ThaLandz.com launched in 1996 as one of the internet’s first online Audio Vaults dedicated to Underground Hip-Hop. Founded by California-based DJ, MC, Producer, and Music Archivist Dru Ali, the site began as a passion project made possible by rare access to server space and the emerging RealAudio technology. At a time when streaming full albums online was unheard of, Tha Landz allowed listeners around the world to experience underground hip-hop in a new way. Built with hand-coded HTML, the site quickly became a global hub for hip-hop heads, featuring artists from across the world and bridging underground scenes long before social media. One of its most innovative features, The Dungeon, became the internet’s first known RealAudio MC battle platform, where artists and fans submitted recordings and helped shape early online battle culture. After going offline in the early 2000s, Tha Landz resurfaced in 2012 and continues to stand as a pioneering artifact of hip-hop’s digital evolution.