Something Underneath

Literal and Technical Meaning
At its most immediate level, "Something Underneath" is a technical showcase of musique concrète within a hip-hop context. The song is conceptually literal: there is literally "something underneath" the rapping, which is Daveed Diggs' own voice manipulated to create the beat. The lyrics acknowledge this meta-layer, commenting on the construction of the song itself while simultaneously delivering a horror-themed narrative.

The Horror of Concealment
Thematically, the song explores the trope of the "bad place" common in horror cinema—the house built on a burial ground or the walls hiding corpses. It serves as a metaphor for the way history (specifically the history of violence and oppression in America) is paved over but remains structurally integral to the present. The "rot" in the walls is not just physical; it represents the guilt and unresolved trauma that underpin modern society. The recurring mention of the "foundation" suggests that the stability of the current world relies on these buried horrors.

Deconstruction of Genre
clipping. frequently deconstructs hip-hop tropes. Here, the "underground"—a term often used to describe non-mainstream hip-hop—is reinterpreted literally as the dirt and soil where bodies are hidden. The "gangster" posturing often found in the genre is stripped of its glamour and presented as cold, gruesome, and terrifyingly practical. The song argues that beneath the swagger and the surface-level aesthetics of rap culture (and society at large), there is a darker, grittier reality that propels everything forward.

The track opens with a hypnotic, rhythmic chanting of the title phrase, creating a percussive bed that functions as the song's heartbeat. Without a traditional instrumental introduction, the narrator launches into a relentless, high-velocity tirade that immediately establishes a setting of decay and concealment. The lyrics describe a physical space—a house or a building—that is structurally compromised, not by age, but by the secrets it holds. The narrator speaks of things festering behind the drywall and beneath the floorboards, painting a visceral picture of dry rot, mold, and decomposition that mirrors moral corruption.

As the verses progress, the imagery becomes explicitly violent and macabre. The narrator details the presence of bodies hidden in the architecture, suggesting that the very foundation of the setting is built upon death and crime. He describes the texture of the hidden elements: bones mixed with stucco, fluids seeping into the earth, and the smell that cannot be masked. The lyrics shift between the perspective of a cold, analytical observer and the perpetrator who knows exactly where the secrets are buried. There is a strong emphasis on the inescapable nature of the past; no matter how much one builds over it or how flashy the surface appears, the "something underneath" remains a structural reality.

The narrative also weaves in a meta-commentary on the nature of the song itself. The narrator alludes to the fact that the beat supporting his flow is made of the same material as his voice, blurring the line between the artist and the art, the human and the mechanical. He mocks those who live on the surface, unaware of the precariousness of their safety. The intensity of the delivery increases, mimicking the panic of being trapped or buried alive, as the narrator lists various forms of suppression—both physical burial and the suppression of truth. Ultimately, the song portrays a world where the facade of order is thin and fragile, barely containing the chaotic, violent history that throbs just beneath the skin of civilization.

Album Context
"Something Underneath" appears on clipping.'s 2019 album, There Existed an Addiction to Blood. This album was explicitly designed as a tribute to horrorcore hip-hop (referencing groups like Gravediggaz and Brotha Lynch Hung) and horror cinema tropes. The band aimed to translate the aesthetic of horror movies into sonic textures.

The Production Technique
The defining characteristic of this track is its production. Producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes challenged themselves to create a beat without using any synthesizers or traditional drum samples. Instead, they recorded vocalist Daveed Diggs speaking the phrase "something underneath." They then chopped, screwed, stretched, and distorted this single vocal sample to create every rhythmic element in the track—the kicks, snares, and hi-hats are all manipulated versions of Diggs' voice. This creates a sonic environment where the rapper is literally rapping over himself, reinforcing the song's themes of introspection and claustrophobia.

The House/Structure
The house serves as a central allegory for societal structures. The "stucco," "drywall," and "floorboards" represent the superficial appearances maintained by society to hide the ugly truths (the "bodies") that lie within the foundation.

