I'm not sure why SPIN Magazine decided to put Odd Future on the cover. Of course, the simple answer is because they 'get mad hits', fueled by 'controversy', and indie white kids apparently like them or something. I don't understand why Tyler the Creator didn't get a solo cover bc he is clearly the only member of the 'group' that any one cares abt.
It seems like they are a totally relevant and successful buzzband according to the wikipedia-wave intro.
Odd Future have provoked nonstop conversation throughout 2011, creating some of the year's most vital, kinetic, urgent, raw music and art. A brief overview of the young crew's output: Tyler's solo album Goblin, which has sold 135,000 copies via indie label XL, and his riveting "Yonkers" and "She" videos; Frank Ocean's twisted R&B confessional, Nostalgia, Ultra; MellowHype's remastered re-release of their Blackenedwhite album and the effectively creepy "64" video; Domo Genesis' Under the Influence mixtape; Mike G's chopped-and-screwed mixtapes; Syd the Kyd's Raunchboots instrumental EP; the stunning coffee-table photo book Golf Wang, with writings by Tyler; not to mention all the group's Tyler-designed merch. Their 2012 is booked with worldwide tour dates; they're shooting an Adult Swim show, tentatively titled Loiter Squad, set to premiere in early 2012; a clutch of releases, including a full crew album, are planned for the newly minted Odd Future Records (distributed by Sony Red); and there are rumored collaborations with Pharrell (Tyler's idol) and Justin Bieber (an acknowledged fan).
Moreover, they've defined a fresh rallying cry for disaffected youth and have reinvigorated the decades-old debate over whether rap music reflects, or ruins, society. Amid discussion forums and Tumblr'd fan tributes, there are hundreds of essays parsing whether the group are misogynistic, homophobic, or hate-filled, due to several graphic depictions of murder and rape in their lyrics. They were subject to domestic-violence protests at the Pitchfork Music Festival and were admonished in GLAAD press releases. This May, Sara Quin of lesbian folkies Tegan and Sara denounced Goblin on the duo's website, wondering, "Why should I care about this music or its 'brilliance' when the message is so repulsive and irresponsible?" Tyler's response, via Twitter: "If Tegan and Sara need some hard dick, hit me up!"
The whole 'cover article' just goes on and on about how 'they are actually very nice, down-to-earth people.' They aren't just using 'shock tactics' to generate interest. They are just t0tally zany, and singing about killing women and having sex with them is just funnie! Also, Tyler the Creator doesn't h8 gheys. He is tolerant. Black ppl are naturally tolerant because white ppl discriminated against them once.
"That was the first thing that came to my head," Tyler explains later, sitting on a Seattle hotel bed, after the show following the Vancouver date. "When I said that shit, I thought it'd be funny. But then I was like, I don't even care anymore….I mean, I guess my dark side comes out in my music, but it's just weird that so many people think I'm such a fucking evil person. I don't fucking hate gay people. I'm probably one of the least homophobic rappers in the world. I don't discriminate, because that's what the fucking whites did to the blacks back then, and that's what kids did to me at school, because I listened to different music and shit. So I don't fucking discriminate.
What a body, bb!
Tyler the Creator claims that he will 'never go solo', but that is just a common vibe in the black community. Whether you are a rapper or professional athlete, you have to 'take care of ur crew' even if they bankrupt you or if you end up going to jail for funding a dog fighting ring.
A couple of times during the trip, when the tour bus is too hotboxed or somebody's boxers are on the floor, Tyler jokes about going solo. But when he accepted his MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist this year, his mom crying and screaming at his side, he delivered his largely bleeped-out speech with the group hopping around and hugging behind him. "I would never, never leave these dudes," he says. "Without them trusting my lead and having my back no matter what the fuck happened, I wouldn't be here. Because I come up with some crazy shit, and nobody trusted me, but these motherfuckers was like, 'You know what? Fuck it, eat a roach.'"
We learn that Tyler the Creator bought his mom a house, some of the members of Odd Future have children, and Tyler the Creator has a GF so he doesn't bang groupies.
Here is a picture of that guy who punched that photographer lady.
The article concludes with confirmation that the write 'became friends with Odd Future', and is basically a member of their band now.
We spend two more hours chatting, about heartbreak, piano lessons, and how it sucks when your mom follows you on Twitter. At one point he exclaims, "I've never been this happy in my life. I just got a shirt with a fuckin' cat on it!" The next day, when Tyler hugs me goodbye, he says, "Bye, loser," in his famous, growling baritone. I snap back, "I hate you." As my cab pulls away to go to the airport, I already miss the Wolf Gang.
I feel nostalgic for Almost-Famous-wave rock journalism. :'-( Back then, profiling writers actually 'became friends with the band'. These days, publicists just tell the band who 'not to be a dick' to so that you can 'get on the cover of SPIN', get portrayed 'like a decent human being', and the publicist/PR firm gets to make it seem like they are 'great at their job'.
Is Odd Future the most important buzzband in the world?
Do they look totally zany on that cover bc they are covering their faces?
Are they 'what rocknroll is all about'?
do u believe that they are 'good people' underneath it all?
Should Tyler the Creator 'trim the fat' and 'go solo'?
Has their buzz already died?
Is this the greatest moment in the history of horrorcore rap?
