The group released their debut album, Here Come the Lords on March 9, 1993 with production handled by Marley Marl and K-Def. The album peaked at 66 on the Billboard 200 and featured five charting singles, including the group's signature song, "Chief Rocka".
The group released their second album, Keepers of the Funk the following year on November 1, 1994. Keepers of the Funk peaked at 47 on the Billboard 200 and featured three charting singles, the most successful of which was "Tic Toc". As stated in a 2013 interview, the group had never disbanded.
They reunited for a third album with 1999's Resurrection. Released via Queen Latifah's Jersey Kidz imprint, was so small-scale a release that few realized it had been recorded. The Lords returned again in 2007 for a fourth album entitled House of Lords, but like Resurrection, it failed to reach the Billboard charts.
The Lords are best remembered in connection with the golden age of hip hop. As such, when Nas decided in 2007 to do a remix of his song "Where Are They Now?", which asked of the fates of several long-forgotten golden age rappers, the Lords were among those requested to appear. DoItAll Dupré performed eight bars on the track.
DoItAll appeared briefly in the final scene of the final episode of The Sopranos credited as Du Kelly, as one of a series of potentially ominous figures entering the diner. He also appeared on other TV shows; Law & Order as Two Tone, on Oz the HBO series, and on the Christmas episode of 30 Rock on NBC (2008). He has also been in independent movies such as Somewhere in the City with Bai Ling, Rhyme & Reason, and with Treach of Naughty By Nature. He has also starred in an off Broadway play entitled Diss, Diss, & Diss, Dat.
In 2017, DoItAll revealed he planned on running for Councilman at Large for his hometown of Newark.[1] He started his campaign in 2018, and despite not winning a seat still plans to help the city.[2]
Keep It Underground
Lords of the Underground Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underground
Chorus: [x6]
Keep it underground
Keep keep it underground
Verse One [Do It All]
I have an underground contract
To freak it, freak it, and it like they used ta
And let? say, "I wonder how he does it?"
I wreck an instrumental
And ring your damn ear drums as if I was a cymbal
Watch the Do It All do his thing
I might pack the verse but the verse won't sing
See, now I'm off my rock
But I don't need a camera unless they take me pop
Watch the Jersey boy, um, kick it
And unplug this jam if you're feelin' kind of timid
And I know you hear the rap with 'em
Get down, no matter how it sounds
You gotta keep it underground
Verse Two [Mr. Funkee]
Check it check it uugh
Watch me make it funky for your town
Check check check it out
Watch me check check my style
People think I sleep with a skunk
Cause I open up my throat
Then I give you all the funk
All you rappers on my tip
You know you need to get off
You try to disrespect me
I try to knock your head off
So get ready for the real hard rhymer
I'm eatin' other rappers like Jeffery Dahmer
You get two smacks for thinkin' I'm a new jack
Like Kid Capri said, "The joke is on you jack!"
Cause if another steps to the bad brother
I strike you like your father, word to the mother
You suckers might as well get lost
You'll catch a three piece, with biscuits and extra sauce
I caught you with your pants down
Now pull your drawers up
And keep it underground
Verse Three [Mr. Funkee]
Mr. Funkee have to get hard on this record
To show you I can even switch styles and still wreck it
The Lords Of The Underground
The ones who hold the crown
Whoever told you we was wack
Really didn't know what they was talkin' bout
You're jealous of my crew
The news is that you're sweatin' me
Get off my tip and find something else to do
Now come on now, how you figure?
If Marley didn't think that we was dope
Then I guess we wouldn't be here nigga
And you can even check my album, All G Funk
Leave a bunch of girls singin', talkin' bout ohh la la ohh la la
But some of these rappers are DEAD WRONG
And you hear somebody sing on every other song
So let it come from your heart
And let it flow through your veins
Will definitely scream your name
Peace to the Ice Cube and peace to the Kool G
You only get your props if you come from beneath
Now the Hit Squad GETS PROPS
And um, Cypress Hill GETS PROPS
And um, PM Dawn DOES NOT
Now um, Naughty By Nature GETS PROPS
And The Geto Boys GETS PROPS
But Me Phi Me DOES NOT
Now back to the sound
The wrecks your whole town
And like the jam says
The Lords of the Underground's song "Keep It Underground" is an ode to their roots in the underground hip-hop scene. The chorus, repeated six times throughout the song, urges listeners to "Keep it underground," emphasizing the importance of staying true to the underground hip-hop culture that the group emerged from.
In the first verse, rapper Do It All reflects on his "underground contract" and his ability to "freak it" like the old days. He brags about his skills, claiming that he can "wreck an instrumental" and ring his listener's "ear drums as if [he] was a cymbal." Despite his talent, Do It All acknowledges that he needs to stay humble and "keep it underground."
In the second and third verses, rapper Mr. Funkee takes over, rapping about the haters who doubt the group's skills and the importance of staying true to oneself. He warns other rappers not to disrespect him, claiming that he will "knock [their] head off" if they try. He also calls out other rappers who have sold out and crossed over into mainstream success, instead encouraging listeners to stay true to the underground and to let their music come from their hearts and flow through their veins.
Line by Line Meaning
Underground
The song is all about keeping the music and vibe grungy and raw - 'underground' so to speak
Keep it underground
Chorus line emphasizing the need to preserve the original, authentic culture of underground music
I have an underground contract
The artist has a deal with underground culture to continue with the raw and rugged vibe of the genre
To freak it, freak it, and it like they used ta
To keep the music funky, fresh and original like in the early days of underground hip hop culture
So here it is, the real for the rugged
The artist is delivering true, authentic, and raw hip hop music
And let?s say, "I wonder how he does it?"
People are curious about how the artist manages to make good music while keeping it underground
I wreck an instrumental
The artist destroys the instrumental and owns the track with his rap and style
And ring your damn ear drums as if I was a cymbal
The artist delivers powerful, head-banging music that rattles the eardrums
See, now I'm off my rock
The artist has gone crazy with the beat, but still keeps things underground
But I don't need a camera unless they take me pop
The artist doesn't care about fame and doesn't want to be in the mainstream media spotlight
Watch the Jersey boy, um, kick it
The artist from the hood in Jersey represent his area through his music
And unplug this jam if you're feelin' kind of timid
If the music is too strong for you, you can tune it out and go back to your softer tunes
Check it check it uugh
Intro line for Mr. Funkee's verse, calling listeners to pay attention to his rap
Watch me make it funky for your town
Mr. Funkee asserts that he will make the music groovy and funky for everyone?s enjoyment
All you rappers on my tip
Every rapper is trying to copy him, but his talent and skills are unique
I'm eatin' other rappers like Jeffery Dahmer
Metaphor to say that he is dominating and destroying the competition, just as Jeffery Dahmer ate his victims
You suckers might as well get lost
People who don't understand the underground culture and disrespect it should leave
Now pull your drawers up
Mr. Funkee is asserting his dominance over other rappers and telling them to clean up their acts
Mr. Funkee have to get hard on this record
Mr. Funkee wants to showcase his skills on this track in order to show other rappers what they are lacking
Whoever told you we was wack
The artist is trying to establish that their band is good and whoever slights them doesn't have a clue about good music
Now come on now, how you figure?
The rapper can't imagine how people can continue to underestimate them for their ability to create great music
But Me Phi Me DOES NOT
Me Phi Me doesn't get the recognition he deserves from the underground culture
And like the jam says, "You gotta keep it underground"
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the need to maintain a pure and untouched underground hip hop culture
Writer(s): Al-Terik Wardrick, Dupre Kelly, Marlon Williams Copyright: Lotug Music
Contributed by Michael J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.