Search - People Under the Stairs :: Stepfather

Best yet from PUTS

Trey Clark | Santa Barbara, CA | 04/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Double K and Thes One's parents must be proud. After three albums and an EP worth of beats, breaks, booze and blunts, the People Under the Stairs are growing up a little with "Stepfather."



That's not to say there's anything wrong with a youthful indiscretion - in fact, some of rap's best and brightest moments were created by young groups without too much concern for a heavy, important message. And each release from PUTS has consistently been both masterfully composed and fun to listen to.



Luckily for us, Stepfather stays the course on those two points. The beats reaffirm the duo's status as top tier among rap producers. More than ever, the breaks tickle your spine while the drums open-hand slap you in the face - you can't help but move.



But after a few songs, you'll notice that things have changed - hold on, I don't think I've heard any cuss words yet - wow, Thes won't let his friends drink and drive - these guys sure love their families. And it's more than just one song meant to appease their mothers (2Pac, Kanye, etc etc) - the theme of family is sprinkled throughout the album, and it never sounds forced or cheesy. It's real.



There were warning signs to this new side of the People. "LA Song (Sensitive Mix) on "Or Stay Tuned" examined a mix of characters racing against the city, and Thes' solo single "Noonen" proclaimed his new resolution to wake (and grow) up.



But I doubt many P fans expected to find this much growth on Stepfather. And while the "mature" label on most rap albums usually works as a simile for "boring," in this case it has helped bring out the best of PUTS. Congrats fellas, this is your finest work yet."

5 Stars! A Triumphant return for the P...

? | United Kingdom! | 05/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 2006, the eagerly anticipated album from PUTS (People Under The Stairs) is here, and I am glad to say it was definitely worth the wait. With 18 tracks, and 2 skits it is obvious that Thes One & Double K have worked hard (as always), for stepfather to ensure the fans do not go wanting. In the past PUTS and their music have been constantly criticized for the resulting contrast between their mediocre rhymes & the flawless beats...now as much as that can be debated, it was & still is a issue for most people. With that in mind, I believe, that lyrically this is the best Puts have ever produced. Mc/Producers Thes One & Double K seem to have really stepped up for this, with trademark great flows as usual but the substance of each song is so much more than the parties, booze, blunts & fun theme that was so prominent in earlier releases. Now, don't get me wrong, I love everything by the Puts, but I did feel that after 3 albums and an EP of, basically, consistent lyrics, the puts needed to step up in order to get the recognition they deserve. They have done this. Similarly, the main thing to note about Stepfather is that Thes & K seem to have matured much more touching on subjects that are more personal to them and give us more of an insight into how they think and get down. From the importance of Family on "Days like these" (and throughout the album) to how they Eat on "Eat Street" and yeh, you guessed it, some ideas on how they like to have fun on "jamboree". Like everything the P does, the album is straight consistency with not one weak track on the entire album. However, saying that, I did find that "Pass The 40" just scrapes "OK", as the beat is just not to my taste, and creates a rocky flow of consistency at the start which soon re-gathers when "Pumpin'" kicks in. So, all I can, is if you are a Fan of people under the stairs without a doubt peep this, if you havent heard of them peep this and even if you didn't like them peep this as you will find you may like this one. PEACE



P.S. (The DVD which comes with the special/limited edition of this cd is also amazing. With footage showing us how the P started, what they're like, where they live, how they make their beats, shows etc etc etc. A GREAT extension to the album. The Poster is also a great addition!)



Lyrics - 10/10

Beats - 5000/10 (It's the P!)

Originality (of album) - 8.5/10

Replay Value - 10/10



Best Tracks - Flex Off, Days Like These, Jamboree, Eat Street, More Than You Know and On & On.



If you found this review helpful, check my others"

Buy a brand new PUTS to go with your cup of tea

De La | Idaho USA | 02/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the first People Under the Stairs album I bought back in the month of July in 2006, just three months after its release. I was traveling to the Warp Tour show in Boise Idaho for a good time and to enjoy the company of my friends. Of course we stopped at a couple record shops and I saw this double disc hip hop album on the shelf, sampled it and it sounded nice, it sounded fresh, and I knew I wasn't going out with any mainstream popcorn rap album.

It has now been eight months since I have owned Stepfather and I now own, O.S.T, ...Or Stay Tuned, The Next Step, & The Cat, with many more PUTS on its way. I will tell you, whoever may be reading this, that the P is the freshest sound in Hip Hop since you were born. Go ahead read the other reviews of what people say about the P, nothing but positive marks, cheerful attitudes and dedicated listeners.

If you want to listen to two B-Boys having fun, making quality music, smooth lyrics with diversity within the culture they live in, and a positive outlook on every single track you play, the PUTS is for you. If not, good for you.



Stepfather: The CD version includes a poster and a DVD with interviews, documentary-style commentary by the artists, live footage, videos and much more."