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Flatbush Zombies

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Flatbush Zombies
The Flatbush Zombies performing in 2014.
Background information
OriginFlatbush, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–Present
Labels
Members
Websitethegloriousdead.com

Flatbush Zombies (stylized as Flatbush ZOMBiES) is an American hip hop group from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 2010.[1][2] The group is composed of rappers Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick Arc Elliott, with Elliott also serving as their regular record producer. The trio are part of the East Coast hip hop supergroup Beast Coast, with fellow Brooklyn-based rap groups The Underachievers and Pro Era.

Flatbush Zombies have collaborated with various artists, including RZA, ASAP Mob, Z-Breezy, Jim Jones, Juicy J, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, Tech N9ne, and Anthony Flammia among others.[3] They have performed at music festivals such as The Hudson Project, JMBLYA, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pemberton Music Festival, Afropunk Festival, Olly Mac Sesh, Paid Dues, North Coast Music Festival, SXSW, Roskilde, Rolling Loud in Miami, and Wireless in London. The group grew in popularity through two mixtapes and several music videos, leading to their 2016 debut studio album, 3001: A Laced Odyssey.

History

Background and formation

Friends since grade school, all three members were born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York City. Erick and Meechy Darko are of Jamaican descent. Demetri Simms (Meechy Darko), Antonio Lewis (Zombie Juice) and Erick Elliott (The Architect) first bonded over the Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z and wrestling. During their teenage years they began experimenting with psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. Zombie Juice, along with fellow Flatbush native Issa Gold of the Underachievers (Erick did not participate), specifically started looking into the indigo lifestyle. Meechy Darko said the first time he took psilocybin mushrooms, he underwent Ego death and had a sort of rebirth of consciousness.

Mixtapes and rise in popularity (2010–2013)

Erick Arc Elliott, who had been making his own solo music, decided to bring the group together musically around 2010.[4] Their first club performance took place in 2012, at 307 in Waterloo.[5] The group's popularity grew after releasing the "Thug Waffle" video on YouTube.[5][6] Later in the year, Flatbush Zombies released their debut mixtape, titled D.R.U.G.S., which stands for "Death and Reincarnation Under God's Supervision." In 2012, Flatbush Zombies were featured on the song "Just Blowin' in the Wind" with Wu Tang Clan's RZA for the soundtrack to RZA's film The Man with the Iron Fists. "[7]

In 2013, the group collaborated with fellow Brooklyn rap group the Underachievers, on the single "No Religion".[8]

On July 29, 2013, Flatbush Zombies released a YouTube video announcing their second mixtape, BetterOffDEAD, which was released at 9:11 PM on September 11, 2013. Along with "MRAZ," the singles "Palm Trees" and "222", are included on the nineteen track mixtape BetterOffDEAD. Though Elliott is the main producer, Harry Fraud and Obey City also provide production on the mixtape. Danny Brown and Action Bronson appear on the tracks "Drug Parade" and "Club Soda" respectively. The mixtape was met with critical acclaim. It would end up being ranked at number 17 on XXL's list of the best mixtapes of 2013.[9] A remixed version of My Team Supreme featuring Bodega Bamz was featured in NBA Live 15. Flatbush Zombies also released the video for "MRAZ", a track off the group's mixtape BetterOffDEAD.[10][11]

Clockwork Indigo and 3001: A Laced Odyssey (2014–2018)

On February 13, 2014, Flatbush Zombies released a new song, "LiT". Flatbush Zombies revealed to XXL that their EP, It's All a Matter of Perspective, had been scrapped. Instead the group told XXL to "expect an album this year."[12][13]

In September 2014, it was announced that Flatbush Zombies would be touring with fellow Brooklyn-based rap group the Underachievers, and they would be collectively known as Clockwork Indigo. The two groups subsequently released a collaborative song titled "Butterfly Effect," followed by an EP titled Clockwork Indigo, on October 17, 2014. They claim that they came up with the idea of forming Clockwork Indigo, from a "strange LSD trip while watching A Clockwork Orange". During the Clockwork Indigo concert tour, the group collectively wore white clothing as did Alex's gang in the film A Clockwork Orange.

