Is Talib Kweli considered underground or mainstream? ?

Question

I am so confused.

Answer 1

undergroud.

edit: My question didn't post http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

@ Rob

I gave you the thumbs up, you're right.

Answer 2

he's a mainstream underground artist.  

Answer 3

I consider him overrated.

Answer 4

It's stupid to classify musicians as underground or mainstream.  The Underground was originally for artists who independently distributed their own music.  Now, artists are considered underground just because they aren't popular(mainstream).  I would definitely put Talib Kweli towards the underground side of the spectrum...

Answer 5

Definitely UNDERGROUND!!

He's an underground artist, who got a little 'mainstream' exposure.... VERY LITTLE.

If you don't have a CONSISTENT presence in the mainstream ......you are underground...period.

EDIT:

Hey, give me the 'thumbs down' all you want... BUT, there is NO WAY an artist who has NEVER had a record played in 'regular mainstream rotation' can be considered "mainstream"......    NO WAY!

Answer 6

I don't think he's mainstream, but I don't think he's underground.

Mainstream, to me, is if you can walk up and down a street and ask somebody "Hey do you know who ____ is?" and every person knows who you're talking about.  Britney Spears, for example, is mainstream.  U2 is mainstream.  Kanye West is mainstream.  Ya know what I'm sayin'?

"Underground" artists are usually developing artists that are just starting out or are new to the game.  But most importantly, an artist who independently distributes their own music with out the help of a major label.  They rely more on fan-base, word of mouth exposure, and sites like MySpace, YouTube, PureVolume and unfortunately, Yahoo! Answers.  Talib Kweli is on Geffen records, which I think is owned by Warner Bros.

A lot of people know who Talib Kweli is.  He just doesn't have the same popularity as someone like Lil Wayne because of his limited commercial exposure.  Which can be a good or bad thing.

And the first time I ever heard Talib Kweli was on MTV.  If an artist is on MTV then they are not "underground".  I think "underground" artists usually "stay true" to the underground and divert themselves away from the commercial exposure of MTV or the radio or other forms of media.

Long story short, Talib Kweli is not underground.

I hate the term "underground".  It's thrown around way to loosely now-a-days.

Answer 7

Well, Talib Kweli is my favorite rapper, and in my opinion he is half and half.  He is pretty well known in the rap game, but he doesn't sell much.  He's probably one of the best rappers right now.

Answer 8

mainstream yet he doesnt have as much fans like he should.

Answer 9

mainstream he's album eardrum hit #1 in the billboard charts

Answer 10

underground definitly  these mainstream people cant handle him and what he is saying

Answer 11

Depends on your definition of underground

Here's mine -

Walk into a Best Buy and there person kindly directs you to a CD that they have never heard before but there huge cooperation sells them - your a** is MAINSTREAM

Im @ the Car wash on Central Ave. and a youngin is selling Cd's out of his car that him & some cats made - your a** is UNDERGROUND

Answer 12

Mainstream

Answer 13

talib kweli is my favorite rapper too, but i think we should all take a listen at the song good to you on the quality album, he says "it aint commercial or underground" or somthing a long those lines and then says "its true cuz i wanna be good to you!" so he's neither underground or mainstream hes just the "truest in the game burnin with the bluest in the flame!" "what your favorite rapper used to be"