iChina.com

In the popular version of underground hip-hop history, New York gets most of the credit, with the West Coast coming in a very close second for wholly creating its own sound. But what often gets lost in the shuffle is the influence of groups and labels from the Midwest, including Detroit.

Despite the city's somewhat unsavory reputation to outsiders, Detroit has long boasted a small, but vital underground hip-hop scene that's influenced the underground hip-hop world at large, through key artists and labels like Psychopathic Records.

One of the earliest and most influential artists in Detroit Underground hip-hop was Esham. He stood out early for incorporating downright scary, metal-style elements of horror into his musical style and stage show.