TIA: It’s been over ten years since the
Los Angeles collective Odd Future debuted
their first project, ‘The Odd Future Tape.’
Since then, they’ve helped transform hip-hop,
and branched out from rap into other creative
spaces like fashion and comedy, leaving a
huge mark on their generation.
TIA: Thanks to Odd Future's shocking lyrics, captivating
visuals, and keen sense of marketing,
the group was able to not only make their mark
in hip-hop, but in the world outside of it.
TYLER: Just a bunch of fucking teenagers who
do bad shit knowing we can go to jail or get
in trouble for it because we think it’s
fun.
TIA: At their peak, the group boasted nearly
20 members, many of whom eventually launched
solo careers.
TIA: Including Frank Ocean, Syd, Earl Sweatshirt,
Casey Veggies, Hodgy Beats, Left Brain, Domo Genesis,
Mike G, Jasper, and
of course, their leader, Tyler, the Creator.
TYLER: What people don’t know is that I’m
smarter than a lot of people.
Just because I joke around and BLAHH they
don’t understand how aware and smart that
I really am.
TIA: At the time, there were plenty of other
internet collectives making noise.
But part of what made Odd Future’s music
immediately stand out, were their lyrics.
INTERVIEWER: Okay now what about your lyrics?
TYLER: What about em?
INTERVIEWER: What are you saying in your lyrics?
TYLER: Nothing, shit to piss old white people
off like you.
TIA: Whether or not they were just trolling,
the questionable themes in their music got
them a lot of attention, mainly for their
repeated use of homophobic slurs and violence
against women.
PERSON: They’re more aggressive and they
don’t care what they say.
They can say anything they feel like.
And they get away with it.
EARL: One thing you gotta understand about
OF is that we got famous off of our shit ideas.
Your first drafts ever, we got famous off
of ours.
So people were judging us and basing us off
of our fuckin’ our first shit ever.
TIA: But while they may have faced criticism
for their lyrics, their unconventional sound
grabbed the attention of both fans and critics
alike.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2011,
Tyler explained
the group’s range of influences, saying
quote:
TIA: Along with their shocking lyricism and sound, their music videos mirrored
Odd Future’s versatility, ranging from dark
visuals to more lighthearted vibes that showcased
their sense of humor.
TIA: We see that in everything from Tyler’s
infamous video for “Yonkers” involving
a cockroach….
TIA: ...to Jasper’s appearance in an exercise
video similar to Kanye West’s
"The New Workout Plan.”
TIA: But besides their attention-grabbing
tactics, the group also boasted a diverse
collection of creatives.
TIA: While members like Taco, Earl, and Tyler
held it down with their antics in the spotlight,
others, like Syd and Frank Ocean were busy
winning over their own admirers,
and openly identified as queer.
SYD: They treat me with the same respect as
they treat everyone else.
We don’t let gender play a role in how we
treat one another necessarily so it’s all
the same to me.
TIA: Syd, aka Syd tha Kid, held it down as
a thoughtful presence in the group and as
Odd Future’s only female member.
TIA: Frank Ocean’s elusive presence and
mesmerizing sound captured the hearts of fans
both as a member of the group and as a solo
artist with the release of his debut studio
album, ‘channel ORANGE’ in 2012.
FRANK: They’ve liberated my thinking in
some ways, creatively in the sense of knowing
that you can do a lot of it by yourself.
Not just the songs but taking control of your
whole movement.
TIA: As a collective, Odd Future helped change
what it meant to be a rapper.
Musically, the group didn’t fit into just
one category, and created their own narrative
for their art.
TIA: And Odd Future’s presence online was
hard to miss.
They’d mastered a DIY approach that let
them build an audience and drop music when
and how they wanted, thanks to a sizeable
following on YouTube and Tumblr.
SYD: I had a template for my press releases
with the logo at the top.
It made people think that Odd Future was signed
to some big marketing firm.
But we weren’t it was just me.
TIA: The group was consistently dropping music
and videos that kept fans aware of what they
had going on and hungry for more.
TYLER: BITCH! FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU!
Drive off!
Keep your mouth shut!
TIA: Their rabid fanbase eventually helped
open the doors to their Adult Swim sketch
comedy show, 'Loiter Squad,' which ran for three
seasons.
TYLER: So you just gonna bring me a birthday
gift on my birthday to my birthday party on
my birthday with a birthday gift?!
JASPER: Happy birthday?
TIA: But as word spread online about Odd Future’s
movement, so did their signature looks.
TIA: Known for their love of bright colors
and the notorious Supreme box logo, the group
established themselves as tastemakers in streetwear.
TIA: Their brand affiliation quickly became
more than that, with their merch becoming
a staple in the fashion industry.
TIA: The collective launched their own line
under their namesake, laden with bright colors
and their signature donut logo.
And fans had no problem standing in line around
the block just to cop a signature piece and
get a glimpse of the eccentric group.
TACO: Yo if you’d told me this shit would
happen a year ago I’d have said, Bullshit.
TIA: Over the years, Odd Future slowly began
to grow apart as each member began focusing
on separate projects.
TIA: Tyler released his own solo projects,
with each one’s themes taking a wildly different
tone than his early work.
TIA: His next project, ‘IGOR’ is expected
to drop mid-May 2019.
TIA: Earl Sweatshirt released his own solo
projects as well.
His most recent album, ‘Some Rap Songs,’
dropped in November 2018.
TIA: Syd and fellow group member Matt Martians
branched out to start The Internet.
Their most recent project, ‘Hive Mind’
dropped in July 2018.
TIA: And Frank Ocean, who generally remains
pretty secretive, has had fans wondering what’s
next ever since he dropped ‘Blonde’ in
2016.
TIA: We’ve gotten solo projects and music
from other members, too.
Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, Mike G, Left Brain,
and Casey Veggies have all released their
own work.
TIA: And while Odd Future may not be getting
back together, as a group, their mark on this
generation of music and culture has been undeniable.
TYLER: Intanetz. It's goin' downs. Let 'em know. What is it going? Downs.
TIA: I’m Tia with Genius News bringing you
the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
