The Lords of the Underground

Despite suggesting aggressive gangsta rap through their moniker, Lords of the Underground pair socially conscious rhymes with forceful rhythms. Doitall and Mr. Funke from Newark, NJ crossed paths with Cleveland-native DJ Lord Jazz at Shaw University in North Carolina, where the pair recruited him after seeking a DJ. An acquaintance of Doitall's connected the trio to legendary producer Marley Marl, who then brought them into his studio alongside K-Def. Three hit singles ("Psycho," "Funky Child," "Chief Rocka") reached the rap charts ahead of the group's debut album Here Come the Lords. The Lords earned BET's best rap group honor by the close of 1993. Their 1994 follow-up Keepers of the Funk could not sustain that pace, leaving a five-year gap until the third album Resurrection arrived in 1999.