Written for Passionweiss.
Introducing
Undergravity, the self-proclaimed “funkiest duo in Houston” consisting of Atom
Bomb and Mastermind After Cash. The Space Jammers recently joined forces with
local freestyler Dante Higgins, who you’ll recognize by his higher vocal pitch.
In the process, they released a video for “My Town” the other week, which drew
my attention for several reasons: the jammin’ beat, catchy sung hook and thanks
to M.A.C. the most fun line I’ve heard all month (“You might find a n*gga on a
horse, you might find a n*gga in a Porsche.”)
Excellent equine references aside, their throwback Southern sound is a welcome oasis from trap’s current bass-knocking dominance. On first listen the trio may draw lazy comparisons to 3rd Ward alumni UGK and while neither residing at that level or sounding identical, it’s a safe bet they’re fans. “My Town” comes from last year’s mixtape The Freshest MCs which features Atom, M.A.C and Dante trading bars over soulful or funky beats with horns and keys to drive slow to.
Excellent equine references aside, their throwback Southern sound is a welcome oasis from trap’s current bass-knocking dominance. On first listen the trio may draw lazy comparisons to 3rd Ward alumni UGK and while neither residing at that level or sounding identical, it’s a safe bet they’re fans. “My Town” comes from last year’s mixtape The Freshest MCs which features Atom, M.A.C and Dante trading bars over soulful or funky beats with horns and keys to drive slow to.
“Goin
Live” boasts more fun lewd raps, with Higgins again proving that the
collaboration was a good idea. His imaginative nurse fantasies detail why
having a medical expert involved with your escapades is a safety conscious
decision. (“She hooked me up to a jumper cable, pulled out a defibrillator,
Looked at me and said don’t be scared, I’ll shock your ass if your heart ain’t
stable.”) A luxurious saxophone similar to a La Musica De Harry Fraud beat
plays throughout and between songs like this or the 2Pac-sampling “Yellowstone
B,” you can tell these guys are sure-handed at selecting their production.
The Freshest MCs serves more as a taste of the group’s versatility than a complete album. That said, it’s strange to hear lines about having no money during the humble “Fly On The Wall” and then braggado directly afterwards on the unimaginative “Did You Miss Me.” The bottom line is that these guys rap well, their music is solid, and they’ve got chemistry. If they don’t ditch Dante and keep rapping over funky beats, they’ll keep rising.