Posts Tagged ‘Theophilus London’

I’ve had no idea what the Maximum Balloon project is until now, but it seems like a great initiative. Here’s the official info:

Maximum Balloon, the debut from David Andrew Sitek; guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer for TV On The Radio, as well as such critically-acclaimed and popular bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars and Scarlett Johansson’s album of Tom Waits covers, will be released on August 24th on DGC/Interscope Records.

Sitek recruited some of his favorite singers to co-write and lend vocals to his songs: artists he’s helped produce over the last 8 years as well as those he met as one of the originators of the formative New York-based indie-rock scene. Those artists include Karen O, the spectacular front-woman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; stylish rap wordsmith Theophilus London; old friend Katrina Ford from the Baltimore-based band, Celebration; the torchlight talent of New York’s Holly Miranda; legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne; Brooklyn based Aku from Dragons of Zynth, Swedish electronic band Little Dragon; Shivaree vocalist Ambrosia Parsely; and, of course, TV On The Radio bandmates Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone.

Brooklyn artist Theophilus London talks swagger, mixtapes, future projects, and working with Vashtie. Don’t sleep on London. He puts out great work IMO.

Directed by Theo’s friend, Va$htie. This comes off of his solid mixtape of the same name, which you can check out right here.

So this new article profiles rappers that are gaining notoriety through the grassroots, media-based, indie route. It’s nothing that I didn’t know, from what I’ve observed and read in the past, but a few tidbits stood out. First, this next bit is interesting.

According to industry insiders, Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa has been signed to Atlantic Records for close to a month now. (You may have noticed Kush and Orange Juice, the title of his most recent mixtape, trending on Twitter and Google.) Asked about the signing, Khalifa said, “Whatever people want it to be, that’s what it is. I didn’t say yes, I didn’t say no.”

I’m not 100% why Khalifa would keep it under wraps. Perhaps certain things are still being worked out is my guess. Also, something I didn’t know…but I guess I never really researched it.

And Warner Bros. calls Brooklynite Theophilus London — who independently released I Want You in August April and counts Solange Knowles among his fans — a “new signee,” despite the fact that it’s known that he was signed late last year.

Full Article Here

Background on the mixtape:

“Shortly before we got his third mixtape I WANT YOU, Theophilus London released a DIY promo video for the track “Life Of A Lover”. The record loops lazily to show us a new look: pretty girls dancing with each other at a show, young dudes headnodding, the crush of cameras and hard flash that now follows us everywhere we go, a cut to Theophilus in monochrome riding in a Vespa gang through Chinatown en route to Brooklyn and then back to the dance—a mic cord drifting slowly in and out of the frame and his hand reaching out to bring a girl on stage. That is all and this is it: inspired by Marvin Gaye’s self-imposed European exile and controversial performance of the national anthem at the 1983 NBA All Star game, I WANT YOU is a collection of dark jams that restlessly examines the promise of love beyond lifestyle. Touching on LA electrofunk, UK indie, tropical escapade and obscure afropop you never knew existed, these are stories from the way we live now: missed connections and misunderstandings, video chats and retweets, returns and deliverables. We know today is all black everything but more to the point: this is now noir as we know it. And this is Theophilus London.”

I want to reiterate that I truly slept on the kid London up until a few months ago. He puts out some undeniably quality music and I Want You is a project full of great music. Please support Theo and download below!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Here’s the last leak before his mixtape, I Want You, drops tomorrow. Here’s what he had to say about the track:

This track sparked the whole mixtape! I bought every single Marvin Gaye record i could fine.. and spent an entire 2 months listening while working on my album in LA. I then bought the separate parts from the original song I WANT YOU by Marvin Gaye and recorded my verse and singing in LONDON. I put all the different instruments together for the new wave version

It was a pleasure Covering this song! I really Want my Listeners! and this is my way of telling them!! I am very Excited for people to hear my new desires and I just want Girls to wake up and put this on! eat their breakfast smoke their brains out and enjoy I WANT YOU

And, as you can see above, if you live in NYC you should stop by Santos and check out the joint party for Va$htie’s birthday and London’s mixtape release. Expect a great crowd.

Theophilus London – I Want You

I’ll be the first one to admit I slept on Theophilus London, initially, but I’ve come to enjoy his music thoroughly. Here are some simple visuals for his new song, “Accept the New.” This will be off of his upcoming mixtape, I Want You. April 28th for that release, y’all.

**Also, check out Complex’s recent feature with London, as well as a new track HERE.

Here’s a quick behind the scenes video and a couple of shots from Theophilus London’s secret MTVu shoot in Austin.  Apparently, this is for one of their shows, called Ahead of the Curve. Hit the link for a few behind-the-scenes pics:

Read the rest of this entry »

The interesting character that is Theophilus London is dropping a new mixtape soon, called I Want You, and dropped this track to give you a preview of the material. I’m on and off with Theophilus material, but I definitely think he brings a good overall vibe to the music scene. Also, make sure to read up on his newly launched blog on Hypebeast.

Theophilus London ft. Jesse Boykins – Life of a Lover

The newly relaunched HipHopUpdate and The Fader want to send YOU AND A FRIEND to see Theophilus London, Ninjasonik, Activaire DJs & more THIS FRIDAY (March 12th) in NYC.

The event will go down at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, which is actually a sick venue. I’ve been to two music & social networking events there and they’ve been great times. Drinks will be provided, as it’s, unfortunately (for some), a 21+ event (and you’ll need id). $40 dollar value for free.

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW NAMING ONE (Only 1!) UPCOMING HIP-HOP ALBUM YOU’RE MOST  LOOKING FORWARD TO (currently scheduled to drop) IN 2010. I’LL PICK THE WINNER BASED ON WHICH ALBUM I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO  AND IF IT’S NAMED TWICE, THE FIRST PERSON WHO NAMED IT WILL WIN. IF IT’S NOT PICKED BY NOON TOMORROW, I”LL GO TO THE #2 ALBUM AND SO ON….

Open to people living in and around the NYC area and 21+ only. I’ll need your info to submit to get the tickets or you anyway, so don’t be an ass. Contest open til noon tomorrow when I’ll check the comments.

If you don’t win, you can still purchase tickets here and check out The Fader for more info.

** CONTEST OVER** Kionn Burt email me  with your full name and guest name —> HipHopUpdate@gmail.com

If he doesn’t email by tonight at 8pm, I’ll move on to the next one.

Va$hteeeezy hit the studio with her buddy Theophilus London recently to record some new music for his upcoming mixtape, “I Want You.”