. But Audible Treats, the underground hip-hop label based in Brooklyn, has gone a long way toward overcoming such preconceptions. With a supremely diverse roster of artists, Audible Treats is all about extracting and elevating the dope MCs from the depths of the underground. Come to the light . . .

Knobody, “What U Think”
The beat is crazy — like a drunken drum joy ride. And it sets a foundation for Knobody’s delivery, a mix of rhyming and spoken word that separates him from other Bay Area rappers. He was signed to the Hieroglyphics’ “farm team” — Triple i League — in 2006 and recently released The Clean Up.

G&D, “The One”
This track is reminiscent of classic OutKast in their ATLiens era. Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins are putting the soul back into hip-hop; they have enough funk to fill your trunk and then some.

Knowbody, “Supa”
This beat reminds me of New York in the mid ’90s. Knobody proves he can flow stylistic over any type of bass line. And speaking of lines — as in hook, line, and sinker — listen for the fish analogies.

Junk Science, “Jerry Maguire”
Gotta love the boys from Junk Science for bringing that playful early Beastie Boys mentality back to rap. Baje One and DJ Snafu are white boys from Brooklyn, so they have that in common with the Beasties as well. This is the definitive “quit your job” anthem!

Related: Atmosphere, Main man of Mattapan, Focus group: Labeless Illtelligence, More

Atmosphere
Atmosphere’s audience hasn’t changed in years.
Main man of Mattapan
Ask any group of teens on Blue Hill Ave how many of them rap and you'll get more affirmatives than you would surveying kids at Mass and Boylston for slap-bass skills. Allston might be a crab bucket of indie-rockers, and one in three JP residents is an abstract painter, but MCs in Boston's black communities have more competition than nail salons in Dudley Square.
Focus group: Labeless Illtelligence
It's NBA All-Star Saturday and Labeless Illtelligence representatives Chris Andrews and Tyler Edwards, better known as CasUno and ESH the Monolith, settle in for one last marathon studio session at Edwards's East Providence apartment (dubbed FrESH Ear Studios).
T.I. vs. T.I.P.
In 1886, it was The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde : dark versus light, yin versus yang.
Reyes Brothers
Mellow Man Ace, who had the first hit Latin hip-hop single in 1989 (“Mentirosa”), and Sen Dog, of the seminal group Cypress Hill, are actual brothers.
Jam Master Jay's mom slams DMC
Nobody expected it to get ugly.
Jurassic 5
Major-label “positive” rappers like this decade-old crew have defended the old school like schoolmarms upholding the five principles of hip-hop as if they were as much fun as the three R’s. Jurassic 5, "Work It Out" feat. Dave Matthews Band (Quicktime)
Logically speaking
The turntablist who taught jam bands to scratch speaks on his new album, the roots of jazz rap, and his New Orleans tribute with Charlie Hunter.
Voices carry
For years, the idea that Boston hip-hop is about to blow has been a mantra for the local scene.
SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS
A brief intro to the eternally fashion-forward bi-coastal production trio before these newest signees to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. imprint unleash their big splash later this year.
The good news
When David Alan Grier promises that he’s “filling TV’s black hole” with his chocolate flavor, you know it’s gonna be good.
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ARTICLES BY DOMINIQUE HENDELMAN

AUDIBLE TREATS | September 12, 2007
When the word “underground” gets attached to “hip-hop,” we’re apt to imagine white boys spouting SAT verbiage in a feeble imitation of the real thing.