RETROSPECTIVE BLUES: Death Grips (2010-2014)
As random as that napkin scrawl was, I can’t say that I’m necessarily surprised. Following the band for this long, they were so susceptible to surprises that their rampant vivaciousness and spontaneity that they stopped being shocking at one point. Niggas on the Moon dropped out of nowhere just a few weeks ago, and it was pretty awesome. But it wasn’t the world-stopping, mind numbing event that No Love Deep Web was back in 2012. However, despite the constant excess of musical expectations and ignorance of decency expectations, Death Grips managed to become one of the most interesting and forward thinking bands of the 21st century. With 5 “albums”, Death Grips changed the musical landscape, whether they were respected or not.
Formed back in 2010, Death Grips was the colossal effort of “rapper” Stefan Burnett (Known better as MC Ride), keyboardist and artist Andy Morin (Known as Flatlander), and drummer extraordinaire Zach Hill. Like many others, my first exposure to the group was the tripped out video for Guillotine, featuring MC Ride losing his shit while buckled into a passenger seat back in 2011. I first saw this video on Donald Glover’s tumblr, and at the time, I thought it was awful. Why is this guy screaming? Why is this beat so harsh? What kind of music is this even? It almost hurts my ears. Death Grips are the textbook definition of a grower (and I’m not talking about the anatomy that graced the cover of No Love Deep Web, which is an entirely different kind of grower). The droning sample, the heavy bass, the metallic shearing noise that slices through the track, and MC Ride’s guttural delivery of the most horrific rapping ever makes the track a damn near classic. It took me a while to get it…but once I got it, I got it for good.
RETROSPECTIVE BLUES: WU LYF (2008-2012)
Earlier today, I debuted a new segment called Retrospective Blues to express my feelings about Das Racist breaking up. Then I remembered that just a week earlier, I’d been heartbroken by the news that the Manchester group WU LYF had broken up. So, I shall give them the Retrospective Blues treatment, as well.
The group, formed in 2008, is made up of Evans Kati, Tom McClung, Ellery Roberts, and Joe Manning. Their sound is pretty unique. Lead singer Ellery Roberts sings a howly vocal over some organs, with some intense drumming and shiny guitars. The group considered themselves to be “Heavy Pop”, but that’s as close a description as you’ll get from these guys.
The group, initially, tried to shroud some mystery around themselves, a la Death Grips, Iamamiwhoami, or recent mystery Captain Murphy. But eventually they kind of led that go, showing themselves as normal. Their videos were always interesting visually, and their music always was full of aggression and energy.
The group had one debut album, Go Tell Fire To the Mountain, which was full of catchy songs, great guitars, fantastic drumming (seriously), and the unique and enthralling vocals. The emotional intensity of all of their material was a lot, and it went a long way. They were one of the few bands that can help you through lonely moments of angst and intense cardio workouts.
The fact that they’ve decided to split is heartbreaking, as they could have taken their sound to a whole nother level. WU LYF: 4EVER
Retrospective Blues: Das Racist Edition
Now time for a new segment real quick before we blow into list week. Last week, it was announced that Das Racist broke up. Not only had they broken up, but they’ve actually been broken up for months. Heems, Kool A.D., and Dapwell (Who, let’s admit, really didn’t do anything) won’t make music together anymore.
I’ve been a big fan of their stuff, including their nearly game-changing mixtapes Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down, Man. I’m also one of the only people who thought that Relax was pretty great. They just an ear for great beats and smart lyrics. Plus, these guys did bring in a huge line of underground rappers such as Danny Brown, Mr. MFN eXquire, Despot, and brought El-P back from a near hiatus. So, in honor of them not being a band anymore, I present my 5 favorite Das Racist songs, in no particular order.
You Oughta Know (From Shut Up, Dude)
Probably my favorite Das Racist production this far, the sample of Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out gets me every time. So does their weird “sing-along” over it. Kool A.D. and Heems have some fantastic lines and delivery on this track, too. It’s just a great song where everything just works.
Rainbow In the Dark (From Shut Up, Dude and Relax)
This track is great, showing a lot of weird charisma and charm from Kool A.D., a great beat that switches from subtle to kind of booming. While Heems isn’t really the focus, it still manages to feel as if he’s there. Plus, this is the best I’ve ever heard Kool A. D. rapping, so that’s something, too.
Who’s That? BROOOWN (From Shut Up, Dude)
This is the first Das Racist song I ever heard. The beat, while initially incredibly annoying, it grew on me as something loud and oddly defiant. The lyrics are, as usual, pretty great. The beat is pretty great, too. Also, Heem’s verse is pretty great, too. This song made me a fan, and while at first it annoyed me, it grew into something I really loved.
Michael Jackson (From Relax)
The lead single to their debut album got a lot of mixed response. The song doesn’t make too much sense, the beat is an aggressive 90s fighting game theme sped up, and this is the most aggressive thing they’ve released. But that’s why I love it. It keeps the Das Racist style but amps up the energy a bit. Heems sounds like an absolute monster on his verse, and Kool A.D. sounds out of place (In a good way?) with his incredibly calm delivery.
Girl (From Relax)
This is another song that some people don’t like. It shows a clear pop direction, focusing more on the absolutely amazing beat and Kool A.D.’s earnestyl off-key singing. But that’s what’s great about it. The rhythm, verses, style, and pop attitude is something that showed something new for Das Racist. A direction that we’ll sadly never get to see anymore of. Unless Heems and Kool A.D. decide to take it into their solo releases. We’ll have to wait and see.
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