Interview: People Under the Stairs

What made you decide to pursue hip hop?

Double K: Umm.. Well "The Show" by Dougie Fresh. I wanted to do something, so you know it was never really like a decision, we just did it.

Thes One: I don't remember thinking of it as a decision, it just was something you got into because everyone else around you was into it. But then you know, we got deeper into it and it just became everything.

Double K: The youthfulness is what pulled us in, just seeing it come from the streets. Crazy hats and gloves and everything that parents hated.

Thes One: Seeing it like it was ours, that's what pulled me in - you know our parents had their music and hip hop was ours.

How did you decide to come to China?

Double K: We got the offer. So I'm going to try to not get arrested for smoking weed here.

Thes One: They came with the offer so we packed up the bags. We keep this show on the road.

What do you think of the Chinese hip hop scene right now? Where's it at compared to its American (and maybe European?) counterparts?

Thes One: Well I don't really think we are up on it - yet. But we're looking forward to checking it out and being a part of what's going down. Its exciting to come and tour in a place we've never been before. After ten years, we've been damn near everywhere else.

You've already released six albums. How do you think your music has evolved since that first LP?

Double K: More records, better equipment, more wisdom (laughs) yeah right. Just more drinking beer and sleeping in peoples beds. But seriously more knowledge of music really.

Thes One: It makes everything better. We've gotten older but i think that every album captures an important time in our lives.

What's PUTS' future looking like? Where are you going? What do you want to do?

Thes One: Well, in our immediate future we are going home with mad DVD's from China. Btu me and Double are both working on solo albums and of course there will be more PUTS music coming very soon. So that's really want to do.

What can people expect from your live show?

Double K: two turntables, a microphone and a real good time. basically the same ole shit.

Thes One: word.