Odd Future

Odd Future
Odd Future, Trash Talk, and Lil Wayne performing together in September 2012.
Background information
Also known as	OFWGKTA Wolf Gang Golf Wang Loiter Squad Bacon Boys Flog Gnaw
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	2007−present
Labels	Odd Future Sony RED
Associated acts	Trash Talk
Website	oddfuture.com
Members	Tyler, The Creator Hodgy Left Brain Jasper Dolphin Domo Genesis Mike G Frank Ocean Earl Sweatshirt Taco Lucas Vercetti L-Boy
Past members	Casey Veggies Brandun DeShay Matt Martians Syd

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, normally shortened to Odd Future and abbreviated to OFWGKTA (stylized OFWGK†Δ) (with an upside down cross), is an American hip hop collective formed in Los Angeles in 2006-07. The collective was originally formed by Tyler, The Creator with Hodgy, Left Brain, Casey Veggies, The Super 3, and Jasper Dolphin. Later members include Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Domo Genesis, Mike G, and Syd. Outside of music, Odd Future had an Adult Swim skit show called Loiter Squad, a clothing line named Golf Wang, as well as a mobile app called Golf Media which contains exclusive interviews, behind the scenes clips, and cartoons. Every year since 2012, Odd Future has held the annual Camp Flog Gnaw in Los Angeles where members of Odd Future, as well as other supporting acts, perform live and host a carnival.

History

2007–09: Early Career

Odd Future formed around 2006–07 in Los Angeles. The original members were founder Tyler, the Creator (Tyler Okonma), Left Brain (Vyron Turner), Hodgy Beats and Jasper Dolphin (Davon Wilson). At some point before the release of Bastard, Chicago-based rapper brandUn DeShay collaborated with the group, and appeared on the track "Session," but Tyler and DeShay had a falling out, and his vocals on "Session" were replaced by Mike G. Much of their early music was recorded in a room of Syd tha Kyd and Taco's South Central Los Angeles home, known as the Trap.

2010: Rise in Popularity

2009–10 saw several new members arrive: Domo Genesis (Domonique Cole), Earl Sweatshirt (Thebe Kgositsile), Mike G (Michael Griffin II), and Frank Ocean (Christopher Breaux).

The group completed a two-stop tour, their first outside of Los Angeles: in London, England, on November 5, 2010, and New York City on November 8. The concert at The Drop in London sold out within 48 hours of announcement by the group. Their concerts have been compared to punk rock shows, with stagediving, moshing, and group members antagonizing the crowd.^[1][2]

2011–15: solo releases, TV show, radio station

Odd Future and Pharrell Williams performing together in April 2011

MellowHype re-released their album BlackenedWhite through Fat Possum Records. Frank Ocean self-released his debut mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra on February 16, 2011 after joining Odd Future. Tyler, the Creator also signed a one-album deal with XL Recordings and released his sophomore effort, Goblin, on May 10, 2011. They have collected a cult following, and have received press attention from blogs and magazines.^[3] Though they are often labeled as horrorcore, the group has universally dismissed it on Twitter,^[4] in interviews,^[5] and on tracks such as "Sandwitches". Pitchfork Media has labeled the group as indie rap.^[6] In April 2011, the group signed a deal with RED Distribution and Sony Music Entertainment to start their own label, Odd Future Records.^[7] On August 2, 2011, Odd Future announced on their website the Golf Wang Tour 2011.^[8] The tour included 27 stops, beginning on September 28, 2011 in San Diego, California at the House of Blues.^[9]

On September 8, 2011, it was announced that Odd Future would be making a television show called Loiter Squad. The show was announced to be a sketch comedy show featuring various skits and pranks and originally aired on March 25, 2012 on Adult Swim. The show features Tyler, Jasper, Taco, Earl and Lionel as main cast members with other members of Odd Future making cameo appearances.^[10][11] The program is produced by Dickhouse Productions, which also is the production company for Jackass.

