Gorillaz, the virtual band from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, released their debut single “Clint Eastwood” back in March of 2001, some twenty years ago. The track featured Del the Funky Homosapien and set the groundwork for a long career of the band showcasing hip-hop artists alongside Albarn’s “2-D” character. I’d suggest you check out the original video if you somehow managed to elude hearing it previously but anyone over the age of 20 has undoubtedly heard it an innumerable amount.

To celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the track (and the band in general), Nashville collective Six One Tribe produced this cover version featuring Trip God F’RF’R and Negro Justice. It’s a faithful rendition of the original but filled with plenty of its own personality thanks to the two emcees unique styles.

The writeup from Six One Tribe speaks to the collectives desire to change the way the world thinks about “Nashville Music” – similar to and inspired by the Gorillaz intent behind their creations. The group plans to release covers regularly, along with original music from the artists on each track. For example, if you like this “Clint Eastwood” version, you should hear the new Negro Justice track “Dutch Master Thesis” and the forthcoming Trip God F’RF’R’s “2021.”

It’s an excellent cover, an entertaining video and an exciting prospect for the future. Follow @sixonetribe on Instagram so you don’t miss out on the next release.

Today is April 20th, aka 4/20, aka the combination of numbers most directly aligned with cannabis culture. Rumor has it that the numerological alignment is a reference to the Police Code for marijuana possession in California adopted by users of herb as a time or day to celebrate the benefits of the drug. The penal code roots aren’t true but there’s no denying that April 20th is a highly accepted day to embrace a little weed. This is especially true in 2021 as we’re seeing much of the nation start to legalize the plant and (fingers crossed) stop imprisoning people for the possession and sale of it. Weed has never been more embraced in modern times than it is right now and that’s a great thing regardless of your usage.

If you do find yourself partaking, you should absolutely queue up the latest nine-minute jam from Great Grand Sun, “Father Sun & Mother Moon.” The single serves as an introduction to the bands forthcoming full-length album Terra Incognita and runs the gamut of styles for maximizing bliss. Light dub guitar gives way to Pink Floyd reminiscent soundscapes of guitar and choral voices before floating off into a realm of mysterious narration. There’s no evidence that the track is meant to serve as any sort of direct homage to marijuana but there’s no denying it does function quite well as a soundtrack to spacing out.

It’s diminutive to suggest that any artist is making music For Pot Heads and that’s certainly not the insinuation here. Pigeonholing Great Grand Sun in that way would be a disservice to their overall diversity as a band. Smoking pot doesn’t directly equate to being a space case but it does provide a platform for its users to reflect on topics that they may not give themselves headspace for otherwise. Nine-minute jams like “Father Sun & Mother Moon” come from a long lineage of songs that aid the listener in getting to that reflective place; immersing themselves in the song and the movements it provides. Great Grand Sun is providing a path to that self-engagement. It’s not the only thing they do as a band but its clearly an area of expertise.

Hefty tip of the hat to the Scene writeup about the track, do give that a read as well as you queue the track up anywhere you like to stream your music.

Back in March we premiered the video for Klypi’s “Not For You”; the final single before the release of the full-length album Consensual Hits. At the time, we said “There is much more to be said about the artistic endeavors of Klypi that can’t be wrapped up with a single video premiere. The artist is exploring expression from all angles; music, fashion and their general online presence.” With that in mind, let’s have a more in-depth look at the work of Klypi.

By simply gazing at the album art for Consensual Hits, you know you’re in for something different than the norm. Klypi is seen in piercing eye makeup and scantily clad nude-colored underwear drapped in toast, a bra of pickle slices and holding what may be a full pickle (or may be a vibrator). A sleeping cat and toaster are nearby, why not? It’s an exploration of fashion and art that is both funny and oddly thought provoking. Is it a statement on how the human body can be viewed as a meal? Is it a self-declaration that Klypi is a total snack? There may not be clear answers but the questions are entertainment enough.

Having the context provided by the cover sets the stage for the fourteen track electronic opus that unfurls over nearly an hour. The majority of the record is driven by dance-y beats and keyboard flourishes that would set a dancefloor on fire. Klypi’s sound is a refreshingly minimal approach; with a persistent beat that is always loud and always gripping, with no attempt to fill the aural space with every possible sound. The musical backing is enjoyable but the real star of the record is Klypi’s vocal performances and lyrics.

Generally, dance music doesn’t try to push the listener to pay too much attention to the lyrics as the intended end result is to get the body moving. Klypi’s Consensual Hits is different in that it has a message, a perspective and, dare I say, a story to tell. That’s not to say it’s not without it’s moments of absurd frivolity (see “Cum Quick Then Die” or “Hardcoors Lite”) but tracks like “Get Over You” and “Notice Me” are earnest emotional outpourings. They’re still Club Bangers but that’s the balance that Klypi consistently strikes throughout the album; a near dichotomy of wildly fun presentation cut with pleas of emotional doubt.

It would be easy to cast off the entirety of Klypi as performance art; a caricature that is playing a part. There’s a fusion of visual art, fashion and club music that really can’t be taken piecemeal. To listen to Klypi you should really also be looking at Klypi and soaking it all in. However, Consensual Hits is too weighted with self-doubt and emotional yearning to not stem from a real place. It’s the questionable thin line between character and real life that makes it such a wonderfully captivating listen. Klypi provides us with an escape – an excuse to let go and be wild – but also provides a bond that we’re all dealing with some shit.