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Liner Notes - By Way of the Bay: The Mighty Underdogs

Hip-hop fans in Bend know they don't have it as tough as one might think. Of course, there are a few quality local acts to

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Hip-hop fans in Bend know they don't have it as tough as one might think. Of course, there are a few quality local acts to feast on, but it's our proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area that makes Bend the benefactor of high-profile hip-hop tour stops. We previously had the Hieroglyphics crew and Aesop Rock and now next week we have the all-star supergroup known as the Mighty Underdogs.

For those les savvy with indie rap, this Bay Area super crew includes Gift of Gab, who's best known as one half of one of hip-hop's most cerebral acts: Blackalicious. Most folks know Gift of Gab from Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" - the 1999 hip-hop brain twisting number that turned a new generation of fans to high-minded rap.

In The Mighty Underdogs, Gab teams up with Oakland's Lateef the Truthspeaker (of Latryx fame along with Lyrics Born) and Crown City Rockers producer Headnodic. On the group's record, Droppin' Science Fiction, the trio wraps skilled rhymes around jazzy beats with some sci-fi imagery peppered throughout. The record is also loaded with plenty of high-flying guest appearances including Julian and Damian Marley, Jurassic 5's Chali 2Na, Lyrics Born, DJ Shadow and Casual, among others. But even with all those collaborators stopping in throughout the record, Science Fiction sticks to the point to turn out a front-to-back solid record - even if there is some silliness along the way.

But hey, if you've got as much indie rap street cred as these guys, you can be as silly as you want to be.

The Mighty Underdogs, Zion I, Mindscape

8pm doors, 9pm show, Wednesday, November 19. Domino Room, 51 NW Greenwood Ave. $18/advanced, $20/door. Tickets at Ranch Records or ticketswest.com.