Lords of the Underground

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Lords of the Underground
Also known asL.O.T.U.G.
OriginNewark, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresHip hop, East Coast rap, golden age, hardcore rap[1]
Years active1990–present
LabelsPendulum, Jersey Kidz, Goon MuSick
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[edit]

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.[1] 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.[2][3]

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.[4] In 2013, the American magazine Spin added the album to its list of "The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993".[5] The album peaked at 66 on the Billboard 200 and featured five charting singles, including the group's signature song, "Chief Rocka".[6] In 2015, Complex placed the song in 85th place on its list of "The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time".[7]

By the end of 1993, the Lords had received an award from BET as best rap group of the year.[1]

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".[8]

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.[9]

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.[10][11] The Lords returned again in 2007 for a fourth album, titled House of Lords; like Resurrection, it failed to reach the Billboard charts.[12][13]

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.[14]

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.[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).[16] 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.[17]

In 2012, the group first performed in Russia as part of the Hip-Hop Don't Stop event and the Soul City 2012 festival.[18][19][20]

In 2017, DoItAll revealed he planned on running for Councilman-at-Large for his hometown of Newark.[21][22] He started his campaign in 2018; although defeated in that year, he was elected on June 14, 2022, to represent the West Ward.[23][24][25][26]

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.[27][28][29][30] At the end of January, Lords of the Underground released a video for the song "Whats Up", recorded with Onyx,[31][32] which was later released in a single for this song.[33]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Title Chart positions
US Pop[34] US R&B[35]
1993 Here Come the Lords
  • Released: September 28, 1993
  • Label: Pendulum/Elektra
 66 13
1994 Keepers of the Funk
  • Released: November 1, 1994
  • Label: Pendulum/EMI
 57 16
1999 Resurrection
  • Released: April 20, 1999
  • Label: Jersey Kidz
 – –
2007 House of Lords
  • Released: August 21, 2007
  • Label: Affluent
 – –
2020 So Legendary
  • Released: February 21, 2020
  • Label: Goon MuSick
 – –
"–" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums[edit]

Year Title
2014 Lotug 20: The 20th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1
  • Released: July 8, 2014
  • Label: Pirate Recordings, Inc.

Singles[edit]

Year Single Chart positions Album
US Pop[36] US R&B[37] US Rap[38]
1992 "Psycho" – – 17 Here Come the Lords
1993 "Chief Rocka" 55 35 1
"Funky Child" 74 52 2
"Here Come the Lords" 93 67 18
1994 "Flow On" – – 36
"Tic Toc" 73 52 17 Keepers of the Funk
1995 "What I'm After" 111 – 32
"Faith" – – 49
"–" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Bush, John. "Lords of the Underground — Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Murphy, Keith (November 22, 2010). "Full Clip: Redman Runs Down His Entire Catalogue". Vibe. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "Redman: Das EFX and Lords of the Underground Connection". Hip Hop News Journal. October 22, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Lords of the Underground — Here Come the Lords". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "'Til Infinity: The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993, Hip-Hop's Other Greatest Year". Spin. November 21, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "#Hipstory: Marley Marl - RAP.RU (July 7, 2014)". rap.ru. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "The 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Beats of All Time - Complex: 85. Lords of the Underground "Chief Rocka"". Complex. July 23, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Swihart, Stanton. "Lords of the Underground — Keepers of the Funk: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  9. ^ Hess, Mickey (November 2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. p. 190. ISBN 9780313343216. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Lords of the Underground :: Resurrection :: Jersey Kidz (as reviewed by Steve 'Flash' Juon)". rapreviews.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  11. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Lords of the Underground — Resurrection: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Lords of the Underground — House of Lords". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Hernandez, William (2007). "Doitall (Lords of the Underground) - Interview for Whomag". whomag.net. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  14. ^ Alvarez, Gabriel (August 1, 2017). "The 100 Best Nas Songs: #46. Nas "Where Are They Now"". Complex. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "DDTV: Doitall Talks "Sopranos" Finale, LOTUG Album & Bucket List". ballerstatus.com. June 2, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Du Kelly". IMDb. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Toomer, Jeanette (November 25, 2003). "Diss Diss & Diss Dat". Backstage. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Концерты недели. 2 октября — 8 октября - RAP.RU (1 октября 2012 года)". rap.ru. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Концерт Lords of the Underground в Москве (4 октября 2012 года)". musicafisha.ru. September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Концерт Lords of the Underground в Санкт-Петербурге (6 октября 2012 года)". musicafisha.ru. September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  21. ^ Yi, Karen (September 15, 2017). "Hip hop artist Dupre 'Doitall' Kelly to run for Newark City Council". nj.com. Advance Local Media, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "Lords of the Underground's Dupre 'Doitall' Kelly Is Running for Office". Billboard. September 14, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  23. ^ Faces, Manny. "Despite political setback, Dupré Kelly still plans to 'DoItAll' for Newark". brickcitylive.com. Micropolis Multimedia, LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  24. ^ "WEST WARD COUNCIL MEMBER DUPRE L KELLY". City of Newark Website. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "MEET THE HON. DUPRÉ L. KELLY". Campaign Website. Retrieved 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.")
  26. ^ "Dupre Kelly". Ballotpedia.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  27. ^ "Lords of the Underground Are Back… Don't Sleep On Real Rap (Video) (January 12, 2020)". ambrosiaforheads.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  28. ^ "Lords of the Underground Return With 'Insomniac' Video (by Justin Ivey) (January 12, 2020)". hiphopdx.com. January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  29. ^ "Настоящий рэп в новом клипе Lords of the Underground "Insomniac" (January 11, 2020)". rap.ru. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  30. ^ Jahmal, Karlton (January 12, 2020). "Lords of the Underground Resurface with "Insomniac" Video". hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  31. ^ "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". weeklyrapgods.com. January 31, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  32. ^ Clark, Kevito (February 4, 2020). "Lords of the Underground Team with ONYX to Show Today's MCs What's Up (Video)". ambrosiaforheads.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  33. ^ "Lords of the Underground - "Whats Up" (feat. Onyx) - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  34. ^ "Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  35. ^ "Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  36. ^ "Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  37. ^ "Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  38. ^ "Lords of the Underground — Chart History: Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2020.

External links[edit]

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