Top Remix of the 90's Underground Rap Culture

The speed at which culture moves is astonishing. Ever wonder if we would run out of genres and styles of music? Can mankind's creativity hit the highest point of the wave and taper off into a slow tumble down the hill?

People who grew up on hip hop music in the 90's argue that mainstream rap today is simply lacking all the fundamentals that made hip hop one of the most powerful cultural movements in history. Lyrical strength, righteous and aggressive tone, and a spiritual side reminiscent of the decade as it neared the millennium (which was believed to be Armageddon by quite a few). There is too much club influence in today's music. Lyrical strength, a talent Tupac Shakur was hailed for, was traded off for more pop culture exposure. There are still artists that remain true to hip hop's roots and keep it real; without it going wrong, as comedian Dave Chappelle proved to the world.

And yet the music scene moves too fast. Perhaps us fans are too old to adapt, but we know very well that the most popular does not mean it is the best. After all, Mc Donalds is one of the most popular restaurants in the US but their food can't compete against the likes of KFC, Popeyes, Wendy's, and other delicious restaurants.

There is one thing that encompasses underground rap of the 90's. Fast rap took root in the Midwest and artists like Bone Thugs N Harmony and Twista soared to the top of the ranks. There are rare and unreleased songs that are quite difficult to obtain. There are also remixes done by legitimate artists, so the quality is impeccable.

So what song truly defines underground rap of the old school era?

The Points (DJ U-Neek Remix)

Since the song is unreleased, there are limited pages on the internet that view the song. However, here is the Youtube link to the song.

The song is produced by DJ U-Neek & Kenny McCloud. DJ U-Neek produced the musical beats in many of Bone Thugs N Harmony's songs throughout their career and is now signed to Thugline Records, which was founded by Krayzie and Wish Bone.

With an impressive beat in raw form, he complements the aggressive speed rap with a harmonic overtone.

Artists on the track:

Big Mike

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Buckshot

Busta Rhymes

Coolio

Doodlebug

Helter Skelter

Ill Al Skratch

Jamal

Menace Clan

Notorious B.I.G.

Redman

5:50 - 6:33 of the song (featuring Bone Thugs N Harmony), is jaw-droppingly raw, staying true to the atmosphere of freestyle rap battles of their era. In that snippet are some of the fastest verses ever rapped. They are artists in the grandest sense that they create music that pushes norms and explore different ideas.

Just listen to the way their anger explodes out onto the track and harmonizes with the beat of the song. The way DJ U-Neek arranged the beat makes the ambience of the song feel haunting and melodic.

Hip hop was raw, unpolished, but beautiful at the same time. Hip hop represented the rose that grew out of the cracks of concrete, as depicted by Tupac Shakur. It contained the rebellious power of the youth in the 90's, the struggles of the African American race, and proved how minorities could influence the world through art.

There are several artists who remain loyal to lyrical strength and rap flow in modern hip hop, such as Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, and Immortal Technique. Bone Thugs N Harmony continues to create music. Krayzie Bone's album "The Fixtape Vol. 1: Smoke On This" is one of the best underground albums out, though it is tough to find. Rumors of the group getting back together have surfaced (especially after Flesh N Bone was released from prison) and it is now confirmed that they are working on a new album titled "Uni5."

There are many that hope hip hop artists today can bring the old school hip hop genre back to popularity. However, the genre that the 90's artists were pioneers of will never be forgotten. It is still a force in non-mainstream music, which some consider better for the music. This is similar to the popularity of power metal in the US as opposed to Europe.

Some artists, such as Tupac, sell millions of records long after they have passed. Tupac Shakur remains one of the best sellers of all time both before his death and after.

The Bottom Line

The 90's underground street culture was a culture that revolutionized the way hip hop was to evolve. The legacies of Bone Thugs N Harmony, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G, and others will remain immortal through their music.