#how to make pluggnb

[underground-archives]

Introduction: What is Underground-Archives?

Underground-Archives is a not for profit, senior capstone project taking the form of an archival music blog that aims to explore and tell the story of alternative hip hop subgenres/cultures from the mid 2010s-present by highlighting emerging genres, artists, and projects that were either pivotal for, or reflective of these particular moments in "the culture."

The author of this blog (me) is a 24 year old African-American Drexel University senior from Silver Spring, Maryland who wishes to remain anonymous under their producer/DJ alias "SagestBans" (stylized "S✩GESTBANS").

The blog will be organized into four main types of posts:

Artist/Producer Spotlights

Track Spotlights

Project Spotlights (for albums, EPs, and mixtapes)

Special Artist Spotlights (interview features "In Conversation With" artists relevant to the project)

Now, when you say the word underground, there is a particular association with that word that is a direct consequence of the streaming model - an artist may be considered “underground,” but have 500k listeners on Spotify. Additionally, the present moment seems to conceive of “underground” as primarily pertaining to rage style rappers, or (to a lesser extent), a handful of artists making PluggnB, that were popularized via that notorious video sharing platform we all know and may or may not love: TikTok. Let’s call this type of stuff the “mainstream underground,” so as to draw a distinction between that usage of the term “underground” and the way I use it on Underground-Archives. 

The “underground” in U-A simply refers to anything non-mainstream in hip-hop, especially within the context of the internet and social media as the new vehicle for the consumption and distribution of music, and how that internet-based nature has influenced the music itself. I also use the term “alternative” because not every hip-hop artist that deviates from the mainstream is underground (think Rico Nasty or Bktherula). 

I hope to analyze, explore, document, and contextualize all the incredible ways in which these artists have pushed the boundaries of hip hop as a genre, and hopefully, some of the broader socio-cultural implications of that as well. 

Ultimately, my goal with this project is to document and tell these stories for us to look back on, and also place them  into the context of the broader music industry, which is known to extract from these more organic and culturally specific moments in music to the point of erasure - while many of these unsung pioneers never got to reap the benefits of their legacy, or worse slip through the cracks. I believe it is of the utmost importance to humanize and empower artists while still engaging with their work thoughtfully and critically. I also believe it is of utmost importance to define and reclaim the narrative in the face  of erasure, because music is always more than just music.

Hip hop as a genre is so significant to and reflective of our culture as Black people in America (and the broader diaspora), and music period is such a powerful vehicle for culture and memory. While "culture vultures" and outsiders attempt to define sampling as lazy or uninspired, for example, we as insiders acknowledge the significance of hip-hop as a genre that sampled and reworked a multitude of significant cultural works - perhaps most notably the soul classics of the 70s - giving them a new life and introducing them to generations beyond. After all, reinvention is in our blood.  

As a DJ and (bedroom) producer, I believe part of our job is also to be a historian - to ensure that we keep telling these stories and acknowledging where we came from, as part of maintaining that memory and sense of identity as a people (especially as a people so constantly accused of “lacking” in culture, when the reality is there isn’t a corner of the globe our culture hasn’t touched). It is for this reason that, though this project is for my senior capstone requirement, I intend to continue contributing to Underground-Archives after I graduate, so stay tuned for more!

(Best believe there are already a number of new posts "in the chamber," so to speak)

-S✩GESTBANS

[Disclaimer: this blog is not an endorsement of featured artists or their beliefs. Part of the challenge of telling the story has been navigating the reality of artists who have engaged in problematic behavior, that makes me hesitant to include them in this telling of the story. Artists with known allegations pertaining to sexual assault have been left out entirely, and I use discernment to decide how/whether I want to discuss artists who have committed other offenses.]

[nicollohatessundays]

Little introduction from Nicollo!

🌟 My name is Miriel Nicollo!, but you can call me Nico or Miri!!

🌟 I'm 14 years old, I'll be 15 in October :P (I get hurt when people talk about my age,

🌟 I'm Brazilian, but I understand English but I write with a translator!

🌟 I'm not close to the subcommunity, I only interact with TCC, I ask to stay away from SHEDtbr

🌟 He/She !!

🌟 I'm in my first year of high school!! :D

🌟 I'm a drummer, keyboardist, flutist, music producer, gamedev, gamedesigner, technology technician (under study) , seamstress, programmer, artist...many things, I do a lot lol

🌟 I am dyslexic and have psychosis!

🌟 I'm completely obsessed with columbine!:D I know several things about it ^__^

Some things I like!

I'm a fan of various musical styles, usually Brazilian music! Like pluggnb! I'm a fan of many underground bands and I've been to several shows!

I'm not much of a fan of watching series or movies, but I like some things !!!

