People Under The Stairs

People Under The Stairs, comprising Christopher Portugal (Thes One) and Michael Turner (Double K), formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1997. The duo adopted a hands-on approach, independently managing sampling, MCing, DJing, and production for all their musical output. This self-reliant method defined their professional identity from their inception until their disbandment in 2019. Their debut 12-inch single, “The Next Step II,” was independently released in 1998, funded by Thes One’s student loans, with approximately 500 copies pressed and successfully sold. This initiative led to their first album, “The Next Step,” also released in 1998 and largely recorded in Thes One’s home using an 8-track ADAT digital recorder.

While their early work did not significantly impact the Los Angeles hip hop scene, People Under The Stairs found a growing fanbase in Europe, embarking on their first European tour in August 1999. This international recognition led to a four-album deal with Om Records, a label primarily known for electronic and club music at the time. Their sophomore album, “Question in the Form of an Answer,” released in June 2000, continued their self-recorded tradition, featuring beats influenced by jazz and psychedelic rock and incorporating analog sound filtering techniques. This album was supported by singles such as “Youth Explosion,” “The Cat,” and “We’ll Be There,” and was followed by a world tour that included performances at the 2000 Glastonbury Festival and Essential Music Festival alongside notable artists. Subsequent albums under Om Records included “O.S.T.” (2002), which introduced live instrumentation with Headnodic on electric bass, and “…Or Stay Tuned” (2003).

Following their departure from Om Records in 2004, Thes One co-founded Tres Records. The duo later signed with Basement Records for their 2006 album, “Stepfather,” which marked a shift towards a broader sound palette and featured a collaboration with George Clinton. This album debuted at #32 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and #35 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. Their 2008 album, “FUN DMC,” an homage to Run-DMC, debuted at #6 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. After celebrating their 10-year anniversary, they returned to Om Records for “Carried Away” (2009), which charted on iTunes and Billboard. In 2011, Thes One established Piecelock 70, an independent label, where subsequent albums like “Highlighter” (2011) and “12 Step Program” (2014) were released. The group officially disbanded with their final album, “Sincerely, The P,” in 2019. Double K passed away in 2021.