On March 15, 2015, Flatbush Zombies released a new single on SoundCloud titled "Red Eye to Paris" featuring UK Grime artist Skepta. On September 11, 2015, at 9:11 pm EST, the group released a new single and socially charged music video on YouTube titled "Blacktivist".[14]

On January 11, 2016, the group released the single "Glorious Thugs". On the same day, the group announced that their debut album titled 3001: A Laced Odyssey, would be released March 11, 2016. On February 5, 2016, they released the first single from 3001: A Laced Odyssey titled "Bounce", followed by the official music video on February 8. On March 10, 2016, Flatbush Zombies released the second single from the album, titled "This Is It". The following day, they released the album. 3001: A Laced Odyssey received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 80, based on 7 reviews. The album sold 28,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[15]

Vacation in Hell (2018–present)

On February 23, 2018, Flatbush Zombies released the first single off of their second studio album, Vacation in Hell. The project was released on April 6, 2018, under Glorious Dead Recordings. The album spawned a worldwide tour, See You In Hell Tour, that started off on April 14 at the 2018 Coachella Music Festival and ended on June 16.[16] In promotion for the album, the trio appeared on the nationally syndicated talk show The Breakfast Club as well as performing freestyles for Funk Flex on his radio show.[17][18]

On June 5, 2020, the group released an EP, "Now, More Than Ever", in the wake of the George Floyd protests.[19] The project was supported by the single "Iamlegend". The EP debuted and peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200.[20] The group contributed a remix of the Metallica song "The Unforgiven", featuring DJ Scratch, to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, released in September 2021.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[22] 		US R&B
[23] 		US
Rap
[24] 		AUS
[25] 		CAN
[26] 		FRA
[27] 		GER
[28] 		NZ
[29] 		SWI
[30] 		UK
[31]
3001: A Laced Odyssey 10 2 2 39 13 179 72 27 29 105
Vacation in Hell[32]
  • Released: April 6, 2018
  • Label: The Glorious Dead
  • Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl
 11 9 8 59 13 176 — 33 44 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborative albums

List of collaborative albums, with year released
Title Album details
Escape from New York
(with Pro Era and The Underachievers as Beast Coast)

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Album details
Clockwork Indigo
(with The Underachievers as Clockwork Indigo)
  • Released: October 17, 2014
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
Now, More Than Ever
  • Released: June 5, 2020
  • Label: The Glorious Dead
  • Formats: Digital download

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Album details
D.R.U.G.S.
  • Released: July 24, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
BetterOffDead
  • Released: September 11, 2013
  • Label: ElectricKoolAde Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

Title Year Album
"Caps Lock" 2010 Non-album singles
"Gucci Gucci" 2011
"Suspiria"
"Thug Waffle" D.R.U.G.S.
"Laker Paper" 2012
"The Hangover" Non-album single
"MRAZ" BetterOffDead
"When In Roam" 2013 Non-album singles
"No Religion"
(featuring AK the Savior)
"Palm Trees" BetterOffDead
"Blacktivist" 2015 Non-album singles
"Glorious Thugs" 2016
"Bounce" 3001: A Laced Odyssey
"This Is It"
"Aries"[33]
(featuring Deadcuts) 		Non-album singles
"Babel" 2017
"Lava"[34]
"Headstone" 2018 Vacation In Hell
"U&I"
(featuring Dia)
"Vacation"
(featuring Joey Badass)
"New World Order" Non-album singles
"Monica"
(featuring Tech N9ne) 		2019
"Iamlegend" 2020 Now, More Than Ever
"Afterlife" Non-album single

