With their psychedelic, spiritually minded approach to music, rap duo The Underachievers helped to define Brooklyn hip-hop in the 2010s. They also partnered with Flatbush Zombies and Pro Era to form the collective Beast Coast.
• Issa Gold and AKTHESAVIOR met in 2007, but it wasn’t until years later that a producer told them they should make music together. They officially formed The Underachievers in 2011. • Acclaimed L.A. producer Flying Lotus signed The Underachievers to his Brainfeeder label in 2012. He knew he was going to offer them a deal after listening to just 20 seconds of their music. • The twosome broke out in 2013 with a pair of stellar mixtapes: Indigoism and The Lords of Flatbush. • They released their debut album, Cellar Door: Terminus ut Exordium, in 2014. The LP features the rock band Portugal. The Man on the track “Amorphous.” • After releasing three more albums, The Underachievers teamed up with Pro Era and Flatbush Zombies to form Beast Coast. The collective dropped the album Escape From New York in 2019. • In 2020, The Underachievers paid homage to Milwaukee Bucks superstar and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with their grimy single “Giannis.”