Musical preferences!

Quem é você Alice, ilyushin, bella e o olmo da bruxa, kmfdm, nightmare at hanging rock, snob value, mindless self indulgence, tally hall, loopcinema, link do zap, virgingod (fav!!), alex g, sign crush motorist, car seat headrest, chard la plaga, radiohead, the Strokes, Chococorn and the sugarcanes... And many, many others!

Films, animes, series (...)

SCOTT PILGRIM!, zero day, yuukoku no moriarty, the case study of vanitas, wotakoi, Jojo's bizarre adventures, Madoka magica, Doukyuusei series, TOKYO GHOUL !!!!!!!, turma da Monica jovem, Sakura card captor, pokemon series, vincent the secret of myres, yumme nikki, omori, Persona, Monster high, danganronpa, zelda, OSU, rhytimic Thief, Over the garden wall, old cartoon shows [...]

Random stuff

I really like fashion, I follow the Vkei style (Kurofuko/Mehera), I'm trying to join Lolita!, I love steampunk and its variants! I have a strange obsession with explosives production (I've already made some !!), I like to watch some true crime cases (mainly about school shooting) just for fun, I have no strange intentions . . .

Some cases that I like!

I'm a big fan of Academy Maniacs and Columbine, in the sense of idolizing them!

I'm still seeing about some cases, but, Adam Lanza, Kip Kinkel, Brenda Spencer, Suzano, Realengo, Devon Erickson, Andrew Blaze, Supreme gentleman, pekka eric, vlad roslyakov, Alyssa Bustamante, Takatsuka, salvador ramos, Maniaco da Cruz, Futoshi Matsunaga, David Kalac, Tatsuya Ichihashi, Trey sesler [...] They are really interesting to me!

End !!

I hope to make friends :), I need friends, I feel hurt for being alone for so long, I want friends who agree with me and understand me :D Someone to share the same pains and thoughts. . . . How sad!:<

Instagram: nicohatessundays

Discord: ycropaesecakes

Twiter: italopaesecakes

[redhotholysisters]

Perfect—I've got all the details locked in, and we’re ready to roll. Here’s the **full pilot episode** of *Pretty Little Problems*, formatted like a proper 1-hour TV drama script. This version includes your requested structure, characters, tone, and emotional pacing.

---

**PRETTY LITTLE PROBLEMS**

**Episode 101: “Group Chat Breakdown”**

Written by Dorinda

**TEASER (COLD OPEN)**

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – GIRLS’ BATHROOM – MORNING**

*Slow motion. Echoing sounds of a distant school bell.*

Rhinestone flip phone. Glitter shadows. Tears wiped, not cried.

A lip gloss tube rolls off the sink and spins on the tile.

**DORINDA (V.O.)**

*(soft, raw)*

The worst part of heartbreak isn’t the crying.

It’s walking down the hallway the next day—like nothing happened.

Like you’re not bleeding under all that gloss.

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS**

Dorinda walks alone. The hallway is a runway.

Eyes on her. Whispers trail. Posters for the **Spring Fling Dance** line the walls.

She passes TY. Leaning against a locker.

*Arm slung around a new girl.* We DON’T see his face. Just the smug body language.

The beat kicks in—dreamy, distorted pluggnb.

**TITLE CARD:** *PRETTY LITTLE PROBLEMS*

**Episode 1: “Group Chat Breakdown”**

**SMASH TO BLACK.**

---

### ACT ONE

**EXT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – COURTYARD – ONE WEEK EARLIER – MORNING**

*Bright. Glossy. Spring air and big smiles.*

Dorinda, Galleria, and Rosalina walk in sync—coffee cups, mini backpacks, Bratz-core energy.

**GALLERIA**

How long ‘til your boyfriend writes a song about you?

**DORINDA**

If he knows what’s good for him? By Friday.

**ROSALINA**

And if he doesn’t?

**DORINDA**

Then I’ll write one about him—and it won’t be cute.

They laugh. Dorinda is glowing. *She’s in love.*

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – CLASSROOM – LATER**

Ty passes Dorinda a note. His handwriting: perfect.

We STILL don’t see his face—just his profile, hands, body language.

The note reads: *“You’re the only girl who makes me forget the rest.”*

Dorinda blushes.

**GALLERIA (V.O.)**

You ever love somebody so much, you ignore every red flag?

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – LUNCH PERIOD**

Galleria and Rosalina sit with Dorinda under their signature **pink picnic umbrella**.

**ROSALINA**

So... why wasn’t Ty at your dance practice?

**DORINDA**

Said he had guitar lessons. His band’s working on a new EP or whatever.

**GALLERIA**

You mean the band with no Spotify, no gigs, and no talent?

