In this series, Nubian Underground takes a look at the state of hip-hop music in general and tries to figure out where the genre is heading. In the first part of this series, I look back at what it was that initially turned me away from hip-hop music in general and caused me to start listening to other genres, most notably drum n' bass. In later articles I will expound on that I think African hip-hop must do so as not to fall into the same trap that hip-hop has. Also we will look at what it will take to help African hip-hop music not only get the recognition that it deserves but also gain credibility with a world-wide audience and finally what the artists themselves can do to ensure that their music would be heard and appreciated the world over...

African-American teenagers are beset on all sides by dangerous myths about race. The most poisonous one defines middle-class normalcy and achievement as "white," while embracing violence, illiteracy and drug dealing as "authentically" black. This fiction rears its head from time to time in films and literature. But it finds its most virulent expression in rap music, which started out with a broad palette of themes but has increasingly evolved into a medium for worshiping misogyny, materialism and murder

The American hip-hop culture has become so much a celebrated symbol of progress among youths worldwide.

Associated with baggy slinging trousers, American slang and weird hairdos, the culture has spread fast across the world, thanks to hip-hop music, synonymous with big stars like Tupac, Dr Dre, Snoop Doggy Dog and more recently, the controversial Eminem.

"N.W.A, Eminem, Jay-Z, Tupac, ONYX, Wu-Tang, Busta Rhymes, Cash Money, The Fugees, Ludicris, Nelly!" If you were to ask an American hip-hop fan about these rappers, they would know about them.

If you ask them about a hip-hop artist like INTIK (Algeria), Prophets of Da City or P.O.C. (South Africa), M.C. Solaar (Senegal/ France), Les Specialist (Madagascar/ France), Choclair (Canada), Black Aliens (Brazil), The Rhymesters (Japan), Tha Footsoljahs (New Zealand), or LeRoy (Poland), they would be clueless. Why aren't these foreign hip-hop artists heard in the U.S.A? Well, here are the reasons that we must conquer!

"N.W.A, Eminem, Jay-Z, Tupac, ONYX, Wu-Tang, Busta Rhymes, Cash Money, The Fugees, Ludicris, Nelly!" If you were to ask an American hip-hop fan about these rappers, they would know about them.

If you ask them about a hip-hop artist like INTIK (Algeria), Prophets of Da City or P.O.C. (South Africa), M.C. Solaar (Senegal/ France), Les Specialist (Madagascar/ France), Choclair (Canada), Black Aliens (Brazil), The Rhymesters (Japan), Tha Footsoljahs (New Zealand), or LeRoy (Poland), they would be clueless. Why aren't these foreign hip-hop artists heard in the U.S.A? Well, here are the reasons that we must conquer!

The first and underlining rule for any aspiring performing artist - regardless of your calibre, music genre or marketplace, should be promoting oneself. Promotion can of course be done in many forms but for up and coming artists with tight budgets priority should be given to utilising mediums that cost the least but will be seen by most.

It always surprises me that many unsigned artists seem to regard stage performances as the pinnacle of promoting themselves when in actual fact this is perhaps the most stressful and risky. Consider this, when you do live performances audience reaction is often difficult to predict and hard to dictate...

Peace and oneness to you my brother. Greetings to you my sister and to associates whazzup! I assume that you have noticed that the face of Zambian Hip hop is fast changing. This is attributed to the fact that our pacesetters operate from their bases in highly industrialised countries.

In recent years an extremely profitable business has been built using a formula that ties Hip hop music with business laws and ideals. The fashion industry for instance has made millions of dollars because of popular rap artists endorsing designer wear such as Karl Kani, Gucci, Versace and others in music videos and magazines.

I hate hip-hop!

Ok, I know what I just said sounds like sacrilege, but unfortunately that is true. I have come to realize that hip-hop is wack! Most of the stuff is starting to sound the same, the lyrics don't make sense any more, the message certainly isn't there and all we ever seem to talk about is sex, drugs and money. What's up with that?

I have been a huge hip-hop fan from day one. This was even before Sugar Hill Gang came out with Rappers Delight; I was listening to the likes of George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, and Bootsy Collins. One day I get this tape from my cousin. This was Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight. That tape blew my mind. I was hooked..