The Mighty Underdogs

Droppin’ Science Fiction

West Coasters the Mighty Underdogs are composed of rappers Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious) and Lateef the Truthspeaker (of Latyrx), as well as producer Headnodic (of Crown City Rockers). Because of their collective pedigree, the group’s signing to El-P’s Definitive Jux and the album’s title, one might expect something sharp and groundbreaking. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few tracks, the album is immediately forgettable. Though “Gunfight” (featuring MF Doom) is goofy, dramatic fun, and “Victorious” is an invigorating closer, most of the other songs play like background music or worse. “Laughing at You” is an almost unlistenable diss track which seems to sample a hyena, while “Doglude” also turns to four-legged mammal samples by way of growling and barking canines. The latter track more or less epitomizes the album as a whole – composed with skill, vaguely entertaining, but not nearly compelling enough to demand repeated listens. 2 stars.