Author: Will Harrison
Those who tuned in to “The Jimmy Fallon Show” on Thursday, Feb. 17, observed a performance that could be labeled a whole lot of things, but one that was undoubtedly captivating. Tyler, The Creator and Hodgy Beats, two members of hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (Odd Future for short), took the stage to perform their song “Sandwitches,” hyperactively bounding about in ski masks and chanting “Wolf Gang Swag” in between their verses. Their appearance was the group’s first on national television and, even though they have been receiving a lot of attention on the Internet for months, most viewers were probably left wondering who Odd Future was.
Odd Future is a group of 10 teenagers from Los Angeles, ranging from ages 16 to 19. They like skateboarding and swastikas. They hate Steve Harvey. Their lyrical content will make you laugh one minute and make your stomach turn the next — peppered into their one-liners are offhand stories of rape and murder. They have released several free mixtapes via their website and have developed a devoted, almost cult-like, following. They have earned the praise of influential websites like Pitchfork and Stereogum. In the process, they have also become one of hip-hop’s most controversial and talked-about groups.
Of course, hip-hop as a genre is not new to controversy, especially controversy regarding its lyrics. This exact past is acknowledged by one of the group’s most prominent members, Earl Sweatshirt, on the song “AssMilk” when he raps, “I’m the reincarnation of 98 Eminem.” Though this line exposes an obvious influence, in actuality, Odd Future’s work marks a progression from past eras of the genre. Perhaps Eminem would have rapped, “Kill people, burn shit, fuck school,” but most people could discern satire. In an age where gangster rap has become tired and tame, this group of teenagers has discovered a new way to stir things up.
Sonically, their sound is almost as raw as their lyrics. The beats on any Odd Future mixtape are lo-fi and simplistic, allowing each member to entrance the listener with twisted stories and brash boasts. Most of these beats are made by Tyler, The Creator, who has emerged as the group’s unofficial leader after Earl (Sweatshirt), the group’s youngest and most talented MC, disappeared a couple months ago.
Rumor has it that he was placed in either boarding school or boot camp by his mother after she saw his controversial first music video, which was made when he was 16. That video, entitled “Earl,” features members of the group taking sips of a dreadful mixture that includes a slew of drugs and liquor, after which they begin to bleed from their noses and mouths. The gruesome close-ups of bloody teenagers spitting out their teeth both disgust and attract the viewer — you just can’t look away. This exact response is what triggers people to pay attention to Odd Future.
Because most listeners are immediately struck by Odd Future’s foul-mouthed lyrics, it can be overlooked that its members are undoubtedly smart. In interviews, Tyler has cited his influences to include everyone from rapper MF Doom to indie darlings Grizzly Bear. They are hyperconscious of their public image and are provocateurs by design, not only aware of their frightening and mysterious allure, but enjoying it because they know it will get people’s attention.
They are also a group full of paradoxes. The hallucinatory, violent, teenage fantasies that are prevalent in their songs are undoubtedly sexist, but on his first mixtape “Bastard,” Tyler makes it clear that he loves and is thankful for the single mother who raised him. Despite their self-admitted flaws, they are also charismatic, forcing the listener into a moral dilemma over whether they should actually like them. While they embrace being a group of hell-raising black teenagers, they also proudly discuss their nerdy, almost suburban tendencies. Odd Future are the kids who like obscure cartoons and get so drunk that they throw up in the parking lot outside of a concert they couldn’t get into. The achievement is that they actually make it all look cool.
Days after the “Fallon” appearance, Tyler was signed to a one-album deal with XL Recordings, the same label that houses “Vampire Weekend.” Addressing concerns that he was perhaps selling out, Tyler tweeted, “Yes, I Did A One Album Thing With XL. Thats Family. Don’t Trip, Still Have %100 Creative Control Over Raps, Beats, Videos, Covers. Fuck You.” Nevertheless it will be interesting to see how the group responds to all the attention it is receiving in the coming weeks, or perhaps days — this is the Internet generation, and we do have attention issues.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
