When you crack open an album by a west coast underground hip hop supergroup consisting of Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Lateef (Latyrx) and producer Headnodic (Crown City Rockers), you’d be excused for thinking you know exactly what you’re going to get: organically funky, danceable beats, crazy internal and multisyllable rhymes, feel-good vibes and content that is socially conscious, if not a little saccharine.

And the Mighty Underdogs don’t disappoint. Or maybe they do, if you’re looking for something beyond that formula.

Droppin’ Science Fiction is solid to a fault; from the first track to the last, the trio makes eminently listenable, fun, groove-oriented hip hop. While Gift of Gab and Lateef are both phenomenal emcees, neither one really knocks it out of the park here, settling instead for goofy concept songs, meditative slice-of-life narratives and the kind of lyrical show-off tracks we’ve heard before.

The concept songs are perhaps the most interesting and creative, but the album’s sci-fi/superhero motif feels like well-worn territory. Again, Gab and Lateef are two of the most creative emcees in the game when it comes to form, crafting wildly intricate, melodically engaging flows; it’d be nice if their content mirrored that. Concept songs like “Gunfight,” “Ill Vacation” and “Science Fiction” may seem, at first glance, to be welcome departures from the standard flexing and rapping about rapping approach most underground MCs take. But none of them really take off and transcend their metaphors, instead feeling like concept songs for the sake of concept songs.

The MCs really shine, however, on the more down-to-earth tracks: “Folks” is a bluesy exploration of the meaning of life and “Want You Back” features a powerful Gab verse about regrets and nostalgia. Though both emcees obviously enjoy “that crazy space shit that don’t even make no sense” © Prodigy, their real strengths lie in connecting to the everyday struggle.

The least-known member of the trio, producer Headnodic of the Crown City Rockers, is really the driving force here. “Droppin’ Science Fiction” is an incredibly musical rap album, perfect for a long drive or chilled-out party with friends. While the MCs could have, arguably, pushed the album into a more interesting place, Headnodic makes sure that they at least have a solid foundation on every track.

As a critic, my bread-and-butter is criticizing great albums for not being brilliant, and Droppin’ Science Fiction is indeed a pretty great album. It’s not revolutionary, and it’s probably not going to change your life, but if you’re looking for a fun, feel-good rap album you can dance to while doing the dishes, The Mighty Underdogs are about as good as it gets.

The Mighty Underdogs “The Anthem” (mp3)

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