Who are they?  The Underachievers, spiritual enlighteners hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn, The Big Apple. They're part of the Beast Coast movement which is some what of a modern day collective similar to Zulu Nation who spit rhymes and so much more. The Underachievers consist of rappers AK and Issa Gold who have known each other, as well as fellow Beast Coast creatives Flatbush Zombies and Pro Era for a few years thanks to their upbringing in Flatbush. 

It's a pretty regular thing, rappers saying they have a greater purpose other than their musical dealings. It's usually pretty hard to believe that when they're rapping about how much their chain weighs, but there's a young crop throughout hip hop who have a greater message within their music, a desire to educate their fellow youngsters. The Underachievers go about this in a way that's purely unique to them, their style is more machine gun than silky smooth, their beats are more gritty and grimey than boom bap and of course they got bars ... the beauty of all this and the reason which I thoroughly enjoy hip hop is that somehow they make it all rhyme and flow and sound awesome.

Cellar Door: Termius Ut Exordium is their first major release after a few mixtapes and the fact that it's coming off the Brainfeeder label headed by super producer all round GC - Flying Lotus. That in itself is awesome. 

Apparently Terminus Ut Exordium translates to the beginning of the end or something similar. That should give you some idea of the direction of the album. The album is filled with a sense of hope and wisdom that change is imminent, whether you see it as young angst or an enlightened perspective, it's empowering. The first track 'Luminessence' kicks off with Issa...

They say your dreams just like the lotto, no one gets those

I don't know why, but this kinda hit home, a simple line that can be digested in any way you please but it's the perfect way to start the album and the first song. Depending on your mindset, you'll take it a different way and that could greatly impact your perspective on the album. What follows this line is the reason why I've grown to love the UA, as Issa and AK share the track, no chorus just trading bars back and forth. The chemistry is evident as they team up to destroy the track with ease, rhyme schemes vary as does the flow ... some how there's so much variety, but a united variety.

I mean, listen to this and tell me you don't appreciate it all. The flow, the content matter, the simple production, the lyrics ... both Issa and AK are gifted at jumping between all of the above but making it appear the opposite.

Let's be fair, you don't reach this level of understanding of how messed up many aspects of the world are but staying stone cold sober. The UA have done a fair amount of acid, smoke a truck load of weed and who knows what else, but why would even start to judge them about that when Issa can deliver this on 'Amorphous'...

Everybody always claim they want change
But they're so wrapped up inside the pain
Chilling in the sun while they stuck in the rain
Look at my generation, nigga what a shame
Stuck inside of the molly poppin’
Film and sexual content, we need to stop it
Instead of profits, we stuck with loss man
Instead of conscious, we stuck with nonsense
Remember them times, when they still be livin’ lies
Me and AK changing lives
Since we wasn’t in our primes
But our truth to the skies, before the co-shine
Holding on mine, we plottin’ on a rise
Tenacious with the crime, my vision super lies
Savior in the skies, I’m reading through signs

It's the type of music, the type of rhymes, the type of artist, the type of sound that I could honest get knee deep in to and explore every rhyme, every song in to some depth. But that would be pretty tiresome, so I'm caught in a tricky spot here ... do I attempt to explore a few more ideas or keep it minimal. 

The minimal option is much more appealing, only because the Underachievers do a top notch job of making this a lovely listen. There's a constant vibe throughout the album, but each song offers a different journey even if the topic might be similar to the last jam. In the production there are subtle sounds that appear on each track that conjure up different emotions and feelings, with AK and Issa not only showing quality chemistry between themselves but their sounds the spit their shit over.

As a hip hop fan, this album can't do nothing but put a smile on your dial. To see guys who are unquestionably from the hood, have been in and around a bunch of crazy shit, who preach a different message and are just moving in a positive direction towards their goals shows how far hip hop has come. It's a quality listen thanks to it's versatility - you can listen if you're about to run out on to the field and dominate shit but you can listen to the same jam if you're with the homies sparking up seeking some buzzyness. Or you can just vibe to it your Nissan Pulsar with the windows down, system up ... either way you're gonna be nodding your head.

Every body want a revolution
With no execution their attempt is fruitless
Tainted souls the next rap they lose it
Steady acting foolish fucking tracks are stupid
I put on for them sacred souls
And on my breaking point my nigga breaking joints
Because the government they only disappoint

Issa Gold - Radiance