On October 3, 2011, Tyler, The Creator tweeted a link to iTunes with a compilation album of 12 old Odd Future songs from artists within the group such as Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, Mike G, The Jet Age of Tomorrow, MellowHype, The Internet, and Tyler himself. The album is simply named 12 Odd Future Songs, despite having 13 tracks, including a brand new release by The Internet. On March 20, 2012, the collective released their debut album, The OF Tape Vol. 2. The album was a sequel to the original mixtape, The Odd Future Tape. On the same day, Earl Sweatshirt, who was absent from Odd Future from June 2010 until February 2012, first performed with the group at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.^[12][13]

Frank Ocean released his debut studio album channel ORANGE on July 17, 2012. Other solo releases for the second half of 2012 included Domo Genesis's No Idols with The Alchemist, released on August 1, and MellowHype's Numbers, released on October 9.^[14][15] On December 5, 2012 it was announced Frank Ocean was nominated for six awards at the 55th Grammys, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year for "Thinkin Bout You" and Album of the Year for channel ORANGE.

On April 2, Tyler, The Creator released his second studio album, Wolf, which received positive reviews from critics and debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, selling 89,895 copies in the United States.^[16][17] Earl Sweatshirt released his debut studio album Doris on August 20, 2013, which was met with critical acclaim, and MellowHigh released their self-titled debut album together on October 31, 2013.^[18]

On September 12, the Odd Future station premiered on the online 24/7 radio, Dash Radio, which was released the month before by DJ Skee. The station features a live playlist, special links such as "Taco Tuesday" (also repeated on Fridays) and coverage of live events, such as the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, also hosted by Odd Future.^[19]

2015–present: different directions; disbandment, reunion, departure of members

On January 18, 2015, Hodgy Beats confirmed that MellowHype will no longer exist, and that he and Left Brain will continue to make music together, just no longer under the name MellowHype. Hodgy states in the interview, "Nah, we ain't breaking up. Nah, this ain't no weirdo shit. It's just some real shit. It's a refocus. Going from boys to men this is what it is. So it's either understand it, 'cause it will be explained–cry about it, talk shit, applaud us–we still moving." ^[20]

In May 2015, Tyler posted a photo on Twitter from 2010 which contained the entire Odd Future collective. He added "although it's no more, those 7 letters [OFWGKTA] are forever."^[21] This was widely believed to be a confirmation of the collective's dissolution. However, the next day he explained that his tweet was misinterpreted and was merely "looking at old photos with friends and thinking about how time flies."^[22] The next day, member Earl Sweatshirt wrote: "No sympathy for male virgins who're in their feelings about Tyler pointing out and solidifying the obvious."^[23] This caused an Internet debate over whether "the obvious" was referring to Tyler's first statement or his second. On June 30, Matt Martians seemingly confirmed to AllHipHop that Odd Future had indeed broken up, but that there were "no hard feelings among the members of OFWGKTA."^[24]

"OFWGKTA" was listed on the bill for Tyler, the Creator's 4th Annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.^[25] The line-up that performed included Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, Mike G and Left Brain. Tyler and Earl were not a part of the set due to Tyler already having a solo show and Earl having amicably^[26] distanced himself from Odd Future around the release of his third album I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside.

During the Odd Future set at the 4th Annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Hodgy Beats called out Tyler, The Creator onstage about his dissatisfaction with Tyler, and remarking how he "stayed broke", and was also visibly irritated when other Odd Future members thanked Tyler for the invite to the carnival.^[27] Tyler responded to Hodgy in the middle of his solo set, saying "Niggas got me fucked up. I put too many niggas on. I helped too many of my motherfucking friends out, and niggas gonna come foul? You know who the fuck I'm talking about, nigga. And yes, this is real." Hodgy responded to these remarks on Twitter by saying "If it wasn't for Odd Future, where would Tyler be?" and "Think about who built the name OF together as a unit. Now think about who took the first initial shit on OF." However, one day later, a humorous Instagram video, uploaded by Hodgy, featured him and Tyler attempting to perform handstands; possibly suggesting that the feud had been dissolved. The video was later removed.^[28]

On June 30, 2015, Matt Martians announced his departure from Odd Future.^[29]

