Death Grips - Exmilitary
MC Ride, Zach Hill and Andy Morin, better known as Death Grips, released their debut mixtape on this day in 2011. The decades most compelling and forthright act began their reign of influence with the 'Death Grips' EP slightly earlier in March of 2011 but Exmilitary is where the train gains traction.
Beware is up there with the best of the best when it comes to project openers. Charles Manson's sampled speech never fails to raise ears to attention. Although the man is a notorious cult leader and all round lunatic, every word rings home - maybe it's a bit of a fantasy to view life in that way but it always resonates to some degree. Time seems to stop as the words "He came to me with money in his hand, he offered me, I didn’t ask him" hover out of a sound system like miasmic clouds. Backed by a non-stop assault, lacking in moments to catch a breathe, Beware has become a bit of essential listening for any music fan. It's hypnotic in its droning, animalistic onslaught.
Exmilitary is the sort of music you can't get away with without copyright claims and trips to the court room. Although the results are executed in tasteful ways.
It samples a plethora of artists including Pink Floyd, Link Wray and the Beastie Boys throughout its runtime. You can bet that the Pink Floyd boys would never have thought their music would be used in ways like this. It's insane how a piece of music, sampled from a different time and culture, can back up a completely different execution of its sound yet fit the mold as if it was always meant to be, as if it was always theirs to begin with - Spread Eagle Cross the Block and I Want It I Need It for example.
Exmilitary executes a myriad of influences while managing to avoid sounding like any of said influences. Death Grips have gone on to captivate and curate a scene, in the process becoming just as influential as their influences. Every once in a while an act comes along that seems to re-energize the music game. Death Grips are the breathe of fresh air that invigorate and innovate. Music doesn't get much better.
April 25th, 2011.
