Lords of the Underground
{{short description|American hip hop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Lords of the Underground
| image =
| caption =
| background = group_or_band
| alias = L.O.T.U.G.
| origin = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|East Coast hip hop|golden age hip hop|hardcore hip hop}}
| years_active = 1990–present
| label = {{hlist|Pendulum|Jersey Kidz|Goon MuSick
}}
| website =
| current_members = * DoItAll
- Mr. Funke
- DJ Lord Jazz
}}
The Lords of the Underground (L.O.T.U.G.) is an American hip-hop trio based in Newark, New Jersey. The group is composed of Dupré Kelly (professionally known as DoItAll) (born January 14, 1971), Al'Terik Wardrick (professionally known as Mr. Funke) (born November 15, 1972) and Bruce A. Colston (professionally known as DJ Lord Jazz) (born November 20, 1968).
History
MCs Mr. Funke and DoItAll Dupré met DJ Lord Jazz (a native of Cleveland) when all three were undergraduates at Shaw University in North Carolina. A friend of Doitall's introduced the group to legendary producer Marley Marl, who invited them to record at his studio with help from K-Def.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground-mn0000281376/biography|title=Lords of the Underground — Artist Biography|first=John|last=Bush|website=AllMusic|access-date=2020-01-13}} In 1990, Redman at the beginning of his career served as DJ for DoItAll of Lords of the Underground at Club Sensations in Newark, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/photos/full-clip-redman-runs-down-his-entire-catalogue|title=Full Clip: Redman Runs Down His Entire Catalogue|first=Keith|last=Murphy|date=November 22, 2010| website=Vibe|access-date=2020-01-15}}{{cite web|url=https://hiphopnewsjournal.com/redman-das-efx-and-lords-of-the-underground-connection/|title=Redman: Das EFX and Lords of the Underground Connection|work=Hip Hop News Journal|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=2020-01-15}}
The group released its debut album, Here Come the Lords, on March 9, 1993, on Pendulum/Elektra, with production handled by Marley Marl and K-Def.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/here-come-the-lords-mw0000093419|title=Lords of the Underground — Here Come the Lords|first=Andy|last=Kellman|website=AllMusic|access-date=2020-01-15}} In 2013, the American magazine Spin added the album to its list of "The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993".{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/11/best-rap-albums-1993-golden-era/131115-24-lords-of-underground-the-lords/|title='Til Infinity: The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993, Hip-Hop's Other Greatest Year|date=November 21, 2013|website=Spin|access-date=2020-01-15}} The album peaked at 66 on the Billboard 200 and featured five charting singles, including the group's signature song, "Chief Rocka".{{Cite web|url=http://www.rap.ru/reading/19947|title=#Hipstory: Marley Marl - RAP.RU (July 7, 2014)|website=rap.ru|access-date=2020-01-15}} In 2015, Complex placed the song in 85th place on its list of "The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time".{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/07/the-100-greatest-hip-hop-beats-of-all-time/lords-of-the-underground-chief-rocka|title=The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time - Complex: 85. Lords of the Underground "Chief Rocka"|date=July 23, 2015|website=Complex|access-date=2020-01-15}}
By the end of 1993, the Lords had received an award from BET as best rap group of the year.