On March 11, 2016, Syd Tha Kyd officially announced her departure from Odd Future, making The Internet only a label associated act. She also stated that she has not thought of herself as a member of Odd Future as a rap group since early 2011 when The Internet formed.^[30]

On May 2, 2016, the group confirmed that they are still together on their Twitter.^[31]

Some rumors began to circulate in August–September 2016 about the group working together musically again after a picture was taken of Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Syd Tha Kyd, Jasper Dolphin, Taco Bennett, and Matt Martians together at the Afropunk Festival, and Tyler and Earl performed as EarlWolf again for the first time in years.^[32]

On February 6, 2017, MellowHype confirmed they are working together once again on MindGone Vol. 1.^[33]

Members

Current members

• Tyler, The Creator – Rapper, producer (2007–present)
• Earl Sweatshirt – Rapper, producer, DJ (2009–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–present)
• Hodgy – Rapper, producer (2007–present)
• Left Brain – Producer, DJ, rapper (2007–present)
• Pyramid Vritra – Producer, rapper (2007–present)
• Jasper Dolphin – Rapper, hypeman (2007–present)
• Domo Genesis – Rapper, DJ (2009–present)
• Mike G – Rapper, DJ (2009–present)
• Taco – DJ, rapper (2009–present)
• Na'kel – Skater, rapper (2009–present)
• Lucas Vercetti – Store manager, mascot, skater, DJ, rapper (2011–present)
• L-Boy – Hypeman (2011–present)
• Frank Ocean – Singer, producer, rapper (2010–present)

Former members

• Casey Veggies – Rapper (2007–2009)
• brandUn DeShay – Rapper, producer (2008–2010)
• Matt Martians – Producer, singer (2007–2015; 2016)
• Syd – Singer, DJ, producer (2008–2016)

Sub-groups

Current groups

• MellowHype (2008–2015, 2017-present)
  • Hodgy
  • Left Brain
• EarlWolf (2009–2010, 2012–2014, 2016–present)
  • Tyler, The Creator
  • Earl Sweatshirt
• MellowHigh (2011–present)
  • Hodgy
  • Left Brain
  • Domo Genesis
• Hog Slaughta Boyz (2015–present)
  • Earl Sweatshirt
  • Na'kel

Former groups

• I Smell Panties (2008)
  • Tyler, The Creator
  • Jasper Dolphin
• The Super D3Shay (2008–2010)
  • Matt Martians
  • Pyramid Vritra
  • brandUn DeShay
• The Jet Age of Tomorrow (2008–2013)
  • Matt Martians
  • Pyramid Vritra
• Sweaty Martians (2012–2014)
  • Earl Sweatshirt
  • Matt Martians
• The Internet (2011–2015) ^{[29] [30]}
  • Syd tha Kyd
  • Matt Martians
• Trashwang (2012–2016)
  • Tyler, The Creator
  • Na'kel
  • Jasper Dolphin
  • Lucas Vercetti
  • L-Boy
  • Taco
  • Left Brain
  • Lee Spielman
  • Mike G

Ban on performing

Odd Future were scheduled to appear at the February, 2014 Rapture Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, as a supporting act to Eminem. The group were not on the original bill, but were substituting for Kendrick Lamar after the concert had been sold out.^[34] A campaign was launched by an anti-violence group to prevent Odd Future performing, based partly on prior occurrences of the group supposedly inciting violence by their fans towards members of the public, and by the group's lyrics allegedly supporting rape and violence towards women.^[35] Immigration New Zealand canceled the visa of some group members because of prior acts of inciting violence, including one where the group allegedly encouraged fans to attack members of the police.^[36]

As of 2015, Tyler, The Creator has been banned from the United Kingdom for 3–5 years due to the allegedly homophobic and violent content of his lyrics from earlier albums such as Bastard and Goblin.^[37]

Discography

Albums

• The OF Tape Vol. 2 (2012)

Mixtapes

• The Odd Future Tape (2008)
• Radical (2010)

Compilations

• 12 Odd Future Songs (2011)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Media related to Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All at Wikimedia Commons