Question in the Form of an Answer

People Under The Stairs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 19, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Om Records
• ASIN: B00004TJ6U
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,330 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On People Under the Stairs' sophomore album, after 1999's The Next Step, debut producer and MC Thes One promises in the liner notes, "We'll keep making that '93-style hip-hop with that '73-style funk till 2033." Trying to fulfill that guarantee, on Question in the Form of an Answer PUTS digs up obscure funk loops and breaks, staying true to an underground tradition that emphasizes neck-breaking beats and high-caliber lyricism. The formula is transparent at times, perhaps a little too obvious, but it's hard not to like their new-school influence, whether in the form of puff-chested braggadocio ("Yehaw Partystyles") or superfunky spy fantasies ("Suite for Creeper"). --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars '93 hip-hop + '73 funk= a beautiful lp, June 28, 2000

By 

Chris (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Question in the Form of an Answer (Audio CD)

Two years after the not particularly well distributed "The Next Step" LP, Thes One and Double K give it another try, hoping that people catch on to their vibe. Their first album is my favorite hip hop album of all time, which points to the fact that I like their style. Aside from "Suite for Creeper" every song on this full length lp follows their recipe for hip hop, positive messages portrayed through mellow beats. Their soothing sound is a nice change from the rough mainstream hiphop of DMX and Juvenile, just to name a few. Dont get me wrong, PUTS doesnt speak the knowledge of Common or have the wide appeal of Eminem, but they know how to reminisce about the golden age of hip hop in funk,and put it all in a nice album. A few standout tracks: Youth Explosion-addictive beat, fun Sterns to Western- Kid Lex isnt that great,but a funny song (listen to the chorus) Code Check-mellow guitar, nice sampling Blowin Wax-in your face rapping, impressive Yehaw Partystyles-a fun song E Business-mellow ATCQ-esque beat July 3rd- Think of the 4th of july and the beat matches that feeling We'll be there-beatiful positivity

Turn off the lights, close your eyes, put on the headphones, and chill out. A soothing musical work of art.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars p.u.t.s. 'dig up the beats like super mario 2', March 30, 2005

By 

b.o.b. "white boy reggae fan" (Parma, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Question in the Form of an Answer (Audio CD)

i have to say, being in my late 20's, it is really hard to find any good hip-hop that gives you the feeling of chillen and being back in high school, or just good beats and flows to listen to and laugh along with (like the 'super mario 2' reference), but 'question in the form of an answer' is the solution to this problem. thes love and dub put together some of the best sounds available in the genre, sampling every single sound on the recording from some obscure records. (no drum machines are used at all.) they seem to be feeling the cats that don't wanna hear about bling-bling and escalades, and they deliver great rhymes that even suburban white dudes (like myself) can relate to and get into. i love both of their styles of flow and the jazz-funk vibe that almost all of the tracks seem to retain. swearing and cussing is not overt and is done in quite the same way that it is used when you are hanging out and talking with your friends. i highly recommend this disc, along with all the other p. sounds, if you liked e.p.m.d. and a tribe called quest, but can't stand nelly or eminem or 50 cent. the peeps are the real deal, just 2 b-boys making good old hip-hop.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funk Me! This is good!, August 5, 2000

By 

Mr. A. B. Nathan "ascher" (london) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Question in the Form of an Answer (Audio CD)

For all you dot.com Americans out there (in Britain we have amazon.co.uk) I will need to set the scene. Leeds is about 250 miles north of London, and it is a fairly big town that is booming economically. OK? Six months ago, to a small club/bar style venue comes The People Under the Stairs, heralded as the new hi-hop wonders from L.A. As a poor student not really knowing the ways of the PUTS I decided I could not afford the entrance fee and did not go. However, a mate of mine DJed before them and was telling me how good they were. So, I headed out and bought The Next Step. Oh, that was good...funky loops and a bit of depth. But, the MCing left a little to be desired and it generally sounded like it was knoocked up in their bedroom, (which I hear it was). Despite this, I thought they definately had a spark of something good.

But when I bought the second album, Question in the Form of an Answer I wasn't really expecting that much. So, it got put on the back burner a bit, I didnt really listen to it for a while, and I was further compounded by the breakdown of my CD player. (Is this getting boring?)

OK, lets cut to the chase. After lots of trying, I finally sat down and listened to the album, and it blew me away. How can two people improve this much? Gone was the rough production edges, the muffled beats, the hectic layering. The beats were crisp, as were the sounds. How about the MCing, which was nothing great before. Oh my god! They have turned themselves into two pretty damn good MC's, working well together and working with some interesing outside talents. How about the depth. Oh Yes! It gets better and better. Now they have the same catchy loops, but with so much more than they had to offer on the first album. Everything has improved so greatly that this album really does stand out for me along side Common's and Slum Village's.

If you like your funky beats, old skool style, then this will still appeal to you. It is very remioniscent of Midnight Marauders in that respect. But if you like your deep stylees (a la Common) then this will also be able to grab your attention. Beware....The People Under The Stairs are coming!