GET TO KNOW: DEATH GRIPS
BAND INFO:
• Website (avoid opening up in front of children/your boss, unless you want some questionable looks): http://thirdworlds.net/
• Band members: Stefan Burnett (aka MC Ride, vocals); Zach Hill (production/drums); Andy Morin (aka Flatlander, production/keyboards)
• Biggest hit: Hard to say… fans seem to love it all. Maybe “Guillotine”
• Must-listen, little-known hit (or in this case, mixtape): Before you cash in at The Money Store, try out their much acclaimed 2011 mixtape Exmilitary
• Year formed: 2010
• Genre: You can call it hip-hop, but that doesn’t begin to touch on their experimental sound which will have you asking: What?
• Most notable achievement/fact:They say they aspire to be “The Beatles of Rap”
THREE GREAT VIDEOS:
• Absolute visual assault courtesy I’ve Seen Footage
• Almost makes us want to relocate to Vancouver and take up skateboarding. Almost… Lord of the Game
• Get Got, lo-fi good
SINGLES:
From their new album The Money Store:
• Get Got
• The Fever (Aye Aye)
From 2011’s Exmilitary mixtape:
• Guillotine
12 FACTS:
• Set to release two albums this year. Their debut, The Money Store, drops tomorrow. No Love is expected in the fall.
• Despite aggressive music, they say they’re the three P’s: pro-homosexual, pro-feminist, and progressive.
• Released a free project for fans to remix called Black Google, which consisted of the instrumentals, vocals, and stems from 2011 mixtape Exmilitary.
• THEY’RE INTO CAPS LOCK, JUST CHECK TWITTER @DEATHGRIPZ.
• Their song “Hacker” manages to cram in references to Lady Gaga, an Apple Store, Sammy Davis, car alarms, and the DNA of gothic lemons.
• Epic signed them earlier this year. It happened after L.A. Reid helped convince them the major label was a good fit.
• Even though they’re signed to a major, they appear to have no qualms with sharing their sound. Seriously, visit their website and/or YouTube page.
• They’re the kings of low budget music videos and gave tips on how to shoot them for $20.
• After an acoustic set by James Mercer of The Shins last weekend, Death Grips took to the stage in California. Needless to say, not a close fit. At all.
• Drummer Zach Hill has released a ton of albums with 30+ acts (most notably Sacramento math rockers Hella.)
• No one tell Rob Ford: they say they’re Margaret Atwood fans.
• Watch/play around with this for an idea of what you’re in for: http://thirdworlds.net/retrograde/
They play NXNE 2012. Date to be announced. Head to http://nxne.com/deathgrips for more.
