He Might Blow Up, But He Won’t Go Pop

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More About

• Termanology (Rapper)
• Company Flow (Band)
• Hi-Tek
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Underground Hip-Hop

In 1999, every kid with a Jansport had a freestyle demo tape tucked into the front zipper pocket, a notepad, and a motto derived directly from Company Flow: "Independent as fuck and lovin' it!" Most of those kids are now junior associates at firms specializing in contract law — consider yourself called out, Nicholas Suplina — or they jumped ship post-Kanye and went bubblegum.

Thankfully, though, a select few stayed true to the belief that all you need is two turntables and a microphone, and one of those survivors is Termanology, whose conscious lyrics and soul-laden beats (courtesy of legends such as DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Hi-Tek) hark back to the golden days of underground rap. Listing his influences as "mostly old shit," Termanology still believes in antiquated notions such as having a message, crab scratches, and the raw power of the 4/4 hi-hat, and this Friday, the Boston-based MC is out to prove to Miami that real hip-hop still matters. Show up at PS14 by 8 p.m. to find out for yourself.
Fri., Sept. 11, 8 p.m., 2009