Atlanta, in the past 5 years, has been stereotyped for producing bubble gum pop and being only concerned with coming up with a new dance. While partially true, Atlanta does have another side. The Underground. The streets of Atlanta which have birthed legends like the Dungeon Family, T.I.,Kilo Ali etc.
People often forget that these acts that they get to scrutinize on TV (such as Soulja Boy, Shawty Lo, Gucci Mane etc.) 10 times out of 10 originated right in the hole in the wall clubs and ghetto streets of Atlanta and its metro area. Killer Mike has set out to emphasize this. He has brought together as many acts from Atlanta as possible to create the soundtrack to the city. Rappers ranging from those you know such as T.I., Soulja Boy, Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo and OJ Da Juiceman; to those that had/are having respectable careers like Trillville, Princess from Crime Mob, Slimm Cutta Calhoun from Dungeon Family fame, Pastor Troy, Khujo Goodie, and Da Backwudz; to those on the brink like B.O.B., Pill, Travis Porter, or Prynce Cy Hi. Make no mistake about it...Atlanta is well represented here.
I really don't have any complaints about this cd. The production is vintage Atlanta Georgia and the rappers do it for the city. What probably keeps this double cd from being a masterpiece are the omissions of certain songs and artists.
For example, Pill's solo contribution (Bunkin) is a very good song however one can't help but wonder why TRAP GOIN HAM was not included instead (or in addition). That song and it's video was recognized even by NY Times so there's no reason it shouldn't have been included here. It's not like Pill is about to drop his album this year. The same goes for Prynce Cy Hi. While "Go Outside" is a song about the dangers of being known and the streets in general as well as showing what Prynce Cy Hi is capable of, SWEET GEORGIA seemed like it would have been a more appropriate choice. That song is a classic. Again it's not like Prynce Cy Hi's album is about to drop anytime soon. I do realize label politics can prevent things from being done but if you follow Underground Atlanta like I do, then that's a notable error.
In addition to those blunders, Underground Atlanta suffers from showing only part of the Underground Atlanta. All or most of these guys are what you could categorize as "street" rappers. Groups like Hollyweerd (who's song Weerdo would have elevated this disc to classic status), Jaspects (jazz fusion hip hop band), or rappers such as Bobby Creekwater, Stat Quo, Donnis (Diary of An Atlanta Brave), or Stanza(Lyrical Lovers EP - A.T.L. Love) could have easily made this album the best representation of Atlanta since the Dungeon Family's one and only album EVEN IN DARKNESS. Outkast and Ludacris are also mysteriously missing...Playaz Circle? SMKA?
I do realize with politics and things of that nature it would be near impossible to get everybody on one RETAIL album. It's unrealistic to assume. However Killer Mike does a damn good job at attempting it and I commend him. By mentioning the omissions it doesn't in any way shape or form take away from the quality of this double album. It just goes to show you in the words of Rick Ross "It's Deeper Than Rap". Atlanta(like most major cities) has an extensive underground scene and I hope by mentioning some of them in this review will cause you to check them out as well. I highly recommend this album to fans of Killer Mike or any of the artists featured. Like most double discs some songs shouldn't have made the cut (*cough* Rich Kids - Bowling..wack *cough*) but it's all good. I also recommend it if you want vintage Atlanta sounds with skilled mc's rapping about real topics.
4 stars
Top 8(no order)
BBM - Whats Next
Pill - Bunkin
Prynce - Go Outside
Dem Get Away Boys - Put On
BOB - Generation Lost
Dodigatie - Rather Be With You ft. Slimm Calhoun
Fonzworth Bentley - Haters To The Side
Killer Mike - N's Down South ft. Bun B & T.I.