Dorinda giggles. She’s not worried.

**DORINDA**

Y’all are haters. He’s just... mysterious.

Rosalina trades a look with Galleria. Quiet concern.

---

**INT. DORINDA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT**

Dorinda lies on her bed, texting Ty.

**DORINDA (TEXT):**

Can’t sleep. Thinking about you.

**TY (TEXT):**

Busy. Don’t overthink. Night.

Dorinda stares at the text. Heart sinks.

*Crack one.*

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – HALLWAY – NEXT DAY**

Rosalina sees Ty talking to a girl behind the gym.

Again, we don’t see his face. Just his posture. His hand on the girl’s waist.

**ROSALINA (V.O.)**

I knew something wasn’t right. But I didn’t know how wrong it really was.

---

**INT. GIRLS' LOCKER ROOM – LATER**

Dorinda vents while getting ready for cheer practice.

**DORINDA**

He’s just been weird lately. Distant. Cold.

**GALLERIA**

Maybe he’s going through something?

**ROSALINA**

Or maybe... he’s just not that into you anymore.

Dorinda flinches. Harsh truth.

**DORINDA**

No. He loves me. I know he does.

Cut to: Dorinda checking her phone. No new messages.

**END OF ACT ONE**

---

### ACT TWO

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – HALLWAY – DAY**

Enter: **MARISOL.**

New girl energy. Bold red lips. Silver hoops. Bodycon top.

Everyone stares. She walks like she owns the place.

A teacher directs her to her class. She smiles—cool, composed.

**GALLERIA (V.O.)**

Marisol didn’t come to blend in.

She came to *replace someone*.

---

**INT. CAFETERIA – LUNCHTIME**

Marisol sits alone. Her phone buzzes.

**TEXT FROM: TY**

“Don’t sit alone. Makes it obvious.”

She smirks. Rolls her eyes. Texts back: *“Then sit with me.”*

---

**INT. GIRLS' BATHROOM – SAME TIME**

Galleria and Rosalina whisper.

**GALLERIA**

You saw her phone. That wallpaper wasn’t just *a* guy. That was *your* guy.

**ROSALINA**

Maybe it’s not him.

**GALLERIA**

Girl. That leather jacket? The ugly bracelet? It’s Ty.

They go quiet as Dorinda enters.

**DORINDA**

What?

**GALLERIA**

Nothing. You look cute today.

Guilt flashes.

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – MUSIC ROOM – AFTER SCHOOL**

Dorinda surprises Ty. He’s not alone.

He’s laughing with **Marisol.**

She sees them. FREEZES. They don’t notice her.

Then she walks away—quietly, shattered.

We STILL don’t see Ty’s full face. Just his hand on Marisol’s knee.

**END OF ACT TWO**

---

### ACT THREE

**INT. DORINDA’S ROOM – NIGHT**

Dorinda is crying. Reading old texts.

Her phone buzzes.

**MARCELLUS (TEXT):**

You okay? You weren’t at practice.

**GALLERIA (TEXT):**

Please talk to me. We didn’t know.

**ROSALINA (TEXT):**

I swear I thought it was just a rumor.

She ignores them all. Posts a story:

*“Love makes fools. Never again.”*

Unfollows Ty. Deletes their pics.

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – HALLWAY – NEXT DAY**

Everyone’s talking. Ty’s still pretending nothing happened.

Dorinda walks past him. Doesn’t look his way.

She sees Marisol at her locker. Their eyes lock.

Tension. Glitter. *And war.*

---

**INT. GIRLS’ PICNIC TABLE – LUNCHTIME**

**DORINDA**

One of you knew.

**ROSALINA**

I didn’t know it was her.

**GALLERIA**

I didn’t want to believe it.

**DORINDA**

Then you should’ve told me.

(beat)

Because now? You’re not just bystanders.

You’re accomplices.

Silence.

**END OF ACT THREE**

---

### ACT FOUR

**MONTAGE:**

— Dorinda throws away Ty’s sweater.

— Rosalina cries in her car.

— Galleria writes in her journal: *“She deserved better.”*

— Marisol and Ty making out in his car. He pulls away too quickly. Cold.

**TY**

You’re not gonna catch feelings, right?

**MARISOL**

Too late.

---

**INT. BLUSHWOOD HIGH – MORNING**

Dorinda walks in solo. No lip gloss. No soft smiles.

She passes Ty. Doesn’t flinch.

She reaches the pink picnic table. The girls are there—waiting.

Dorinda sits. Opens her mirror. Applies a sharp winged liner.

They follow suit. Quiet, but united.

**DORINDA (V.O.)**

Sometimes the prettiest girls have the messiest problems.

But we don’t run.

We reapply… and we keep going.

