Understanding the nascent OFWGKTA phenomenon.
The internet has been awash with story, rumour and innuendo about Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All since their frenetic performance on Jimmy Fallon and the release of Tyler the Creator’s mental music video for the single “Yonkers.” I’ve been toying around with disassembling what has happened so far, so here it goes.
Though OFWGKTA have been posting mixtapes for free on their blog since 2008, it’s only recently that they’ve elbowed their way into the mainstream. Actually, elbowed is an understatement. Blasted. Torn. Fought. Clawed. Whatever — their explosion has been ridiculous and of absolutely monumental proportions.
Popularity-explosion-ground-zero: probably Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats appearing on Jimmy Fallon (Feb. 16/2011) to deliver Sandwitches — a forceful performance that saw the rappers taking the stage in hoodies and skimasks.
The argument can be made that it was actually Tyler’s music video for “Yonkers” which hit the internet a few days before. I personally feel it was the “Fallon Incident” which involved Mos Def grabbing one of the Fallon camera’s and repeating the OFWGKTA mantra “swag! swag! swag!” after they finished performing.
Furthermore, OFWGKTA held court at SXSW and their shows were packed out. One of the best interviews I’ve seen in the last few weeks is Nardwaur (The Human Serviette) interviewing the group. [link]
The other members of the collective have been busy, too. Earl, a 16-year-old and one of the better rappers in the group, released his debut EP (Sweatshirt) in March of 2010. Since then, Earl has disappeared, and there are persistent rumours that his mom wigged out after hearing what he was rapping about. (On the lead single of Sweatshirt, Earl raps, “I’m a hot and bothered astronaut, crashing while jacking off / To buffering vids of Asher Roth eating apple sauce / Sent to earth to poke Catholics in the ass with saws / and knock blunt ashes into their caskets and laugh it”) I’m not well-versed in all their material, so if you want the down low on the rest, swing over to Pitchfork.
Regardless, the group have already made their mark and are gaining momentum at ridiculous speeds. The release of Tyler’s debut album, Goblin, is shrouded in anticipation.
