When emcees Gift of Gab [click to read] from Blackalicious and Lateef the Truth Speaker from Latryx came together with Crown City Rocker producer Headnodic to create The Mighty Underdogs, the bar was set pretty high. All three acts they are associated with are known as subterranean rockers, and, added to the Prelude EP they released last year, it was clear that they had a certain chemistry. The chemistry does indeed carry over for the full LP, Dropping Science Fiction, proving that the Hip Hop super-group can work when the artists are on the same page.
When listening to the intro to the album, there are children who operate the vocals find themselves scared by some fallen equipment. Its a great segue into the meaning of the themed introduction ,”Monster,” whose blaring horns behind rapid fire rhymes by both emcees welcome the listener to what he is getting involved with. The only track to make the leap from EP to LP, “Gun Fight” [click to view] is a track that has to grow on you, especially MF DOOM‘s abstract rhymes, however those who keep with it will eventually enjoy it.
The albums high point comes in the remix to The Prelude‘s “UFC.” Simply called “UFC Remix” features DJ Shadow cutting the track viciously on the one’s-and-two’s. He furiously blends Pusha T‘s “Who gonna stop us/Not a God Damn One of You” behind and around his slices to the beat. The albums exit is just as enjoyable, as the airy and light “Victorious” calls for head nods and toe taps with its terse horns and upbeat rhythm section.
“Laughing at you” is interesting at first. However after a few listens, its freestyle humor based rhyming scheme behind a minimalist beat turns from humorous to skippable. “Science Fiction,” which entertains at first with its nonsensical storytelling suffers the same fate. “Warwalk” falls victim to too-many-emcee-itis, as six emcees are squeezed into four minutes of time. It comes across as overbearing. The flaws lend to the thought that if this album was a tad more svelte, it could have reached the realm of greatness.
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At its end, most of Dropping Science Fiction‘s tracks have a quality that gets better after every listen. The chemistry displayed between almost every act on the album has culminated into some good solid Hip Hop. Longtime fans of those involved may not be satisfied with good however. The Underdogs don’t live up to past releases by Blackalcious, Latyrx or their solo albums. Still worth some listens for old fans and new one’s alike.
