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For a glorious ten-year period from 1995 to 2005, hip-hop music received a much-needed shot in the arm from a generation of determined and wildly creative rappers and producers. They rallied against the increasingly formulaic and shallow world of mainstream rap, as well as a music industry unwilling to listen. By releasing music on their own terms as independent artists-many adopting the mantra of being 'independent as fuck' as a mission statement-these hungry creatives reclaimed their artistic freedom and wore it as a badge of honour. Most importantly, they also made a lot of excellent hip-hop. What emerged was a vibrant underground music scene that stretched from New York to Los Angeles, with influence reaching across the world. Independent as F**: Underground Hip-hop from 1995-2005 looks back at this golden era, celebrating the most important artists, record labels, 12' records, and albums, along with the stories behind them, while also shining a light on those who have since been forgotten. Lovingly researched and curated, this book is the ultimate guide to a special time in music history, one that continues to inspire each new wave of hip-hop artists decades later.
Ben Pedroche fell in love with hip-hop in 1993 and has been listening non-stop ever since. He has written about and documented the genre for decades, including as a regular contributor to the groundbreaking rap magazine, Hip-Hop Connection, and various other titles. He formerly ran an independent hip-hop record label, albeit an unsuccessful one. He has also written extensively for online gaming magazines, and more recently, Ben has contributed to websites such as Albumism, and since 2014 has been the Editor of his own hip-hop culture platform, Grown Up Rap. He has published three books about his other passion, London history, and has appeared in TV documentaries for the BBC and Channel 5. In 2016, a short story Ben wrote was performed on BBC Radio 4. He lives in London with his wife Louise, and their two daughters. You can follow Ben @GrownUpRap on X and Instagram.
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