It’s hard to describe the Death Grips accurately.
They’re noisy. They’re offensive. Most times, their music defies contemporary tempo and chord structure. It’s hip hop music, it’s punk music, yet it’s also distinctly not any of those things. The description I like the best comes from The Skinny, who defines them as "the first truly important band of the twenty-first century."
Formed in 2010 by Zach Hill, Andy Morin, and Stefan Burnett (or his stage moniker MC Ride), Death Grips is an experimental hip hop group out of Sacramento, California that has gained some notoriety and formed a sort of cult status on the internet. They draw influence from industrial, punk, electronic and noise music, in addition to their hip-hop base.
They’ve released four albums thus far (five if you count their debut mixtape, “Exmilitary”), along with two EPs and an instrumental soundtrack titled “Fashion Week.” The Death Grips are also planning the release of another album on May 6, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was released late or wasn’t released at all.
You see, the Death Grips have a very unique relationship with their fans. They'll plan tours, but then they'll cancel their shows (which has caused violent altercations in the past); they'll disband, but then they'll randomly release singles online without prior warning. Their music videos are odd and often heavily edited or colorized, and their live shows are as chaotic as their media presence.
The Death Grips are noisy, with Zach Hill detuning his drums to play along with the instrumentals behind him, while MC Ride screams into the microphone. Their performances are high energy and captivating. Their act is dark and malevolent, but despite the chaos, the group's musicianship shines through. The Death Grips create some very interesting and fun instrumentals, and MC Ride’s vocal style and lyricism are often dark yet introspective.
Their music is definitely not anything that’s charting or streaming through pop radio but it has managed to garner quite a following, even including several celebrities. Rapper Tyler, the Creator, guitarist Tom Morello, Iggy Pop, rapper/songwriter Mike Shinoda, director Edgar Wright, comedian Fred Armisen, former "Hannah Montana" star Emily Osment, and the late David Bowie. The Death Grips' music can be jarring to the listener at first, but I promise that the group has some killer tracks that both hip hop fans and electronic fans alike can enjoy.
If you have not heard of or listened to Death Grips before, here is a guide to help you dip into their music.
(I guess I should warn now, there is use of obscene language in nearly all of their music, so if that’s going to be a deal-breaker for you, I apologize and you should turn around now.)
First, “Guillotine:"
It’s easily one of their most popular songs, and one of the few singles they’ve released. "Guillotine" is not too musically or vocally complicated, and is generally pretty easy to listen to, even for the new listener.
Like this? Check out more of their album “Exmilitary,” such as “Takyon (Death Yon)”
Second, “Get Got” and “I’ve Seen Footage:"
Both of these are dance or electronic-influenced tracks off of “The Money Store," their first true album. A little bit easy on the ears, since “The Money Store” is seen as their most ‘commercial’ record to date.
Like this? Check out more of their album “The Money Store,” such as “Hacker.”
Third, “Come Up and Get Me:"
Off of their second album, “No Love Deep Web” (which features just one of the most… creative yet obscene album covers? Please don’t look it up), “Come Up and Get Me” features that similar hip hop and electronic crossover, with a little heavier bass and acidic electronic bass lines.
Like This? Check out more of “No Love Deep Web," like “Hunger Games.”
Fourth, “You Might Think He Loves You For Your Money But I Know What He Really Loves You For It’s Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat:"
What a title. This gem opens their third album, “Government Plates,” and begins with a high pitch whine as MC Ride screams and then leads into a drums and distorted bass instrumental, prominently featuring Death Grips' denouncement of popular musical theory.
Like this? Check out more of “Government Plates,” like “Birds.”
Lastly, “Inanimate Sensation:"
Here we are, Death Grips’ most fourth album, the double album: ‘’The Powers That B.” The two albums were released months apart from each other, thus resulting in the two albums having different sounds, and some criticizing the second album (“Jenny Death”) as being too ‘commercial.’ Regardless, the Death Grips continue their experimental hip hop route with the absolutely screeching “Inanimate Sensation.”
Like this? Check out more of “The Powers That B,” like “Billy Not Really” or “On GP.”
Well, if you’re somehow still here, I guess we all collectively have to wait for “The Bottomless Pit” to be released. I hope at least a few people were able to find something they enjoyed while reading through this article. If not, maybe some Death Grips fans were able to reminisce about their favorite tracks by the group.
Or not, I don’t know. Either way, the Death Grips will continue to chug on.
