Tag: Issa Gold

The Underachievers – “Homecoming” review

The Underachievers are a duo from Flatbush, New York consisting of AKTHESAVIOR & Issa Gold of the Beast Coast collective & the Clockwork Indigo sub-unit. They’ve put together a total of 4 mixtapes & 4 albums in the past 15 years, with my personal favorites being the Brainfeeder Records-backed Indigoism & the full-length debut Cellar Door: Terminus ut Exordium. Taking 6 years off to pursue their solo careers, The Underachievers are reuniting for a brand new EP of material clocking in at not even 24 minutes.

After the intro, the prominent organ all over the first song “Losing Feathers” produced by Issa Gold is a great way to set off their comeback effort touching the sky for the sole purpose of making themselves feel alive whereas the acoustic-boom bap crossover “Vices” talks about feeling like the world against us sometimes. “Brand New” shifts into trap turf a bit speaking the way they feel giving a fuck less who gets offended while the grisly “Wisher” expresses anger towards someone who thought he was slick.

“Megatron” works in this crooning instrumental explaining that you have to find your own way this day in age while “Sweepers” dabbles with trap again talking about cleaning shit up very well with the heaters they’re carrying on them. “Have Nots” returns to the boom bap keeping their ears to the block & having to switch up the load prior to “What is This Place?” rounding everything out realizing the enemy inside is the demons we try to hide.

Focusing on establishing themselves individually, The Underachievers have finally come back to where it all started & one that many longtime fans of the Beast Coast members will find themselves enjoying. The reflective themes & complex lyricism these guys became known for are in full effect, the production is stronger then Lords of Flatbush 3 was when they were last together & they ultimately sound happy to be returning to form.

Score: 3.5/5

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Beast Coast – “Escape from New York” review

The Beast Coast are a New York hip hop collective consisting of Pro Era & Clockwork Indigo (the Flatbush ZOMBiES & The Underachievers). All 3 subgroups blew throughout the decade with the strengths of Joey Bada$$’ debut mixtape 1999, Flatbush’s sophomore tape BetterOffDead & The Underachievers’ sophomore album Evermore: The Art of Duality. Now after all these years of making names for themselves, they’re finally teaming up for their full-length debut as a collective.

The opener “It Ain’t Easy, It Ain’t Easy” by AK, CJ Fly, the Flatbush ZOMBiES & Nyck @ Knight talks about their rise to fame over a bland beat while the next track “Left Hand” by CJ, Clockwork Indigo, Joey Bada$$ & Nyck @ Knight takes a jab at their enemies over a druggy trap beat. The song “Problemz” by CJ, Erick the Architect, Nyck Caution, The Underachievers & Zombie Juice talks about their own issues over a mellow beat while the track “Far Away” by Erick Joey, Meechy Darko & Nyck @ Knight gets romantic over a mellow beat from Powers Pleasant. The song “Snow in the Stadium” by CJ, Erick, Joey, Issa Gold, Kirk Knight & Meechy talks about defeating the best over a cloudy trap beat while the track “Rubberband” sees Flatbush & Joey talks about making dough over a gloomy trap beat.

The song “Distance” by Erick, Issa & Joey talks about feeling free over some pretty keyboards & skittering snares while the track “Bones” by Clockwork Indigo & Nyck @ Knight gets confrontational over a perfectly fitting trap beat. The song “Puke” by AK, Erick, Joey, Meechy & Nyck looks back at when they were broke over some somber piano chords while the track “Desperado” by Joey, Kirk & the 2 Dead Boyz get at their haters over some hi-hats & an ominous acoustic guitar lead. The song “1 More Round” by Erick, Joey, Meechy & Nyck is a headache inducing alcohol anthem with a buttery instrumental while the penultimate track “Coast/Clear” by Flatbush, Issa, Joey & Nyck @ Knight is a horrifically executed friendship ode. The closer “Last Choir” by AK, Erick, Meechy & Nyck @ Knight then talks about being blessed to have made it in the rap game over a joyous instrumental.

While we’ve waited a long time for it, it’s pretty decent. Everyone all sounds great collectively & I love how they didn’t bring on any features as a way of showing that, but the production could’ve been better.

Score: 3/5