Dope People Meet® The UnderDogs {Mini Series}
MEET THE UNDERDOGS MAKES AN OFFICIAL RETURN WITH THEIR SHOWCASE ‘MINI SERIES’
By C. Alexandra
Atlanta, Georgia --- Although this year’s Super Bowl weekend was held in Miami, Florida, the UnderDogs lit up the city of Atlanta during Super Bowl LIV with the sequel to their inaugural ‘Playlist Extravaganza’; The ‘UnderDogs Mini Series: Round 1’. This time around, the UnderDogs hosted their showcase at Our Bar ATL located on Edgewood Avenue, which is known for their famous graffiti walls. Not only did the venue exude art, but each UnderDog was able to fill the walls with their own musical art.
Sponsor, Dope People Meet made a return as well which brought out a multitude of influencers, and some celebrity judges. The night was hosted by Gambino ATL of ‘ATLMusicPlug’ and sounds were given by Meet The UnderDogs’ official DJ, Oceanz.
As a breeding ground for underground artists in the music game, Meet The UnderDogs, brought out a strong lineup of artists which in return packed out the entire venue. The inaugural event, ‘Playlist Extravaganza’ weeded out the best, but also caught the attention of many more budding artists. Before the night began, the UnderDogs were able to share a little about themselves, and what fans could expect before performing in front of the judges.
We first heard from MacIzm, a humble rapper from North Carolina but originally from the DMV, who made it clear that his sound is a mixture of neo-soul, R&B, and Hip-Hop. He told the media team that “For You” would be the song of the night, which is all about self-love and knowing your self-identity. He believes his consistency is what keeps him relevant in the music game.
OG WatchMe was next on the line up from Jacksonville, Florida who is all about his downsouth-dirty sound. His edgy style and distinct hair style (which can be described as a tall vertical braided dreadlock), is what sets him apart from the UnderDog gang. His song “Jump Out The Paint” was a song that reflected his outgoing and confident personality. He wants fans to know he’s a star, and that’s what makes him the “UnderDog of the Year”.
Before Alex Rose later stole the show, the Italian-Sicilian rapper, singer, and songwriter showed her spicy personality before she hit the stage. With her unique and creative style, she says “her artistic inspiration comes from all walks of life”. As a graduate of the Atlanta Institute of Music, Alex Rose sets herself apart with her knowledge of audio engineering and sound production. As an Atlanta native, she knows the ins and outs of the industry and has studied her craft. She ultimately encourages the haters to “F-off” in her song, “Kick Rocks”.
With marketing and promotion being extremely important in the rap game, TOLA, can be described as a “walking billboard”. As he was being interviewed, the UnderDogs media team couldn’t help but notice his shirt that had “TOLA'' printed front and center. Not only is TOLA educated as an artist, but he is educated on different forms of love. He wants fans to go stream his newest project, “Valentola”; which is now available on all streaming platforms.
Sydewayz later came with the energy, and brought along fellow featured rappers Euro and Lil Squidd. With Sydewayz and Euro being from Chicago, and Lil Squidd from Atlanta, they have high hopes in bridging the gap of music between the east and west coast. Sydewayz later went on to describe himself as the “Lebron of Rap”, in which he feels he’s giving back to the rap community with his style and flow.
Florida was strongly represented by multiple artists during this showcase, but rapper N33zy showed Atlanta what Florida was about. He describes himself as a “melodic rapper that makes you want to jig [dance]”. With his futuristic sound, he still manages to maintain a trendy yet authentic sound. His motto is, “consistency, no cap”.
As many artists mentioned the word “consistency” throughout the night, New York native, JMoreOfficial briefly shared his experience in the music industry. He explained how he’s been around but not in the mix. JMore feels that his career is on the path to success, and the lyrical messages in his music explains that.
Boonie from the southside of Atlanta, is all about the soulful vibes and strongly incorporates 808s and guitars in his music. He described his music as “spitting visions through lyrics”. His one goal as an artist is to just have his fans take away a message from his music; he genuinely wants them to relate. Although Boonie is tired of being overlooked, on the contrary he mentioned his love for challenges and will continue to push past it all.
With determination being a huge factor in success, a good personality will take an artist far. The media team caught up with MDN Zane right before he hit the stage. He can be described as an artist that exudes positivity and genuinity. As a Clayton County native, Zane, is all about his business but still maintains versatility. He describes his sound as a “mixture of everything he’s feeling at that time”. As a former football player and college graduate, Zane stands out in the industry by not only educating people in his music, but also giving back to his community with school drives and back to school events.
With genuine vibes in the atmosphere, the UnderDogs caught up with the Ghetto BaBies who were recently signed to Trouble’s MMB record label. As true Atlanta natives, they exude the culture and rep their city well. They encourage fans “not to sleep”, and be on the lookout for their newest mixtape.
Originality was also the theme of the night, when Umi Tha Goat arrived. Her fashion sense can be described as a mixture between Prince and Missy Elliott, but her musical style is her own. She later mentioned that she created her own authentic genre called, “idiosyncratic music” which basically eliminates the rules in music. Umi enjoys creating music with different beats, tones, and shocking people with her creativity. As a northerner from New York, she feels empowered to be a talented female artist in a male dominated industry.
Now, the difference between a northern sound and a southern sound is very distinct, but Cleveland Avenue’s RBL Diego is a rapper and songwriter that is “wherever the hood is at”. He explained how he enjoys making music for people as an escape or release, especially for those who have gone through different struggles. His song “Ten Guns Not Enough”, represents the respect he has in the streets and shows a slice of his own life experiences. Diego was asked what made him the “UnderDog Of The Year” and he responded with, “I’m no UnderDog, I’m a Big Dog”. Along with his music, his personality stole the show.
The last artist we caught up with was a familiar face. Ty Wright, from the inaugural “Playlist Extravaganza” came back to showcase his talent and skill as a rapper. Performing “SODD”, encouraging fans to stay off the drugs, Wright can be described as a true MC. His motto for 2020 is “Mamba mentality”. As the sudden passing of Kobe affected him deeply, he is using that energy to pour into his craft and give it all he has. Ty Wright explained how music and sports go hand in hand. “Just like Kobe, he studied his craft and became the best, and the same as rapping you must study the rap game both musically and business wise.
With many diverse artists, the ‘UnderDogs Mini Series: Round 1’ brought out a diverse crowd, and once again made a huge impact on the industry. With the ‘UnderDogs Mini Series: Round 2’ on the way, Meet The UnderDogs will continue to find the best of the best, and show them how to take over.
