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DNA: 
A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, DeLaSoul, The Coup

The Band:
People Under the Stairs (PUTS) are an underground hip-hop group from Los Angeles, California.  PUTS is composed of two members, Thes One and Double K.  Carried Away was recorded entirely on reel-to-reel with a well-thought out arrangement of jazz, rock and disco samples. 

I’ve been a fan of hip-hop since the late 1980’s and a fan of PUTS since around 2000 when I heard their first feature album, Questions in the Form of An Answer.  Most of today’s hip-hop acts are short-lived train wrecks aimed at the lowest common denominator (Soulja Boy, anyone?), providing us at best with a “quick fix”, but no real substance.  Remember when Ill Communication came out?  That CD stayed in my car for 2 years.  Today, I listen to 2-3 new albums a week, and rarely do any of them remain in the iPod past one month.  In a world of unlimited options, most of today’s hip-hop acts are just another option.  However, with seven albums released, PUTS seems to have found longevity and a core fan base. 

In October of 2009, I was in Los Angeles for a business trip, staying in West Hollywood.  I was surfing one of the million “what to do in LA” websites when I saw that the Carried Away release show was happening that night at the Key Club on Sunset, a short cab ride from my hotel.  The show was fantastic- to borrow a sports analogy, these guys really leave it all on the field.  There was a ton of great interaction with the crowd, giving the show a friendly and fun house party vibe.  During a break, I went to the merch table to buy the album.  Inside the CD packaging was a laminated card that entitled me to 2 free drinks and VIP seating at the next PUTS show I went to.  How cool is THAT.  I’ll go to their next show regardless, but that little token made me feel like I was part of something, and how often can you say that?

As artists, PUTS get it.  They seem like fun guys that love their lives and what they do.  They produce their own tracks, run their own tours and show a sincere appreciation for their fan base.  They’re in control of their brand.  In today’s hip-hop world, PUTS is a rarity- they deliver substance and well-crafted work not designed for the “quick-fix”, but for building a career.

The Music:
The tracks on Carried Away go back and forth, toeing the line between tongue-in-cheek humor and serious lyrical delivery.  Some listeners are bound to find that there is too much cheese in tracks like “Beer” or “Teeth”.  There are a few meandering cuts like “My Boy D” and “Chicken Kebap” that I would consider filler tracks at best.  There are plenty of party references to alcohol and marijuana.  But by and large, this is a REALLY fun listen.

The album starts with “Step Off”, a track that captures the spirit of this album and achieves a fine balance between the art and the humor of the craft.  The reel-to-reel production is especially evident on this track- you’ll hear it in the vocal distortion.  There is also a near-cover of A Tribe Called Quest’s classic jam “Check the Rhime” called “Check the Vibe” which calls out the likes of Bill Clinton and Arsenio Hall over a Hammond B3-ish organ loop and dusty drums.  There is also the clever “Letter From The Old School” which follows “Letter To The Old School” from the Stepfather album and features some great versatility by Double K.  “Down In LA” brought me right back to summertime with the booming 808 and handclap reminiscent of the best Warren G tracks.  “Hit The Top” brings hard-hitting percussion over jazz samples and is a great track for getting your day started in the morning.  As a whole, Carried Away delivers an authentic early-90s hip-hop party feel, with serious head-nodding beats and fun, clever lyrics. 

I’ve used a lot of comparisons here, but I should note that PUTS has a very original sound.  The production style may be old-school, but it’s creative, unique and unlike anything else out there when it’s all said and done.  

Tracks You Should Check Out Regardless
Be sure to check some of these out and comment below.  I’d love to hear what you think of the music and my recommendation.

• Hit The Top

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• Down In LA

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• Step Off

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• Bonus Coverage: Swan Fever from 2008′s FUN-DMC album
• Double Bonue Coverage for Audiophiles: Thes One in the Production Booth 

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