Tunnel Rats Present... Underground Rise, Volume 1: Sunrise/Sunset is a 2003 compilation album by Uprok Records in collaboration with underground hip hop collective Tunnel Rats. Around thirty-five rappers appear on the compilation, which features, in addition to the Tunnel Rats, numerous other underground hip hop artists and groups, Christian and non-Christian, including LA Symphony, LMNO and 2Mex of The Visionaries, Remnant, Mass Reality, Sekou the Misfit, and Deepspace5 members Playdough (also of Ill Harmonics), manCHILD of Mars Ill, and Listener. Production was handled by Tunnel Rats members Dert, Donovan Luke Henry, Jermz and Raphi (a.k.a. Shames Worthy). Most of the album was recorded over a single weekend. CCM Magazine noted that on the song "One Voice", the entire Tunnel Rats and LA Symphony crews come together, with seventeen rappers appearing on the same track.[1] Critics received the album well, noting that while the album's production turned repetitive at times and some of the artists needed more experience in rapping, it offered a diversity of musical styles and showcased the many talented artists in the underground and Christian hip hop scenes. Read More Here
After opening with spoken word, the CD kicks into the gripping track "How We Get Down". The journey continues to hold you as the first couple tracks are solid efforts. The album closes with another taste of spoken word, coming around full circle. Fans of the underground sound will eat this disc up. Lyrically, the album provides plenty of food for thought. Some standout lines include Macho's opening line ("20 years from now..."), Playdough's "eject knows your crew" line, the Listener's "lawn gnomes" lyric, and plenty of other gems along the way. There's even a six and a half minute "cypher" that showcases some of the talent that you'll want to hear on solo projects. Skeptics said it wouldn't work. Doubters said it would flop. However, when all is said and done, the Tunnel Rats hit their mark and made 'Underground Rise' a project worth copping. A genuine snapshot of where hip hop is at, and a glimpse of where it's heading. (And word on the street is, volume 2 is on the way). Read More Here
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Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. How We Get Down
3. You Don't Want That
4. Southern Brutality
5. Kick Kick
6. Devil's Advocate
7. Concentrated
8. Lost
9. Real Money
10. The Knack
11. Ladders
12. Interlude
13. One Voice
14. Suffocation
15. Mission Pen Possible
16. Cyphers
17. Doing Life
18. Remember This Day
19. Outro
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