It's the return of the true school. Thes One and Double K are back as People Under The Stairs with their 9th(!) studio album, 12 Step Program. The LA-based hip-hop duo have been steady holding it down on the indie hip-hop tip for a minute now (since '98 to be exact), delivering quality on all fronts - from the beats, to the rhymes, and everything in between - but they really went all out for this one. From the looks alone, this is one of their most ambitious releases to date, but the music contained matches, and often surpasses the quality you'd expect. Check the rock solid flow and funky dope beats on "Roundabouts," "Get Hip," and "STE For Reefer" for a taste, then get down to the ill 8-bit Zelda beats on "1 Up til Sun Up," or the silky boogie grooves of "LA Nights." This whole album seriously goes down so schmoooooove. 12 tracks on double clear colored vinyl with 24 page art book included. Recommended.

• music label: Piecelock 70 2014

reviewed by Von Bee 06/2014