(Earshot/Inertia)

Throwback kings the People Under The Stairs have returned, and for eager fans always waiting on their latest release, it is somewhat of a departure from their previous sounds. ‘Stepfather’ has the potential to alienate fans, or it may win them a slew of new ones.

Previously a PUTS release meant party breaks, samples and no nonsense lyrical tales of booze and broads, all delivered with their own lyrical prowess. This garnered them a loyal fan base from the backpack brigade and underground heads, yet left many questioning whether they were really good for the progression of hip-hop. On Stepfather PUTS really have attempted something totally different. In order to progress to a more modern sound they have used some of the oldest gear they could find, an irony I’m sure not lost on Thes One and Double K. The sound here is actually really minimal, think the stripped back sound The Neptunes have pioneered for the past couple of years, but more on the psychedelic Parliament funk tip. It’s tight and gradually growing on me, but to my ears it just isn’t what I’d come to expect from PUTS. However, every musical group must progress or get left by the wayside, and I take my hat off to the guys for having the balls to make ‘Stepfather’.

Lyrically both Thes One and Double K have always had really nice flow and mic presence, and this time around it’s complimented by a nicer level of lyrical depth. Be it on the BBQ Jamboree Pts 1 & 2, the clever Eat Street, where fast food restaurants are name checked, to LA9X, a history lesson on the west coast’s finest, there is definitely more lyrical substance here. Another track that raised a smile of approval was Letter To The Old Skool, where they pose questions of the scene’s pioneers and ask exactly what the hell their lyrics meant. Sure it’s not political change or groundbreaking stuff, but they are clever ideas put together well.

I was a fan of People Under The Stairs when they were the throwback party group and perhaps this is why ‘Stepfather’ is taking a minute to grow on me. There is more lyrical depth and greater layers of sound in production, I guess it’s just not what I was expecting. Come into your listening experience without any preconceived ideas and I’m sure you will be rewarded.