Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
The amount of musical knowledge that AL99 has obtained in his 25 years on Earth is more than most people can hope for in a lifetime. The DMV-based rapper has been putting his work in, and now he is blasting onto the scene with his new single “Pop” where he’s not holding back or pulling punches.
“It’s a Chicago style/trap song,” AL99 says. “It has infectious lyrics and bars, is fast, energetic and catchy, and tells a nice street story that is both authentic to Al’s experiences, and relatable for anyone who has experienced street life.”
“Pop” was originally written in 2023 but when he was writing it, he was just in the process of getting outside more in the underground. He was starting to do bigger shows, as he was a frequent performer at Brooklyn Music Kitchen, and seeing more and more that was inspiring him to write.
AL99 went into making “Pop” with the idea that he was going all out. He is staking his claim to tell the world that it is his time after grinding away in the studio and in front of audiences across the country.
“I came up in the underground circles and there is a lot of stuff that happens there where you sit back and say, ‘well I’ve been working really hard,’” he says. “I make the beats. I write the songs. I record it myself and I mix and master.”
“Pop” starts with a simple trap beat with a lot of speed, and it helped form his flow that he has pouring out of him on the track. He admits it isn’t something he can even pinpoint, and that this is unique to “Pop.”
“When I was writing it there was definitely not a thought process for the flow,” AL99 says. “I was thinking that I had to get my message out in a very powerful way. I wanted to make these lyrics punchy.”
He adds, “I sat down and made the beat with the intention of writing that song. I have 1,000 beats on my laptop and sometimes I can just pick a beat, but with this one I wanted this beat, with a specific cadence, and specific lyrics.’
Another element of the release of “Pop” is the music video, which shows him busting out lyrics on the mic, partying in studio before ripping out the energetic flow, reflecting on the sites around him. He’s seen hitting spots like the downtown Brooklyn Pier and the Biggie Mural.
“I can be very comfortable and serene alone, or I can turn up if it’s my thing,” AL99 says. “If they’re people I love and trust, I’m more willing to let my guard down and have fun. It kind of tells the story that I’m a popular loner, which is definitely authentic to how I operate in real life.”
AL99 has always had an eclectic set of interests and hobbies. He was on top of his game academically, had big interests in engineering and all STEM fields, played multiple sports, and started playing guitar at the age of six. He made his first beat before the age of 10 and started writing raps, but he never really thought he would take music into a professional career. But it is also something that is simply in his blood.
AL99’s grandfather Herbert “Tubo” Rhoad was one of the original five singers/members of the Persuasions, a legendary acapella group from Brooklyn that toured with the likes of Joni Mitchell, and are forever enshrined in the Acapella Hall of Fame.
Having grown up as the child of a major professional touring artist, AL99’s mother was wary at first of supporting any of her children choosing to follow her in her father’s footsteps. But as AL99 got older, he knew it was something he had to pursue. His mom agreed with one condition: to learn the business of to ensure that he would learn how to own copyrights, masters, name, and production/publishing rights.
His musical background and taste works directly into his style, whether he is recording or playing in front of a crowd. With influences including Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix on guitar, the performance ability of Michael Jackson, and rappers like Kendrick Lamar, AL99 feels just as comfortable with a guitar in his hands as he does with a microphone. After spending the last six years honing his craft on the mic and strings, he feels confident now to let it rip anywhere at any time.
“There are so many ideas that pop into my mind now, and I also feel that it’s just the experience of life that has allowed me to find inspiration at the drop of a dime,” he says.
AL99 has earned degrees in Audio Production and Music Business, and he also draws inspiration on his production side from studying icons like Quincy Jones, Darkchild, and Dr. Dre.
As mentioned before, not only does he own his own label in TPC Music Production, LLC., but he also recently signed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group/Bungalo, furthering his musical journey and giving him more visibility to a wider audience.
While he has been at it for six years now, the world has just seen the beginning, as AL99 has plans to release a new single every two months. He has more than 100 songs completely written, and some recorded, showing that he has plenty on the horizon.
