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.