Indie Spotlight: ‘NY Underground Kingz’ Is A Gritty Hip-Hop Character Study

We receive a ton of tips every day from independent creators, unaffiliated with any major motion picture studios, television networks, new media studios, or other well-funded online video entities. The Indie Spotlight is where we’ll write about and shout out to a select few of them and bring you up to speed on the great (and sometimes not-so-great) attention-grabbing series you probably haven’t heard about until now. Read previous installments here.

There are many web series set in New York, but few shows explore the Big Apple with as much detail as NY Underground Kingz. Dallas Alexis and Omari Levers‘ profile of an underground hip-hop artist and his complex web of relationships is a nuanced and ambitious profile of a man, his music, his city, and the life he lives.

The protagonist of NY Underground Kingz (portrayed by Rubin Hernandez) goes by the name Osiris, and as the series begins, he finds himself at a crossroads of sorts. While his raps have gained him some measure of respect and a steady cash flow, he is contemplating his next step while contemplating how the people around him fit into his life. At the same time, NY Underground Kingz showcases its share of crime and vice, not just in Osiris’ immediate circle but around the whole city.

Where NY Underground Kingz is at its best is in the simple dialogues between its characters. The script does a good job of conveying the basic plot points of the show while also ruminating on deeper, more philosophical topics. Alexis’ directorial style is also strong; it does a good job with an apparent small budget by effectively using color, music, and varied camera angles. NY Underground Kingz is a series that gets better as you dive into its world; to check it out, head over to its YouTube channel.

OTHER UNDER-THE-RADAR SERIES TO CHECK OUT

• The Call Room. The cringe comedy of The Office meets a cell center setting.
• Ex. A young nerd meets an inter-dimensional prince and gains super powers in the process.
• So This Is The Place. Comedic vignettes take place at viewings for vacant apartments.

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