People Under the Stairs are not the most lyrically gifted duo out there. They’re not Eric B & Rakim or Black Star, but that’s not to say that they aren’t one of the most entertaining and vastly underrated pair of lyricists in the game, a heroic combo that’s so incredibly unique, to call them cult superstars would be an understatement.
PUTS is known for their classic sound they embrace like a vintage pinball machine but in rap form. Thes One comes at you with lightening quick jabs while Double K lays the heavyweight hammer, both with an incredible sense of humor and style all of which is fueled by an insatiable thirst for records, BBQs and video games.
They rep the westcoast hard – LA in particular – and it reflects in their sound, smooth and laid back with a penchant for drunken shenanigans. On their debut album The Next Step they embrace the seldom seen side of westcoast living, a departure from the over the top flash of Hollywood and the hard edges of Compton. The crown jewel on the album “San Francisco Knights” captures the PUTS vibe perfectly, a soft loop with crispy breaks and nostalgic rhymes marinated nicely in some tasty ganja: [LISTEN]
They followed up their debut with a few strong outputs, but they really hit their stride between 2003 and 2006. That’s when they dropped O.S.T., an album where they seemed to congeal settling into their own with bubbly bangers like “Tales of Kid Drunkadelic” and psychedelic excursions like “Acid Raindrops.” But it’s the buttery flow of “Monetgo Slay” that is the ultimate stoner jam, one that places a gilded frame around PUTS’ heart: [LISTEN]
The last album in that run and the one that marked a huge leap forward for PUTS was Stepfather, gone are the dusty breaks, replaced by a more polished sound. It helped launch them into what’s now been a steady career.
They’ve released several albums since then, each embracing the PUTS ethos – the good times. They are the benevolent uncles of rap, the one’s who never grew up and stayed true to themselves and the music they love. A sentiment worth acknowledging, and one that’s embraced wholeheartedly on the fan favorite “Days Like These:” [LISTEN]