People Under the Stairs
| Company type | Hip hop duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Christopher Portugal (Thes One), Michael Turner (Double K) |
| Products | Hip hop music albums and singles |
People Under the Stairs was a hip hop duo originating from Los Angeles, California, active between 1997 and 2019. The members were Christopher Portugal, known as Thes One, and Michael Turner, who performed as Double K. Embracing a do-it-yourself approach, they managed all aspects of their craft including sampling, rapping, DJing, and production independently.
Despite not breaking into mainstream charts, they distanced themselves from the underground hip hop label, earning respect from critics and fellow artists alike.
1996–1999: Origins and The Next Step
During their high school years in Mid-City Los Angeles, both Thes One and Double K honed their talents in beat-making, sampling, and DJing separately. Thes One attended Loyola High, while Double K was enrolled at Hamilton High, where he collaborated with the Log Cabin Crew alongside artists such as Murs. Their paths crossed while digging through records in a store, leading to the formation of their partnership.
The duo chose the name "People Under the Stairs" to emphasize their focus on music over fame, preferring to remain "under the stairs" except during performances. This name was not influenced by the 1991 movie The People Under the Stairs, as they were unaware of it at the time.
In 1998, while studying at the University of Southern California, Thes One invested his student loan money into producing their initial 12-inch single, The Next Step II, pressing close to 500 copies which sold successfully. Their first album, The Next Step (1998), was recorded using an 8-track ADAT system at Thes One's residence and engineered solely by the duo. Although it made little impact locally, it gained a stronger following in Europe, prompting a tour there in August 1999. Subsequently, they secured a four-album contract with Om Records, a label recognized for electronic and club music. The European tour eventually transitioned into a solo performance setup for People Under the Stairs.
2000–2003: Question in the Form of an Answer, O.S.T, and ...Or Stay Tuned
Their second studio album, Question in the Form of an Answer, arrived in June 2000, further exploring a fusion of diverse rhythms influenced by jazz and psychedelic rock, enhanced through analog filtering methods. The release was supported by singles such as "Youth Explosion", "The Cat", and "We'll Be There". Following this, the group embarked on an international tour, which included appearances at the 2000 Glastonbury Festival and Essential Music Festival, sharing stages with prominent acts like Biz Markie and De La Soul. During this period, they issued their inaugural compilation, American Men Vol. 1, sold exclusively at live shows. Additionally, Om Records re-released their debut album The Next Step in 2001.
Within the Los Angeles hip hop community, the duo's profile grew, notably when Thes One participated in a beat battle against will.i.am in 2002. Their third album, O.S.T., launched in June 2002 via Om Records, demonstrated a heightened level of intricacy; for instance, the track "Montego Slay" incorporated over twenty samples sourced from Jamaican souvenir records. This album marked their first use of live instruments, featuring Headnodic (known from Crown City Rockers and The Mighty Underdogs) on electric bass. To support O.S.T., they played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals and participated in the US Cali-Comm hip hop tour alongside artists including Del the Funky Homosapien and Planet Asia.
Their last project released through Om Records was 2003's ...Or Stay Tuned. Initially distributed as an EP due to contractual constraints, it was later redefined as a full-length album.
2004–2006: Side ventures and Stepfather
In 2004, the duo concluded their agreement with Om Records. Thes One co-established Tres Records together with Chikara Kurahashi from Giant Panda, putting out two 12-inch singles: Noonen and Doin' It (which featured Raashan Ahmad from Crown City Rockers). He also spearheaded the Bloquera initiative, producing an EP recorded with Giant Panda members in Baja California and overseeing their debut album, Fly School Reunion.
By 2005, People Under the Stairs had signed with Los Angeles-based Basement Records for domestic distribution of their forthcoming album, while Tres Records managed its international release. In response to concerns about online piracy, they deliberately leaked a counterfeit version of the album ahead of its official launch in 2006. The authentic album, titled Stepfather, entered the charts at #32 on the Billboard Heatseeker Chart and #35 on the Independent Albums chart. It received favorable critiques and attracted more media coverage than earlier works. This record broadened their sound beyond traditional sample-driven hip hop and featured a guest spot from funk icon George Clinton.
In spring 2006, they toured across the United States with rock-rap band Gym Class Heroes opening for them before embarking on an international tour that spanned Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe. During the European dates, Giant Panda joined them on stage.
2007–2010: Fun DMC, The Om Years, and Carried Away
Following the release of Stepfather, Thes One debuted his solo album, Lifestyle Marketing, through Tres Records, receiving favorable critiques. Double K contributed an instrumental piece to a split single alongside producer Olde Soul. In 2008, the duo shot their inaugural music video for "The Wiz" at Bondi Beach in Australia. Om Records later issued a compilation titled The Om Years, which included B-sides and rare tracks.
