OFWGKTA

Revolutions are still televised, but, these days, they're tweeted, facebooked, and youtubed first.  One such revolution goes by the name OFWGKTA (short for Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All).  A tight-knit group of nine skateboarding-computer-nerds-gone-rap-rebels, Odd Future's revolution began with with a video gone viral.  Shocking the micro-bloggers whose deification of the group coordinated Odd Future's unlikely rise to fame, the number of views the video for "French" acquired were not the only aspect of the video that could be described as viral.  The way a viewer's stomach may feel after watching the video could also be described as inflicted by a virus.  Full of vomiting, suggestive maneuvers with a Ronald McDonald doll, and extreme violence, the video for "French," directed by group-leader Tyler, the Creator, was OFWGKTA's way of telling the world that they simply don't care what anybody thinks, they'll do what they please.

And "French" was only the beginning.  Since then, the group has somehow succeeded in shocking Youtube even more with each video release.  First, with Earl Sweatshirt's "Earl," which features seizures; a blended concoction of weed, pills, and alcohol; and a whole lot of blood.  Even more shocking than the visual content is the lyrical content regarding murder, drug abuse, and rape...delivered by 17 year old Earl.  

With the success of "French" and "Earl," Odd Future's fanbase was growing steadily, but it wasn't until the release of Tyler, the Creator's "Yonkers," this February that the group truly "blew up."  The video, which concludes with Tyler's appearing to hang himself, has been able to garner over 5 million views in just two months, evidence that Odd Future is not simply riding on shock value, but is a group of not only extremely talented, but also insanely ballsy musicians.  Even more impressive than the amount of Youtube views Odd Future's sadistic videos are able to garner is the fact that the oldest member of the group is a mere 22 year old.  Odd Future is not only here to stay, but is here to take rap music back to the days of revolution and aggression.

Legendary drummer of the Roots, Questlove, said of OFWGKTA, "They aren't user-friendly, and that's been lacking in hip-hop for the last 20 years."  He continues by calling them a fusion of elements found in gangsta rap and hardcore punk, citing conscious hip-hop group Geto Boys and influential punk quartet Bad Brains.

The most important aspect of Odd Future's sound lies in their refusal to concede to involvement in the popular rap scene, remaining defiantly adverse to sanitizing their image or lyrics.  Their music, composed of noisy, brash, and almost entirely sample-free instrumentals coupled with sadistic, misogynistic, shocking lyrics are a grosly pleasant contrast to the cleanliness found in the rap world.

Tyler says his goal is, "make great music … be the leader for the kids who were picked on and called weird, and show the world that being yourself and doing what you want without caring what other people think, is the key to being happy," and so far, he, and the rest of Odd Future, seem to be succeeding.