As we continue to mark our label’s 30th anniversary throughout 2026, we revisit a project whose origins date back to our earliest days in the late 1990’s with this new video release.
Underground Cartel was an international hip hop collaboration spearheaded by Belles in Monica producer Kruze, which initially owed its existence to the relationships built with independent artists from around the world by our then fledgling in house promotional division UrbanElite PR.
Those connections provided the opportunity to develop a concept where male and female rappers from all over Europe, Canada, Africa and the United States could stand shoulder to shoulder performing in their native languages as a representation of the progression and unifying impact hip hop had made on a global scale. In essence, a celebration of a shared culture.
Following the debut taster “Dropzone EP”, released on CD and vinyl in 2004, recording began on “Sapientia” in 2005 with a broader reach of artists and territories. Various circumstances dictated that completion would be delayed for some considerable time, but was eventually released in digital format in 2019.
Taken from it is this new visual representation of “U Owe It 2 Yourself”, a recently edited version of the original. It features Boston’s The Yukonn MC who together with Oak Lonetree formed the group My Mans N’ Them. His appearance is due in no small way to the connection he built with another of the featured artists, Swiss Precise.
For some time previously, the Long Beach rapper introduced a host of releases from the West Coast underground scene to UEP, familiarising them with names such as Halfway House MCees, 8th & Dawson Records and Blown Celeb with Dizzy Dustin. As a graffiti artist affiliated with the KBH crew, Swiss also designed the Underground Cartel logo.
With both coasts repped, female rapper Marya brings some Italian seasoning to the mix. Based at the time in Milan, the sister of rap artists Tormento and Esa first gained attention due to her work with Sottotono before embarking on various solo and collaborative projects over the years including the all female group Mascara.
NEW VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
Others who appear on the “Sapientia EP” include the sadly missed Primo Brown (R.I.P.) of Rome’s legendary Cor Veleno crew, El Meswy, originally of Madrid and now based in Brooklyn, Beni Blanco of Montpellier group “Originaire du Sud”, Zimbabwean Dumi Right now based in the DMV, Bleekwonder of Den Haag, Netherlands, Grizu of Augsburg Germany and Croatian Magellano.
Manchester’s Mr CRF and London’s Creamo fly the flag for England, while the States were further represented by Brandon J Atlas of Des Moins, Tone Rome of Baltimore crew Raw Dialect, Sacramento’s Crazy Ballhead aka Mr Hooper, Virginian Black Market and female rapper Lockness from New York City.
EP ON SPOTIFY
A lil’ taste of hip hop history, but what can we say, we been around, ya heeeeard…..
Ciao e grazie mille !