The group released its second album, Keepers of the Funk, on Pendulum/EMI, 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/keepers-of-the-funk-mw0000119647|title=Lords of the Underground — Keepers of the Funk: Review|first=Stanton|last=Swihart|website=AllMusic|access-date=2020-01-15}}
The group received negative criticism when it was implied in their 1995 single "Burn Rubber" that they condoned car-jacking. The group claims the song was created specifically for the soundtrack of the car-jacking movie New Jersey Drive.{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XkCncJ7j744C&pg=PA190|title=Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide|first=Mickey|last=Hess|page=190|isbn=9780313343216|access-date=2020-01-15|date=November 2009}}
They reunited for a third album with 1999's Resurrection. Released via Queen Latifah's Jersey Kidz imprint, it was so small-scale a release that few realized that it had been recorded at all.{{cite web|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/1999_05_resurrection.html|title=Lords of the Underground :: Resurrection :: Jersey Kidz (as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon)|website=rapreviews.com|access-date=2020-01-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/resurrection-mw0000238479|title=Lords of the Underground — Resurrection: Review|first=Johnny|last=Loftus|website=AllMusic|access-date=2020-01-15}} The Lords returned again in 2007 for a fourth album, titled House of Lords; like Resurrection, it failed to reach the Billboard charts.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lords-of-the-underground-mw0000577149|title=Lords of the Underground — House of Lords|website=AllMusic|access-date=2020-01-15}}{{cite web|url=https://www.whomag.net/doitall-lords-of-the-underground/|title=Doitall (Lords of the Underground) - Interview for Whomag|first=William|last=Hernandez|date=2007|website=whomag.net|access-date=2020-01-15}}
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 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/the-100-best-nas-songs/nas-where-are-they-now-2006|title=The 100 Best Nas Songs: #46. Nas "Where Are They Now"|first=Gabriel|last=Alvarez|date=August 1, 2017|website=Complex|access-date=2020-01-15}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.ballerstatus.com/2014/06/02/ddtv-doitall-talks-sopranos-finale-lotug-album-bucket-list/|title=DDTV: Doitall Talks "Sopranos" Finale, LOTUG Album & Bucket List|date=June 2, 2014|website=ballerstatus.com|access-date=2020-01-15}} 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).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2677152/|title=Du Kelly|website=IMDb|access-date=2020-01-15}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/diss-diss-diss-dat-1-47252/|title=Diss Diss & Diss Dat|first=Jeanette|last=Toomer|date=November 25, 2003|website=Backstage|access-date=2020-01-15}}
In 2012, the group first performed in Russia as part of the Hip-Hop Don't Stop event and the Soul City 2012 festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap.ru/news/37|title=Концерты недели. 2 октября — 8 октября - RAP.RU (1 октября 2012 года)|website=rap.ru|access-date=2020-01-15}}{{cite web|url=http://musicafisha.ru/moskva/2012-10-04/lords-of-the-underground|title=Концерт Lords of the Underground в Москве (4 октября 2012 года)|website=musicafisha.ru|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=2020-01-15}}{{cite web|url=http://musicafisha.ru/sankt-peterburg/2012-10-06/lords-of-the-underground|title=Концерт Lords of the Underground в Санкт-Петербурге (6 октября 2012 года)|website=musicafisha.ru|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=2020-01-15}}
In 2017, DoItAll revealed he planned on running for Councilman-at-Large for his hometown of Newark.{{cite web|last1=Yi|first1=Karen|title=Hip hop artist Dupre 'Doitall' Kelly to run for Newark City Council |url=https://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2017/09/dupre_doitall_kelly_to_run_for_newark_city_council.html|website=nj.com|date=September 15, 2017|publisher=Advance Local Media, LLC |accessdate=2018-11-03}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7965727/lords-of-the-underground-dupre-doitall-kelly-running-for-office|title=Lords of the Underground's Dupre 'Doitall' Kelly Is Running for Office|date=September 14, 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}} He started his campaign in 2018; although defeated in that year, he was elected on June 14, 2022, to represent the West Ward.{{cite web|last1=Faces|first1=Manny|title=Despite political setback, Dupré Kelly still plans to 'DoItAll' for Newark|url=https://brickcitylive.com/politics/manny-faces/despite-political-setback-dupre-kelly-still-plans-doitall-newark/|website=brickcitylive.com|publisher=Micropolis Multimedia, LLC|accessdate=2018-11-03}}{{cite journal|title=WEST WARD COUNCIL MEMBER DUPRE L KELLY|url=https://www.newarknj.gov/members/dupre-l-kelly|journal=City of Newark Website|access-date=December 16, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.duprekelly.com/about-dupr%C3%A9|title=MEET THE HON. DUPRÉ L. KELLY|publisher=Campaign Website|access-date=December 16, 2022}} ("On June 14, 2022, The Honorable Dupré L. Kelly became the first platinum-selling Hip Hop artist in the United States of America to win elected office."){{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Dupre_Kelly|publisher=Ballotpedia.com|access-date=December 16, 2022|title=Dupre Kelly}}
