independent hip-hop

We started with 32 of the most popular indie and underground rap acts and now we're down to 16 . Some battles were blow outs (Nipsey Hu$$le vs. Ab-Soul), while others came down to the wire (Chance the Rapper vs. The Underachievers) and after thousands of votes have come in some of your favorite artists are one step closer to claiming the crown.

Before major record labels realized they could cash in on hip-hop music it was underground. Rap no matter how benign was considered "street music" and sold on cassettes and vinyl at mom and pop record shops, swap meets, hand to hand and out of the trunks of cars. Small independent labels took the do-it-yourself approach to manufacturing, distribution, marketing and promotion and made their artists local celebrities (and fortunes for themselves.) Even now in 2013, after rap music has become part of the mainstream and a cash cow for major labels, the independent spirit hip-hop started with still prevails.