Scene influence in underground rap
Featuring phreshboyswag, bloodonmybalmains, EsDeeKid, Ayesha Erotica, Millionaires, Brokencyde and Kreayshawn
The influence of alternative subcultures has been silently paving the way for newer genres for decades while some have no idea the close relation that a seemingly closed genre such as rap has taken inspiration from. More now than ever, alternative "emo" genres have shifted their way into rap spaces, for example EsDeeKid's expected set at All Points East, presented by Outbreak, a 15 year long legacy that now sponsors alternative events all over the country, alongside alternative metal band, Deftones.
The big hair, highlighted colours and the idgaf, “scene queen” attitude along with song lyrics documenting snorting lines and fucking bitches paints a similar reality to the UK Underground scene through, the one and only, phreshboyswag.
“I got a scene bitch and she roars” - open the door, phreshboyswag
Phreshboyswags’s clothing sense, consisting of print skinny jeans, fur and “female blouses” not only reminds me of the clothing style of many myspace scene and emo teens but it also opens up the UG rap fans to something more than the typical streetwear that is typically associated with rap, making the community steer deeper towards an alternative style of genre. Similarly through the likes of bloodonmybalmains and co-headliner for Phreshboyboyswag's Live in Europe shows, Matt Proxy, who includes many EDM/digicore influences in his production, difference in any underground space is a check mark for many up and coming artists to follow to hopefully one day leave a mark on the underground as a significant figure.
Expression and comfort to be yourself is the most important thing in underground communities and phreshboyswag is a strong example of how creating your own image in a space can push you miles ahead of anybody who is simply a copy and paste of others.
With scene fashion heavily originating from the USA, phreshboyswag had an early grip onto the NYC scene while being born and bred in the UK which brings up the question of individuality and the generic fashion of UK rap as a whole which pbs was clearly not a fan of. The general notion of the UK underground is either baggy or "archive" attire which scene is generally neither. Scene is a hyper-colourful and accessory dependant style which, in the early 2000's, was a direct juxtaposition to the general fashion of many emo/punk teenagers who had their own judgments of what really was "cool". This style shift also followed through with the music as crunckcore also started to rise through the likes of Brokencyde and Millionaires.
As a whole, scene was a sub-genre consisting of heavy synths, rave influences and ALOT of drugs.
and its true! The crossover between sub-cultures, especially one as eccentric as scene, is new to many rap fans who, lets be honest, would not have wanted anything to do with this sub culture unless someone they look up to was a part of it.
"I never look at shit bc I like the aesthetic of whatever style"
"I just like it n wear it"
"But I think alot of my taste defo comes from late 2000s to early 2010s like swag era n dem scene kids n all dat"
Looking at the scene side of things, rap has widely been used in hit songs made by staple artists in the genre such as Kreayshawn and Ayesha Erotica, who may or may not be considered scene but her aesthetic is widely cultivated from the 2000's trashy mcbling era(and she's that bitch so of course I had to include her). Kreayshawn, known for her hit internet rap hit "Gucci, Gucci" and later her collab with Yung Lean on Marble Phone, brought virality into the mainstream through her early internet days which, in my opinion, was one of the roads that opened up for many alternative artists to break into the mainstream. Ayesha Erotica also made sure to leave a lasting impression on the internet from her bedroom, recording vocals on Bandlab and uploading them to Soundcloud, allowing many of her songs to go viral on social media and also leaving a dent in the electropop scene.
Overall, the general consensus among underground fans of any genres should be to support your local scenes, artists, producers, photographers, writers, directors, promoters and finally each other as fans. Most of the time, its not about "leaving the underground" from success but forming a community of close supporters and making a real impact on the people that are right in front and around you. xx
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