---

**FADE TO BLACK.**

**NEXT TIME ON PRETTY LITTLE PROBLEMS…**

**“Lip Gloss Lies” –** Galleria gets blackmailed.

**“Cry Cute” –** Rosalina’s secret ex returns.

**“He Blocked Me First” –** Marisol spirals.

**END OF EPISODE 101.**

---

Let’s revise, expand into Final Draft format, or build a series bible next—whatever you need. We’re in showrunner mode now.

[remstarrecordings]

observation #1 - producer mack

*real names are not used to protect subjects identity*

first impressions: nice, nonchalant, knowledgeable, 21

living situation: lives with family, records and produces in his bedroom.

set up: included fl, a mac, 2 computer monitors, mic, large piano keyboard, and 2 sound monitors

production style: something I have never seen before. doesn't know music theory, so listens to everything by ear. doesn't make traditional trap beats, they are more afro-style and whimsey.

history: started rapping January 2025, started making beats and doing audio engineering in 2022.

beat rating: 7/10, he has so much potential.

i walked into his room and was immediately impressed by his set up. I had gotten bagels for us to eat, but we didn't eat them for hours as we were involved with the beats that he had made. the beats were really inspiring, a sound I didn't expect from him. they were a mix of trap, pluggnb, afro, and house. during my time with him, he made a total of 3 beats, which took him about 30 minutes each. that is extremely impressive, but it comes from the fact that he makes his beats through his mind. he said that the only thing he hears in his head is noise. he translates that noise into beats.

we took a short break to smoke a spliff, he knows how to roll well. I continued to watch him make beats and it was so hypnotizing that I couldn't even pay attention to my Ableton. he pulled plugins and instruments out of nowhere, just based off what was calling to him. it was all based on intuition.

he is a global producer, with connections all over the United States and South America. his friends are rappers that use his beats. he showed me such a refreshing song that his friends hopped on, it felt like drinking a beer with good friends. we created a beat together that we are calling "alien baseball," that was the first thing that popped in my mind while he was adding instruments.

I learned a lot from him, I don't need to know music theory (which has been holding me back) and that I can create anything that comes into my brain. hanging out with him and watching him was a wonderful experience.

[jentlemahae]

it's SO funny that you say that bcs i have spent the past week or so seeing bunnies/the hybe girlies denying that it sounds like a nj song. "but it's pluggnb" you are so stupid if you think that nj wouldn't release a song in this genre. it's not like people have been comparing them for no reason, there's an obvious similarity here, give it up!!

aside from the nj comparisons and their matching hybe-nose-veneer special, i actually watched the show they were on (r u next) and.. oof 😬 this was the first survival show i watched since izone and it was just as rigged lol. it was such a weird experience. there were SO many trainees who were insanely talented but they constantly criticized by the judges and the trainees who were shit were always praised (and ended up debuting too 🤭) and most of the criticism seemed really random and irrelevant too, almost like they were making up excuses on why they shouldn't debut them. then it turned out hybe already chose this cute concept as well as 4 out of the 6 members (now 5 bcs 1 member left) so other than exposure etc, what was the point in the show at all? like i get having a pre-planned concept but should they not have made that clear at the start? putting all those other trainees through all that when hybe knew they were never gonna debut in this group........ weirdos !!!!! anw just to reiterate how rigged this show is, one of the members of this group was scouted at a bus stop, trained for 1 month, went on the show, was consistently bad but was praised by the judges for no reason, then she somehow won the show and made it into the group, beating out a bunch of very talented girls. i'm not gonna be too harsh but hybe were the ones who purposefully got rid of all the competent singers and talented trainees just to debut members based on vibes only so i can't be too positive about them 🥴

i’ve seen so many tweets like that too and like …. how can u look me in the eyes and tell me that’s not something nj would release ? u can’t! like even aside from the sound, the concept and visuals are all very similar 🥴 let’s be honest here

and yeah, i actually remember that several people were complaining about how rigged that show was and how they were eliminating the best trainees :/ plus, honestly since it’s clear hybe already had decided most of the lineup beforehand, they should have been upfront about that and just said “hey the others are here to get more practice of being a trainee” (kinda like what sm did with nct wish’s show) and called it a day bcs that was a) annoying, and b) unfair and cruel to the other contestants

[suli-infinity]

Day 627

Haven’t posted on tumblr in a min, and the infinitys been shit for the past month or so cuz i been on vacay. This months theme has been a morph of cloud rap and pluggnb. I think i wanna go more in the direction of pluggnb and experiment with that production style because I feel like theres room for trying new things there. This track was a lil lightweight just followed a basic tut on how to make new cloud rap type beats and the lyrics are inspired by my exhaustion.