Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
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Gordon Moakes – the former bassist of Bloc Party – has formed a new band, The None, and announced their new EP ‘Care’.
Comprised of Moakes, vocalist Kai Whyte (Blue Ruth, Youth Man), guitarist Jim Beck (Cassels) and drummer Chris Francombe (Frauds), the band have also shared the EP’s lead single ‘On Automatic’, a raucous and rowdy track that features a clanky guitar riff, pounding drums and a deep bass line. Paired with Whyte’s distinct and edgy vocals, the track feels both fun and uneasy. You can listen to the song on the band’s Bandcamp page here.
Speaking about the creation of the song in a press release, the band shared: “There was some uncertainty when we started writing this one. We thought the main riff might be a bit too ‘jock-rock’. Thankfully Gordon and Chris came up with some interesting parts which changed the feel and helped build tension. Once Kai added their vocals it quickly became one of our favourites to play live”.
‘Care’ is set for release on February 14 and can be pre-ordered here. It follows their debut EP ‘Matter’ which was released last summer. Speaking about the creation of ‘Care’ which was recorded fully live, Beck said: “I think we’d only done around three or four practices with Kai [vocals] when we recorded the first EP. It was pretty seat-of-the-pants stuff. This time we had a much clearer idea of who we are as a band, and how we wanted everything to sound.”
The None are also set to embark on a 2025 UK tour later this week. Check out the full list of dates below and visit here to purchase tickets.
1. My People
2. Assembly
3. Rusty Roads
4. On Automatic
JANUARY
11 – Electric Ballroom, London (w. The Jesus Lizard)
FEBRUARY
14 – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
15 – Where Else?, Margate
16 – Prince Albert, Brighton
18 – YES (Basement), Manchester
19 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
20 – The Hug & Pint, Glasgow
21 – Zerox, Newcastle
MARCH
29 – Oslo, London
MAY
24 – Portals Festival, EartH, London
25 – Bearded Theory Festival, Catton Park, Derbyshire
JULY
25 – Deer Shed Festival, Thirsk, Yorkshire
Moakes joined Bloc Party after responding to an advert placed in NME by frontman Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack, who were seeking a bassist. He was part of the band until his departure in 2015. He then joined the band Young Legionnaire, whose most recent release was their second album, 2016’s ‘Zero Worship’.
Back in 2015, Okereke opened up on the band’s line-up changes, sharing: “I can tell you it was about someone doing cocaine and someone not being into it. That’s all I’m gonna say.”
He continued: “People think bands breaking up is sexy but often it’s super mundane, like not flushing the toilet or washing up. It’s often not about the flashpoints but deep-seated issues.”
Last year, former Bloc Party drummer Matt Tong opened up about his departure from the band and called the frontman “an insurmountable obstacle”.
The drummer appeared on the 22 Grand Pod and addressed his 2013 exit from the band when he “quit mid-tour”. “It’s come to my attention very recently that, you know, a lot of people actually have inferred that maybe I had a drug problem. Which I didn’t, at all,” he clarified.
Tong alluded to being ready to exit the band before the album cycle ended: “I’m good, this is it,” he recalled thinking. “I’m fine. I don’t think there’s anything else I can gain, really, from being in this band. I certainly felt in terms of being a musician, I wasn’t really able to offer much else.”
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Tyler, The Creator has quite the fan in punk legend Iggy Pop after working together briefly a few years back.
Tyler and Iggy starred in a Gucci Tailoring campaign ad alongside A$AP Rocky back in 2020, and it appears that Tyler left quite the impression. While discussing the Chromakopia rapper on his BBC Radio 6 show Iggy Confidential, the Godfather of Punk called him “a genuine old-school talent.”
“I’ve always liked Tyler. I did a day’s work with him once, and he would do what it takes to get attention,” Iggy said. “He’s also a genuine all-around song, dance, writer, talent — a genuine old-school talent with a new-school approach.”
You can catch the clip below.
Iggy Pop isn’t the only legend with high praise for Tyler, The Creator.
One of his hometown’s biggest music legends, Ice Cube, shared his admiration for Tyler in a new interview with HipHopDX, speaking highly of his creativity and individuality which he says represents a side of Los Angeles that is often forgotten about.
When asked for his thoughts on the Odd Future founder’s success, Cube said: “That’s L.A. That’s the L.A. people don’t know about — ultra-creative individuals who won’t conform to the culture of gangbanging. They’re going to be themselves.”
Cube then drew a comparison between Tyler and a particular West Coast rap group that’s held in high regard: “He reminds me of, like, The Pharycde. Here’s another: the Black Eyed Peas come from here.
“You’re going to always have those groups who are going to stay down with their own style and their own flavor, and going to win with it. Because they’re not conforming, they’re not being what you want them to be; they’re being who they are. And you gotta salute that.”
Tyler, The Creator has no shortage of famous fans. Since storming onto the scene with “Yonkers” (and its infamous roach-chewing video) over a decade ago, the Hawthorne native has earned co-signs from everyone from Kanye West, JAY-Z and Lil Wayne to fellow West Coast heroes Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar.
Some of the highest compliments have come from his idol Pharrell, who back in 2017 tweeted: “Thank you @tylerthecreator for being everything we dreamt of when making In Search Of,” referring to N.E.R.D.‘s genre-blending 2001 album. “Artistic freedom to be you and make whatever you want.”
Though he’s now firmly a seasoned veteran, Tyler’s career has only continued to go from strength to strength in recent years — particularly in the last 12 months.
Last year he dropped his eighth album Chromakopia, which topped the Billboard 200 with the highest first-week sales of his career (almost 300,000) while being named the second best rap album of 2024 by this very publication.
Tyler also hosted the 10th installment of his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival and introduced his debut fashion collection with Louis Vuitton, which he described as a dream come true.
With a massive Chromakopia World Tour set to begin next month, 2025 is shaping up to be another big year.
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