The Beat as the "Underneath"
The production acts as a sonic metaphor. Just as the lyrics describe hidden things supporting a structure, the manipulated vocal sample of the phrase "something underneath" physically supports the verses. It symbolizes how the past (the recorded voice) haunts and dictates the present (the live flow).

Rot and Decay
References to "dry rot" and "festering" symbolize the corruption that occurs when truth is suppressed. It suggests that covering up history doesn't erase it; instead, it causes the structure to degrade from the inside out.

Claustrophobia and Dread
The primary emotion is a high-stakes, breathless tension. The limited sonic palette (using only voice) creates a closed-in, claustrophobic atmosphere, as if there is no escape from the narrator's psyche. The relentless tempo invokes anxiety.

Clinical Aggression
Diggs' delivery is aggressive but precise, lacking the emotional outbursts typical of anger. Instead, it feels cold and calculated, like a surgeon or a serial killer detailing their work. This detachment makes the violent imagery more disturbing.

Critical Acclaim
While not a mainstream radio hit, "Something Underneath" is highly regarded in the experimental hip-hop and music critique communities (such as The Needle Drop/Anthony Fantano circles). It is frequently cited as a prime example of Daveed Diggs' technical prowess as an MC and the production duo's innovative sound design.

Revival of Horrorcore
The song, along with the parent album, played a role in the modern critical re-evaluation of Horrorcore. By merging high-concept sound art with the gritty themes of 90s horror rap, clipping. helped elevate the subgenre from "shock value" to "high art."

Rhyme Scheme
The song employs complex, multi-syllabic rhyme schemes that shift rapidly. Diggs often rhymes across bar lines, creating a sense of forward momentum that feels almost uncontrollable. He uses internal rhymes heavily (rhyming within the line rather than just at the end), which adds to the density of the lyrics.

Rhythmic Structure
The time signature is 4/4, but the subdivision is intense. The beat provides a lurching, industrial pulse, while the vocal delivery often operates in double-time or triplets against that pulse. The interplay creates a polyrhythmic feel, where the flow dances around the rigid, repetitive sample "something underneath," creating a sensation of stumbling or rushing.

Musique Concrète
The primary musical technique is the use of recorded sound (the vocal sample) as the raw material for the entire instrumental composition. This creates a unique, organic, yet mechanical texture that synthesizers cannot replicate.

Rapid-Fire Flow (Chopper Style)
Daveed Diggs utilizes a "chopper" style of rapping—extremely fast, rhythmic delivery. This technique serves to increase tension, mimicking the heart rate of someone in fear or the chaotic energy of a chase scene. The precision of his articulation contrasts with the murky, distorted nature of the beat.

Alliteration and Assonance
The lyrics are dense with phonetic devices. Phrases are constructed not just for meaning but for percussive impact, with heavy use of plosive consonants (b, p, t, k) to cut through the dense mix. This turns the voice into an additional percussion instrument.

What is the beat in 'Something Underneath' made of?

The beat is constructed entirely from a recording of Daveed Diggs saying the phrase 'Something Underneath.' Producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes manipulated this single vocal sample to create the kicks, snares, and rhythmic textures, using no traditional instruments or synthesizers.

What is the meaning behind 'Something Underneath'?

The song explores the concept of hidden horrors—both literal bodies buried in foundations and metaphorical secrets in history. It suggests that society is built upon a violent past that is rotting from the inside out. It also serves as a meta-commentary on the song's production, where the 'underneath' is literally the vocal sample supporting the track.

Who are the members of the group clipping.?

clipping. is an experimental hip-hop trio consisting of rapper Daveed Diggs and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes.

Is 'Something Underneath' considered horrorcore?

Yes, the song fits within the horrorcore subgenre due to its dark, violent lyrical themes and atmospheric dread. However, it approaches the genre through an experimental and industrial lens, differing from traditional 90s horrorcore.

How fast does Daveed Diggs rap in 'Something Underneath'?

While the exact words-per-minute count varies by section, Daveed Diggs utilizes a 'double-time' flow throughout much of the track, delivering syllables at a rapid pace that rivals technical rappers like Twista or Busta Rhymes, showcasing his background in theater and intricate vocal performance.