What’s in store is in accordance with one of AL99’s personas “Versatile AL,” in that the songs and future projects he will release will be eclectic, genre bending/defying, and unique to his own crafted style. He’s been formulating this style by taking a bit of inspiration from studying some of the greatest artists and musicians of all time.
His next expected single titled “Superduper” will touch on that versatility showcasing a much slower tempo melodic trap/sing rap style track and will show some of what AL99 can do vocally and lyrically. It is set to be released within the next two months.
As Al stated, “One of my brothers out in DC actually coined me ‘Versatile Al,’ and the reason why that’s so fitting is that not only in my music I’m versatile, in my life I’m versatile. There are so many songs in the vault, man. I’m just excited to see it unfold.
Follow the musical journey of AL99 and check out his new single “Pop” available on all platforms.
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In the opening frame of the music video for ML Underwood’s “Still I Rise,” the camera pans across the facade of the historic ruins of City Church in Gary, Indiana. Soon, a pristine white Rolls Royce pulls up in front.
The driver of the Rolls opens the door, and out steps Underwood, looking fresh in his black designer jacket and shades with platinum jewelry dangling on his chest. He enters the crumbling, graffiti-covered church, and the contrast is clear: surrounded by ruin and pain, here is a man of resilience. Here is a man who will rise.
Everything now is literally in chaos
People on their knees praying looking for a way out
But Underwood doing for the hood
The downtrodden, disenchanted, and misunderstood
You’ve gotta pivot so you don’t ever become a crook
Lead by example or do something good so we all rise
The positivity of “Still I Rise” is resonating, as seen in video comments like “This one hit different,” or “Very uplifting song.” One calls the song a “new black anthem.” Says another, “These bros have saved hip hop.”
And the numbers don’t lie. Radio rotation on Chicago’s 92.3, nearly three million views on YouTube, and viral success on TikTok have helped to drive the track to number one on the global iTunes chart. And with 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Underwood’s success — and positive message — cuts across all platforms and audiences.
Underwood says, “Despite everything we’ve been through, we rise. And that message applies to everybody.”
The impeccably produced “Still I Rise” features singer Danny Boy (Daniel Steward). Danny Boy, signed to Death Row Records in the 1990s, and whose voice has graced records by 2Pac and many more, elevates the hook, helping the track sound like an instant classic.
Underwood says, “We knew we needed a voice that could elevate the message, and Danny Boy took it to another level.”
Underwood created the track over a year. His process includes meditating on the lyrics and working with longtime collaborator Damon Jones (Young Khan Tha Don). With a beat from Grammy-winning Tone Jonez, he also got input from a cousin, Ivy (Ivana), who developed the melodic idea in the hook.
With the track and team in place, Underwood headed to Pressure Point Recording Studio in Chicago to record with Slavic Livins, an audio engineer known for his work with everyone from Gucci Mane to KeKe Wyatt.
The result is a track that could have been made during the heyday of 1990s rap, but that tells the true story of a 27-year veteran of the music industry. As Underwood says, “I don’t talk about things I didn’t live. Everything in my music comes from real experience.”
If you really wanna cry, look through my eye
In this game I seen way too many guys die
Envy and jealousy shot ’em down like a drive by
All I’m doing is speaking facts, why would I lie?
ML Underwood’s ties to the Gary, Indiana music scene, cut deep. The “visionary from Gary” was even named after Marlon Jackson of the Jacksons, the royal family of music in Gary. In the 1980s he was a beatboxer and performer with Le Boiz, the first rap group from the city signed to a label (Pharaohs Records). Later, he became a promoter for everything from music to boxing.
Now, he is focused on his own career as a rapper and a positive light in the community. Like a fighter, he has gotten back up. He wants to inspire others to do the same. Like the video for “Still I Rise,” it is possible to turn ruin into inspiration, dark into light, crumbling walls into creativity.
“Life is going to hit you,” he says. “But the key is, you don’t stay down. You rise.”
“Still I Rise” is out now with promotional support from Starlight PR. Follow ML Underwood at the links below.
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