F… the People / F... the People

Grown out of the legendary Unity Committee, Darkleaf has deep roots in the L.A. underground. The Unity Committee eventually split in two, one faction going on to form the Jurassic 5 while the others mined considerably different territory, creating the diverse, dystopian sound that characterizes F—- the People. As the title implies, this is a dark, often angry album. All five members take a turn at the mike, lending a wide range of perspectives — from the philosophical to the paranoid — to seething songs like "Sounds of Armageddon" and "Commercial." While the lyrics are intense, the music behind them is even more challenging. Producers Jahli and Longevity, along with sterling DJ Mixmaster Wolf, combine to give F—- the People its dense, surprisingly intricate sound. Scratches, spoken words, skewered breakbeats, snatches of horns, and disjointed guitar riffs are all in the mix here, blended together and set into a deep and murky low end. Anchored in the clutter of thick bass and hypnotic beats, the complicated soundscapes of F—- the People reveal themselves slowly, becoming more and more engaging with each listen.