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Welcome to Issue 10

April 16, 2025
by
Metamorphosis
For growth to take place, a seed has to be planted, and idea has to occur, nourishment and a fertile soil is an important factor. The idea that just one attempt at something will bring you to the lighthouse is very preposterous. Nothing that progresses over time was ever easy. 
As a creative, I am sure you can testify that every piece of art, every task, everything that you ever put your mind to, didn’t always come easy because you loved it. There are hard days, good days, unsure days and days you choose to hide from the sun. In all of these, you stuck to what you truly love. Some of us have hidden our art from the world, trying to stifle ourselves and pretending that we’re nothing but mere puns in the game of success. But who defines success? Who tells you what makes you a great artist? 
WhatisUndergrxnd was made to remind you that your pieces are needed to play this game. You’re an important aspect in someone’s growth. Without creatives like you who think they are small and hidden, we wouldn’t have come this far. How far have we come? 
Let’s take a look at the first masterpieces to ever emerge from this 
These graphics told stories, they filled a gap, a place that made us understand that talents were hidden in secret places because they feared the sun would burn them. We’re the space between noise and meaning — where raw stories, wild art, and unfiltered truth come alive.
Here, voices that have been overlooked or dismissed find a home. We thrive on the unconventional, the honest, and the bold. No sugarcoating. No pretenses. Just people being exactly who they are — and creating from that sacred place.
In one of our most recent issues, we explored the theme “Freewill.” 
It was a journey into what it means to choose — to break out of the mold, to rebel gently or loudly, to simply exist on one’s own terms. Through poetry, prose, visual art, and spoken word, our contributors asked: What does freedom look like when it’s not just granted, but claimed?
We are more than a publication. We are a movement — a living, breathing archive of brave expression. And we’re just getting started.
Amarcahi highlights the concept of how free man can truly be.
“Are we ever truly free? Free from the external forces that shape our lives daily? I should mention that I am the first child and daughter out of five. In a country like ours, where the economy is in constant decline, every decision I make feels like a calculated move on a giant chessboard. It reminds me of the human chess game in Harry Potter, where one wrong move could spell disaster.” 
Life can stifle us all it wants; it can grip us by the feet and try to spin us in the air. However, we can choose to not let the narratives of others define who we let ourselves be.
 
Creativity is incomplete without the struggles. Our founders say this, one of the major challenges he has faced while building this space for you is “COMMUNITY”. Getting people to buy into your idea is a hell lot of work. I myself can attest to the fact that finding a community that exposed one to levels unimaginable while also enhancing their strengths is tricky. So is making a safe space for people to know that this will be read but people and they would agree or not agree to my opinion but speaking is what matters. WhatisUndergrxnd is a community. It’s not a one-man business. To all those who have given a part of themselves to our issues, we say a Big Thank you. 
 
Self-doubt, an overwhelming sense of fear can hit one while in pursuit of the things he or she loves. Our 8th Issue highlighted the significance of learning in the process, it brought to light how much we are able to hold onto while moving through life. We grow when we let go of things that do not serve us in order to make space for the better. Lessons come in different ways and they can be tough. 
 
Lessons: Lessons in Life, Love, and Loss
“Lessons aren’t always loud and obvious. Sometimes, they whisper in the quiet moments. A walk through nature might teach us to appreciate beauty in simplicity. A conversation with a grandparent might reveal the value of patience and sacrifice. These subtle lessons shape us in ways we don’t immediately realize, molding our character over time.
The beauty of life’s lessons lies in their universality. No matter where we come from or what we’ve been through, we all have something to learn—and something to teach. Sharing our stories helps others navigate their own challenges, creating a chain of growth and understanding that connects us all.” ~ A glimpse of Angel Ebubechi’s article on our 8th Issue. 
So far, it’s been wonderful holding each other’s hands and walking this path. When a butterfly is still wrapped in its cocoon, we know neither the color it would come in or how far it would fly to bring beauty to our lives. The Undergrxnd is your home when you make it one. 
So, here’s us, calling out to you. We need your submissions to make this issue a reality. There’s no us without you! 
 
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