In 2020, Lords of the Underground released its comeback song "Insomniac", produced by Snowgoons. The track is the first single off So Legendary, the group's first album in over a decade.{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2020/01/lords-of-the-underground-snowgoons-video/|title=Lords of the Underground Are Back… Don't Sleep On Real Rap (Video) (January 12, 2020)|website=ambrosiaforheads.com|access-date=2020-01-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.54106/title.lords-of-the-underground-return-with-insomniac-video|title=Lords of the Underground Return With 'Insomniac' Video (by Justin Ivey) (January 12, 2020)|website=hiphopdx.com|date=January 12, 2020|access-date=2020-01-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rap.ru/video/8245|title=Настоящий рэп в новом клипе Lords of the Underground "Insomniac" (January 11, 2020)|website=rap.ru|access-date=2020-01-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lords-of-the-underground-resurface-with-insomniac-video-new-song.1985779.html| title=Lords of the Underground Resurface with "Insomniac" Video|first=Karlton|last=Jahmal|date=January 12, 2020|website=hotnewhiphop.com|access-date=2020-01-15}} At the end of January, Lords of the Underground released a video for the song "Whats Up", recorded with Onyx,{{cite web|url= https://weeklyrapgods.com/2020/01/31/premiere-lords-of-the-underground-return-with-onyx-snowgoons-for-whats-up-video-lotug-interview/|title=Premiere: Lords of the Underground Return with Onyx & Snowgoons for "What's Up" Video + LOTUG Interview. Posted on January 31, 2020, by Weekly Rap Gods|website=weeklyrapgods.com|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=2020-02-11}}{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2020/02/lords-of-the-underground-onyx-snowgoons-whats-up-video/|title=Lords of the Underground Team with ONYX to Show Today's MCs What's Up (Video)|first=Kevito|last=Clark|date=February 4, 2020|website=ambrosiaforheads.com|access-date=2020-02-11}} which was later released in a single for this song.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/whats-up-feat-onyx-single/1498183127|title=Lords of the Underground - "Whats Up" (feat. Onyx) - Single|website=Apple Music|access-date=2020-02-11}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="2" | Chart positions |
|---|
| US Pop{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground/chart-history/tlp/|title=Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}}
! US R&B{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground/chart-history/blp/ |title=Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}} |
1993
| align="center" | 66 | align="center" | 13 |
1994
| align="center" | 57 | align="center" | 16 |
1999
| align="center" | – | align="center" | – |
2007
| align="center" | – | align="center" | – |
| 2020
| So Legendary
| align="center" | – | align="center" | – |
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;" | {{small|"–" denotes releases that did not chart}} |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="1" | Year
! rowspan="1" | Title |
|---|
| 2014
| Lotug 20: The 20th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Single ! colspan="3" | Chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Album |
| US Pop{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}}
! US R&B{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground/chart-history/bsi/|title=Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}} ! US Rap{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lords-of-the-underground/chart-history/rap/ |title=Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Hot Rap Tracks|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-13}} |
|---|
| align="center" rowspan="1" | 1992
| "Psycho" | align="center" | – | align="center" | – | align="center" | 17 | rowspan="5" | Here Come the Lords |
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 1993
| "Chief Rocka" | align="center" | 55 | align="center" | 35 | align="center" | 1 |
| "Funky Child"
| align="center" | 74 | align="center" | 52 | align="center" | 2 |
| "Here Come the Lords"
| align="center" | 93 | align="center" | 67 | align="center" | 18 |
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1994
| "Flow On" | align="center" | – | align="center" | – | align="center" | 36 |
| "Tic Toc"
| align="center" | 73 | align="center" | 52 | align="center" | 17 | rowspan="3" | Keepers of the Funk |
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1995
| "What I'm After" | align="center" | 111 | align="center" | – | align="center" | 32 |
| "Faith"
| align="center" | – | align="center" | – | align="center" | 49 |
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;" | {{small|"–" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist|Lords of the Underground}}
- {{allMusic|artist/lords-of-the-underground-mn0000281376}}
- {{IMDb name|3031525|Lords of the Underground}}
- {{IMDb name|2677152|Du Kelly}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:East Coast hip-hop groups
Category:Rappers from Newark, New Jersey
Category:Musical groups established in 1990
Category:Musical trios from New Jersey
Category:American hip-hop trios