In the 90s, a group hailing from hip-hop’s birthplace of New York City, particularly Brooklyn, would be held to high standards when it came to lyrics and production. But in recent times you can barely distinguish where an artist is from, thanks to a homogenous culture of Auto-Tune flows and Southern beats.
That isn’t the case with Flatbush duo the Underachievers on their sophomore album. AK and Issa Gold’s lyrics are reminiscent of classic NYC hip-hop, while the production has a contemporary feel. The duality referred to in the title also shows up in Evermore’s penchant for pitting motivational anthems (Star Signs) alongside street bravado jams (Take Your Place), a mix that used to be common in early hip-hop albums before backpack or trap classifications kept rap artists stuck on either side.
Despite two-thirds of the album taking risks by adding everything from saxophone to opera, the final handful of songs feel like filler. Still, Evermore: The Art Of Duality largely delivers.
Top track: The Dualist
The Underachievers play the Phoenix Sunday (October 18).
