The Mighty Underdogs

The newly formed trio of hip-hop heavy weights from the West Coast—Blackalicious’s Gift of Gab, fellow Quannum compatriot Lateef the Truth Speaker and Bay Area producer Headnodic—release their debut collaboration, Dropping Science Fiction, on the other coast’s Definitive Jux.

Backed by a dizzying set of collaborators that include DJ Shadow, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, The Alkoholiks’ Tash, Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na, Julian and Damian “JR Gong” Marley, The Mighty Underdogs tour through worlds and soundscapes that blur all settings. Album opener “Monster” is comic book evilness that powers up on a secret solution of mind-numbing lyricism at breakneck speed. The MF Doom-assisted “Gun Fight” is a wild west romp where Gift of Gab goes out in a blaze of revenge-fueled glory over the most rappified twang since Bubba Sparxxx’s Deliverance. Even the interlude, aptly dubbed “Doglude,” is an exercise in a cappella beat building that shows Headnodic—despite being the least known member of the trio—belongs in this hallowed company.

The Might Underdog pedigree is one bred for serious heads. Throughout Blackalicious’s 10-year run as indie rap elite, Gift of Gab has found himself atop numerous Top 10 lists. Whether it’s solo action or paired with Lyrics Born as Latryx, Lateef the Truth Speaker is a linguist gymnast of the truly impassioned variety. Lateef’s got big game experience, too, as his collaboration with Fat Boy Slim, “Wonderful Night” scored a Grammy nomination. Headnodic, an accomplished bass player and part of the forever heralded and endlessly funky Crown City Rockers, is ready for a busy 2008, as his musical partnership with Moe Pope looks to gain more than a few nods from the real hip-hop heads, in addition to his Mighty Underdog work