For those of you that might not know, Odd Future (Wolf Gang Kill Them All) is a Los Angeles based hip-hop collective. When we speak of hip-hop as a cultural entity/movement rather than merely a music genre, Odd Future is almost that epitome. Transcending just rap, Odd Future boasts members in the skateboarding, photography, dance, and graffiti communities. For more information on their background try their website or ask a white suburban middle schooler.
Since Odd Future has transitioned more into the public eye they have been vehemently ridiculed for some of their members’ lyrical content. Certain members of the group (namely Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt—prior to his stint in Samoa) are not shy about their explicit rape, homophobic, and murder references and “Kill People Burn Shit Fuck School” (a younger generation’s “Fuck Tha Police?”) has basically been adopted as the collective’s rallying cry.
Countless responses and blogs have been written analyzing, justifying, and (in every since of the word) demonizing Odd Future’s horrific content, and I my intention is not to continue to beat a horse that has been dead for quite some time. That being said, I feel as if I must bring Odd Future into the conversation regarding Hebdige. Like some in the Punk movement, Odd Future also has been likened to Nazis and devil worshipers (to name a few). This response, though perhaps not unwarranted (apart from rape, Tyler, The Creator’s repertoire includes rhymes claiming Nazi, Swastika, and 666 ties), most of these criticisms have reacted to Odd Future at a purely surface level.
Odd Future has “sampled” the Punk movement in its re-appropriation of faux-Nazi narratives. Lyrics like Tyler, The Creator’s “Seven” (Fuck it, Odd Future some nazis, black nazis don't copy), or Earl Sweatshirt’s “Pigeons” (Double S shit, swastikas on the Letterman, bitch) almost seem like a plagiarism of Sid Vicious’ swastika rebellion. These kids aren’t actually rapists, devil worshipers, or Nazis, they’re teenagers aiming to get a rise out of a generation that they don’t think gets it. It was designed to shock and horrify than as to rally for the neo-Nazi cause:
This represented more than a simple inversion or
inflection of the ordinary meanings attached to an object. The signifier (swastika)
had been willfully detached from the concept (Nazism) it conventionally
signified, and although it had been re-positioned…within an alternative sub-cultural
context, its primary value and appeal derived precisely from its lack of
meaning: from its potential for deceit (Hebtige 139).
Interestingly enough, as Odd Future has garnered more fame over the past 2 years, their subject matter has gotten a lot tamer. There was virtually no mentions rape or homophobic slurs on their collective’s most recent release and there’s no indication that that subject matter will be returning. Any thoughts to why?
Having a brief knowledge of Odd Future and some of the members of the group fascinates me as well. At their beginning, every aspect of their group was there as if only to shock and disturb the listener or viewer. Lyrics packed full of references to rape, cereal killing, homophobia, and even necrophilia references. Their videos even seem to be fabricated simply for shock value at the beginning involving drug overdose, graphic skateboard wrecks, and various other disturbing elements. Now, it's true it seems as if the group has become exponentially more tamed. However, I believe that they had planned this from the start.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as the group began they realized they wanted to breach in the mainstream hip-hop game but realized the immensely harsh competition. Like you said James, I believe they heavily "sampled" the punk movement and the gangsta rap movement, without any intentions of starting a movement of their own, but just to gain recognition. Upon their entrance into mainstream hip hop, each members potential is limitless within the culture. Tyler, the Creator is beginning to direct videos for other artists, and many of the groups members now have the ability and acknowledgment to work with essentially anyone they want within mainstream hip hop. I believe they decided to tone it down, because they successfully made it into the mainstream hip hop game and because like it always does; the shock value began to fade.
Lastly just to touch on the elements of homophobia that seemed very prevalent in Odd Future lyrics. Frank Ocean (a close Odd Future affiliate) came out of the closet relatively recently and members of the group spoke on their support for their friend and affiliate.
Having a brief knowledge of Odd Future and some of the members of the group fascinates me as well. At their beginning, every aspect of their group was there as if only to shock and disturb the listener or viewer. Lyrics packed full of references to rape, cereal killing, homophobia, and even necrophilia references. Their videos even seem to be fabricated simply for shock value at the beginning involving drug overdose, graphic skateboard wrecks, and various other disturbing elements. Now, it's true it seems as if the group has become exponentially more tamed. However, I believe that they had planned this from the start.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as the group began they realized they wanted to breach in the mainstream hip-hop game but realized the immensely harsh competition. Like you said James, I believe they heavily "sampled" the punk movement and the gangsta rap movement, without any intentions of starting a movement of their own, but just to gain recognition. Upon their entrance into mainstream hip hop, each members potential is limitless within the culture. Tyler, the Creator is beginning to direct videos for other artists, and many of the groups members now have the ability and acknowledgment to work with essentially anyone they want within mainstream hip hop. I believe they decided to tone it down, because they successfully made it into the mainstream hip hop game and because like it always does; the shock value began to fade.
Lastly just to touch on the elements of homophobia that seemed very prevalent in Odd Future lyrics. Frank Ocean (a close Odd Future affiliate) came out of the closet relatively recently and members of the group spoke on their support for their friend and affiliate.
Like Cameron said, the schock value of Odd Future could only last so long. Listeners were drawn in by the graphic and horrifying content of the group's earlier material and the image surrounding the group of skate rats. Some listeners were able to relate to the twisted fantasies of destruction and revenge that Earl and Tyler rapped about, but others found it way too much and helped further catapult OF into the mainstream with press. They wanted the good and the bad press, they didn't care to be shown in a positive light because thats exactly what they wanted to be portrayed as. Now that the shock value of their music has worn off and they have receded a bit out of the spotlight, they have tamed their lyrics down to avoid being labeled as a one trick pony. The hype surrounding a group like this can only get disgruntled skater kids riled up for so long until they reflect on the music enough to realize what they are actually backing. The shock value of OF goes beyond any ironic gimmick rappers of our time, but it was only meant to last so long. They are taking hip hop in new directions, but old hip hop fans are reluctant to get on board with Odd Future.
ReplyDelete