Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Supergroup Superiority (4.5 stars), November 3, 2008
The Mighty Underdogs are indeed a mighty supergroup comprised of Quannum/Solesides members Lateef "The Truth Speaker" (Latyrx, Maroons), The Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious), and the extremely versatile Headnodic (Crown City Rockers). Each member is beyond respected, if not revered as some of the best artists in the game today. Gift Of Gab & Lateef are simply a couple of the flyest spitters hip-hop has seen in some time. They truly pack a punch of "natural" rhyming talent that is sorely missing from the game today. Headnodic is one of the more accomplished and talented producers I've come to discover in the passing year. He doesn't just create beats, he creates soundscapes. He writes the music, and he plays nearly all of the instruments on this record, which is a TON. It really gives the album a unique and organic feel unlike most hip-hop albums dropping nowadays.
Skip material? Honestly, after spinning this album a solid 10 times, I'm not really finding any. After the two excellent openers "Monster" and "Hands In The Air", they dive into a line of excellent guests. "So Sad" features Julian & Damian Marley. Headnodic brings the best out of them. The previously released single "Gunfight" from their debut EP "The Prelude" features MF Doom at his best in the passing year, even if he is still trumped by Gift Of Gab's flows in the end. "ILL Vacation" features the perfectly annunciated tongue twisting flows from Lyrics Born - a classic Quannum posse cut. And to give you an idea of how much Headnodic is actually doing here, here's what he plays on this track - "Upright bass, Ukulele, Glockenspiel, Tamborine, Surdo, Woodblock, Shakers, Brushes, I think maybe a Broom?, Chimes, & Cowbell". The cut "Science Fiction" lends some suitable production over some of the dopest flows here. "Laughing At You" features Casual from Hieroglyphics, and the production is basically samples of laughter and beat-boxing. Really dope cut here. "Escape" features a nice chorus and production over the power duo Mr. Lif & Akrobatik. "Folks" may be the best here. Loving the chorus and hook here. Lateef's flow is alluring as can be. "UFC Remix" is a dope cut featuring DJ Shadow, though I actually enjoy the original from "The Prelude" more. "WarWalk" is a killer posse cut, and perhaps my favorite cut here. The emcees featured here are Chali 2Na (Jurassic 5), Raashan Ahmad (Crown City Rockers), Tash (Tha Alkaholiks), and Zion (Zion I).
Overall, there isn't much one can complain about with this "super" effort, as it delivers in all aspects very nicely. It's undeniable that these three artists create a fiery blend of ill chemistry. One can only hope they will deliver more offerings as great as this.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Something funky and different!!, January 5, 2009
I rate this cd at a 3.5-3.75 as of now and I wish more people had the chance to hear about it. I like Gift Of Gab so I was interested in hearing this project and I got something fresh to these ears for 2008. Headnodic has beats on here for everyone (hardcore, mainstream, underground)whoever. Please give this album an honest listen and I bet if you do not like it it will mos def open your ears to some music it has been missing. Hotep.
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by The Mighty Underdogs 
