Some artists have found fame through MySpace such as:

Taylor Swift
http://www.myspace.com/taylorswift

Sean Kingston
http://www.myspace.com/seankingston

Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em (a.k.a. Soulja Boy)
http://www.myspace.com/souljaboytellem

Others are still awaiting there turn for their talent to be discovered.

Some artists that I have found:

Tee Easy – “Diva Walk”
http://www.myspace.com/teeeasy

J-Wiz – “Going In”
http://www.myspace.com/jwiz412

Novillos Musical – “Yo Si Te Quiero”
http://www.myspace.com/novillosmusical

 S.B.G. – “Wetter G”
http://www.myspace.com/familysbg

Souljaz Of Xpression – “Victory”
http://www.myspace.com/souljazofxpression

Shawn – “Money Freestyle”
http://www.myspace.com/volgin117

Vertigo – “Typical”
http://www.myspace.com/vertigorox

Money Brokerz – “Lil T Paper Planes”
http://www.myspace.com/newstyle

Urban Threshold’s Underground Music Awards is the biggest and brightest national award show for indie artists.

Music superstars such as Slick Rick, MOP, GrandMaster Flash, The Force MD’s, Kid Capri, DJ Red Alert, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Kool G. Rap & More have all been honored at Urban Threshold’s Underground Music Awards.

Additionally, Saigon, Remy Ma, Sha Stimuli, Styles P, Mims, Papoose, Joell Ortiz, Maino, Serius Jones, Graph, Killah Priest, Cormega & more are all past winners of Urban Threshold’s Underground Music Awards.

Equally important, major press such as MTV, The Source, XXL Magazine, Don Diva Magazine, Showtime & more have all covered the UMA’s.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards will feature a special tribute to Rap Pioneer DMC of the legendary rap group Run DMC.

Urban Threshold’s Underground Music Awards is a national award show that breaks all of the rules of conventionalism. Unlike the Grammy Awards or the Billboard Music Awards, the Underground Music Awards were created to acknowledge and honor the achievements and contributions of unsigned and independent artists within the urban music scene.

After 6 very successful years, Urban Threshold Enterprises Inc. continues to make it their top priority to bring together music professionals, artists, DJ’s, fans, media outlets and more to network, build relationships and celebrate the culture of independent urban music. The Underground Music Awards combines the elements of an award show, a music conference, an informational seminar, and an entertainment showcase into one lively event.

Moreover, It features and participants, from all over the world, representing the full spectrum of underground Hip Hop, R&B, Gospel, and Reggae music and fashion as a global phenomenon.

The 2008 Underground Music Awards was held at the world famous BB Kings Concert Hall in New York City’s Times Square. Last year’s award show marked one of the year’s most celebrated events in NYC. Special Awards were presented to the legendary Slick Rick and DJ Pioneer GrandMaster Flash. The ’08 UMA’s received extensive coverage from Clear Channel’s Power 105.1FM, the Source Magazine, and All Hip Hop.com. These media outlets have pledged to support the UMA’s in 2009. The excitement and buzz of the 2008 awards show was only paralleled by its overall support and attendance. As the date of the 2009′s show draws near, the same sense of anticipation is growing.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in NYC on August 23rd. The legendary BB Kings Concert Hall in the heart of NYC’s Times Square will play host to the awards ceremony. The event will be a star-studded mega musical show with performances by the nominees, featured major label acts and appearances by film and fashion celebrities.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards will Feature Special Performances By Rap Pioneer DMC from the legendary Run DMC, Freeway, & more

-Story from http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=50704

Rank Artist – ‘Title’ Buy/ Listen 1 Peak:  1 Days On:  31 Masta Ace & EDO.G: ‘Little Young‘M-Phazes Label: M3 Music Rating: (4.9 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  140 Total Listens:  3435 2 Peak:  2 Days On:  15 Ghostface Killah (of Wu-Tang Clan): ‘Stay‘Skymark Label: Def Jam Recordings Rating: (4 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  104 Total Listens:  1242 3 Peak:  1 Days On:  112 Alchemist feat. Evidence (of Dilated Peoples), Blu, Talib Kweli, Kid Cudi: ‘Therapy‘Alchemist Label: E1 Entertainment Rating: (4.1 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  70 Total Listens:  10480 4 Peak:  3 Days On:  15 People Under The Stairs (Thes One + Double K): ‘Trippin At The Disco‘N/A Label: Sai-Sam Records Producer: Today’s Listens:  55 Total Listens:  922 5 Peak:  5 Days On:  15 Apathy feat. J-Live: ‘This Is The Formula‘Apathy Label: Demigodz Entertainment Rating: (5 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  61 Total Listens:  834 6 Peak:  3 Days On:  31 KRS-One & Buckshot (of Black Moon) feat. Immortal Technique: ‘Runnin Away‘Black Milk Label: Duck Down Records Rating: (4.8 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  58 Total Listens:  1650 7 Peak:  7 Days On:  15 Skyzoo: ‘Under Pressure‘9th Wonder Label: Duck Down Records Producer: Today’s Listens:  49 Total Listens:  634 8 Peak:  6 Days On:  15 Guilty Simpson & Madlib: ‘OJ Simpson‘Madlib Label: Stones Throw Records Rating: (4.5 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  27 Total Listens:  694 9 Peak:  9 Days On:  15 Apathy feat. B-Real (of Cypress Hill), Celph Titled: ‘Shoot First‘Mike Shinoda Label: Demigodz Entertainment Producer: Today’s Listens:  20 Total Listens:  457 10 Peak:  8 Days On:  15 Skyzoo: ‘Like A Marathon‘9th Wonder Label: Duck Down Records Rating: (3.5 Stars) Producer: Today’s Listens:  23 Total Listens:  598

 For the full list click on link.
http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/audio/top40/

Through the course of recording an album, an artist records many songs and only a choice few make the cut and get added to the tracklist. The other songs that were recorded may be put on a future album, but sometimes those songs are put on what is called, in Hip Hop,  a mixtape.
These mixtapes do not usually make it to mainstream. That is to say that these albums are not given promotion as a mainstream album would get. These mixtapes might be sold online, but for the most part they never make it to the shelves of a department store.

These mixtapes are self-promotions for artists.

If the album is produced by an unknown artist trying to get into the music business; it is a way to create interest in their work. That artist might give it to an audience they perform in front of, radio stations, or the artist might give it to a record executive. These are all ways an unknown artist can try to create “buzz” for themselves to try and land a recording contract with a record company.
An already established artist uses these kinds of albums to promote themself or a mainstream album that they have coming out soon. These artists will also give them out at their shows, or sell them on the street or online.

These are all ways for the artist to create recognition for themelves.

I am always on the look for excellent music and I like to check out what others are listening to as well.
So, if you have any links to old, recent, or new music that you like send them to me!