They have their own TV show. They’ve sold more than 70,000 albums. They feature twelve members, each with their own unique flair and style. They’ve released around 20 mixtapes/albums, and they’ve only been a group since 2007. And to top it all off, the average age of their members is around 19.
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (often abbreviated as OFWGKTA or simply Odd Future) is an eclectic rap group from Los Angeles led by frontman Tyler, the Creator, and featuring rappers Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Mike G, Jasper Dolphin, and Taco, as well as producers Left Brain, Hal Williams, Matt Martians, and Syd tha Kyd. Based on the simple idea of Do-It-Yourself music releases and intense live performances, the band has completely risen from the ground up in a rags to riches story reminiscent of other A-list rappers. They went from recording songs in their parents’ houses through computer microphones to collaborating with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and selling out shows in Europe.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise that this radical ascent to stardom was a result of some massive chemistry and raw talent as a band: Tyler the Creator’s Bastard and Goblin albums showed introspected, brutally honest lyrics as well as great beats and clever lines - rap legend Kanye West even tweeted about how great Tyler’s seminal single “Yonkers” was, partially contributing to the band’s success. Earl Sweatshirt’s EARL was called one of the 20 greatest new rap albums by Pitchfork Media’s sister site Altered Zones. Hodgy Beats and Left Brains’ BlackenedWhite sold over 20,000 copies and was given a ⅘ rating by Rolling Stone. Even Frank Ocean’s first mixtape has an aggregated score of 83/100 on Metacritic.
However, although the members feature one another on their albums, there have only been a few instances where the members collaborated on songs as an album - a definitive Odd Future experience. When the band rose to fame, it only seemed right to set the record straight as a group and say “this is our album, and this is who we are.” And they did.
The OF Tape Vol. 2 is the definitive OFWGKTA experience. Referencing their original debut Odd Future Tape from 2008, it symbolizes the full circle the band has come in trying to find success.
One thing one might ask is, “Okay. I understand that there is a mass amount of hype surrounding this band; but does the album live up to expectations?” and the answer is: yes. This album is in my opinion everything the group has tried to accomplish through their struggles.
The first thing to note about this release and this band in general is that the music itself is not like other hip-hop or rap records in and of itself. Modern rap has almost found itself in a rut, beating the dead horse of lyrical content that is “blunts, bitches, and bling”. Now, I’m not going to say that Odd Future isn’t guilty of using this lyrical crutch, but it almost comes off as sarcastic in the Odd Future camp. The lyrics range from talking about how awesome they are, to childhood experiences, to drug use, to video games and cartoons. Tyler the Creator utilizes less of his more emotional lyrics to opt for a more general approach to songwriting, but that’s okay. This album isn’t about any one member - it is an Odd Future album.
The opening track “B*tches” is a fun song, about as much as the other ones, and that’s what I believe is what this release is about at its core. They’re a band that likes to have fun, and that is shown through their lyrics. The video for album closer “Oldie” just shows the members joking and laughing in front of a camera during a photo shoot. While there are more serious and sensual songs such as “Snow White”, “Analog 2”, and “Ya Know”, the band opts for generally “fun” songs. The songs don’t sound like club raps, but still have a bit of a party vibe to them.
The strongest rappers on this release prove to be Hodgy Beats and Domo Genesis. Paired up on many of the album’s songs, they have a call and return aspect to their jams that is unmatched throughout the whole album. While their lyrics as a whole aren’t refreshing, nor groundbreaking, they are clever and tongue in cheek. At its core, maybe that’s what music should be about. The return of youngest member Earl Sweatshirt is a welcomed aspect, although he only appears on one song.
The production is very, very strong. Tyler, the Creator and Left Brain handle all the production, and it comes off sounding clean and crisp. The sound effects and vocal layers on songs with pure singing such as the R&B “Snow White” are nearly perfect. Frank Ocean’s vocals on that song are unmatched. It not only proves the members are not only good lyricists and rappers, but great musicians as well.
The OF Tape Vol. 2 is not for everybody. It almost sounds like OFWGKTA wrote a love letter to their fans and supporters saying “thank you. This is who we are.” It’s a solid album, but it wears down quickly. The simplicity of the songs makes for a somewhat watered down 3rd or 4th listen, but the songs still retain their wonder. I believe the final words of the album closer “Oldie” sum it up best:
“Um, I was 15 when I first drew that donut
5 years later, for our label: we own it
I started an empire, I ain't even old enough
To drink a fucking beer, I'm tipsy off this soda pop
This is for the niggers in the suburbs
And the white kids with nigger friends who say the n-word
And the ones that got called weird, fag, bitch, nerd
Cause you was into jazz, kitty cats, and Steven Spielberg
They say we ain't acting right
Always try to turn our fucking color into black and white
But they'll never change 'em, never understand 'em
Radical's my anthem, turn my fucking amps up
So instead of critiquing and bitching, being mad as fuck
Just admit, not only are we talented, we're rad as fuck.”