In September 2008, People Under the Stairs launched FUN DMC via the independent label Gold Dust Media. This concept album pays tribute to Run-DMC and portrays everyday experiences within their Los Angeles neighborhoods. It entered the Billboard Heatseekers chart at number six and garnered positive critical reception. The album’s "daytime" tracks incorporated ambient audio recorded at a South Central house party.
After completing a US tour in support of FUN DMC, the group marked their decade-long milestone with a sold-out performance at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre; this concert was subsequently released on DVD. Returning to Om Records, they unveiled Carried Away, which debuted at number five on iTunes hip hop charts and reached number 23 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
2011–2012: Highlighter, 12 Step Program and The Gettin' off Stage
Unhappy with previous label arrangements, Thes One assumed complete production responsibilities following Carried Away, releasing all new projects through Piecelock 70, a newly established business venture. He constructed a recording studio in downtown Los Angeles. Piecelock 70 oversaw all subsequent People Under the Stairs albums as well as releases from artists such as Headnodic, DJ Day, and Doc Delay. Functioning as a worker cooperative, the label empowered artists with full creative control while sharing resources and studio space.
On June 17, 2011, People Under the Stairs performed at the debut Governor's Ball Music Festival in New York City alongside acts like Girl Talk, Big Boi, and Mac Miller. They announced their forthcoming album, Highlighter, which was released on September 30, 2011 as Piecelock 70’s inaugural release. The album experimented with unconventional time signatures, live instruments, and string arrangements, receiving acclaim from critics.
In 2012, People Under the Stairs participated in a concert series organized by fellow Los Angeles hip hop artist Murs to benefit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
In January 2014, Thes One revealed their ninth studio album, 12 Step Program (12SP). The lead single "1 Up Til Sun Up" premiered alongside a music video in April. The album achieved rankings of #56 on iTunes overall charts, #7 on iTunes rap charts, #11 on Billboard Heatseekers charts, and #33 on Billboard R&B/Rap Album charts. In 2015, they announced their tenth project as a trilogy of EPs titled The Gettin' Off Stage, each containing six tracks and released in November of that year.
2019–2021: Sincerely, The P, disbandment, and death of Double K
In February 2019, People Under the Stairs issued their final album, Sincerely, The P. Thes One confirmed via social media that this would mark the end of their 21-year tenure in the music business.
On January 30, 2021, Double K passed away due to alcohol poisoning. Numerous notable musicians—including Chuck D, Questlove, RJD2, Open Mike Eagle, and Immortal Technique—honored him with tributes shared across social platforms.
Musical style and influences
Before forming People Under the Stairs, the duo frequently attended numerous West Coast hip hop concerts throughout Los Angeles. They acknowledged influential groups such as Freestyle Fellowship, The Pharcyde, Jurassic 5, and The Beatnuts as pivotal to their sound. Their 2009 track "Check the Vibe" serves as a direct tribute to A Tribe Called Quest. Additional inspirations stemmed from artists like DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Public Enemy, along with prominent West Coast gangsta rap figures including DJ Quik and Eazy-E.
The ensemble typically steered clear of themes involving sociopolitical commentary, gangster rap tropes, battle rap, and materialistic content. Their lyrical focus leaned more toward personal narratives and enjoyment, emphasizing aspects such as Los Angeles pride, video games, barbecues, recreational drug use, and relaxation. Nonetheless, some compositions explored weightier subject matter. Their production style featured an eclectic mix of samples drawn from jazz, funk, rock, and spoken word genres. Additionally, Thes One conducted extensive research into the history of electronic instruments and has presented academic lectures on the topic.
Legacy
While People Under the Stairs never achieved widespread commercial success, they garnered respect from influential figures including Chuck D of Public Enemy, Biz Markie, and Trey Anastasio from Phish. The duo was involved in creating and remixing the primary theme for The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!. Their music also appeared in television programs like Run's House and Entourage, as well as in the motion picture Street Dreams.
Discography
- The Next Step (1998)
- Question in the Form of an Answer (2000)
- American Men Vol. 1 (compilation) (2000)
- O.S.T. (2002)
- ...Or Stay Tuned (2003)
- Stepfather (2006)
- The Om Years (compilation) (2008)
- Fun DMC (2008)
- Carried Away (2009)
- Highlighter (2011)
- 12 Step Program (2014)
- American Men Vol. 2 (compilation) (2015)
- The Gettin' Off Stage, Step 1 (2015)
- The Gettin' Off Stage, Step 2 (2016)
- Sincerely, The P (2019)