"Day Of The Dead" releases

Title Year
"LiT"
(featuring Yasmin) 		2014
"Don't Do Drugs Kids"
"Get Yours"
(featuring Diamante)
"Red Light, Green Light"
(featuring Espa)
"My Team Supreme 2.0"
(featuring Bodega Bamz)
"Belly"
"Half-Time"
(featuring ASAP Twelvyy) 		2015
"Plz Don't Make Me Do It"
(featuring Domo Genesis)
"RedEye To Paris"
(featuring Skepta)
"Did U Ever Think"
(featuring Joey Badass and Issa Gold)

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Bath Salt"[35] 2012 ASAP Rocky, ASAP Ant Lords Never Worry
"Thrilla"[36] Bodega Bamz Strictly 4 My P.A.P.I.Z.
"Just Blowin' In the Wind" RZA The Man with the Iron Fists
"Mini Van Dan (Remix)"[37] A$ton Matthews, ASAP Nast, Danny Brown Versace Ragz
"Piss Test (Remix)" A-Trak, Jim Jones, El-P, Flosstradamus Fool's Gold Presents: Loosies
"36 Chamber Flow" —
"Mood Swings" 2013 Overdoz, Worlds Fair —
"No Religion"[38] The Underachievers —
"New Brooklyn" Dyme-A-Duzin, The Underachievers The New York Renaissance
"Inf Beams" —
"Tomorrow's Gone"[39] Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, Nacho Picasso, Danny Brown Kismet
"Camouflage Dons" Statik Selektah, Smif-n-Wessun Extended Play
"My Jeep" Joey Badass, the Underachievers Summer Knights EP
"TLC"[40] 2014 A$ton Matthews, Action Bronson Aston 3:16
"Believe in the Shield"[41] Smoke DZA Ringside 2
"97.92" Trash Talk CONS EP VOL. 1
"Modern Mayhem" CONS EP VOL. 2
"Bring Em Out" 2015 Bodega Bamz Sidewalk Exec
"Good Knight" Kirk Knight, Joey Badass, Dizzy Wright Late Knight Special
"A Glorious Death" 2017 ASAP Twelvyy 12
"What Happens" ASAP Mob, Pro Era Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy

Solo albums

Title Year Artist Album Details
Arcstrumentals, Vol. 2 2018 Erick Arc Elliott
Gothic Luxury 2022 Meechy Darko

Music videos

List of music videos, with directors, showing year released
Title Year Director(s)
"Thug Waffle" 2012 Luke Monaghan[42]
"S.C.O.S.A." The Madbury Club[43]
"Face-Off" Phillip Annand[44][45]
"MRAZ" 2013
"Death" Tone • Vinny Picone[46]
"My Team Supreme 2.0"
(featuring Bodega Bamz) 		2014 The Last American B-Boy[47]
"Thugnificense" Juice[48]
"Palm Trees" A Plus Filmz[49]
"Blacktivist" 2015 Mario Pfeifer[50]
"Bounce" 2016 A Plus Filmz
"This Is It" Phillip Annand
"Smoke Break/Fly Away" Fredo Tovar • Scott Fleishman • EDWIN
"Trade-Off" Jayga Rayn
"Headstone" 2018 Luke Monaghan
"Vacation"
(featuring Joey Badass) 		The Madbury Club
"New World Order" Johnny LeFlare
"Monica"
(featuring Tech N9ne) 		2019 Noah Porter
"Afterlife" 2020 Arnaud Bresson

References

  1. ^ "The Brotherhood of Beast Coast". Complex.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Beast Coast (Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, More) Announce Debut Album". Pitchfork.com. May 10, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "Flatbush Zombies". HotNewHipHop.
  4. ^ Anderson, Errol (March 11, 2013). "Graveyard Shift - Flatbush Zombies". Clash. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (May 8, 2013). "Flatbush Zombies Are Rocking Dead". XXL. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  6. ^ Mlynar, Phillip (February 1, 2012). "Flatbush Zombies Want to Be Decapitated or Taxidermied". MTV. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  7. ^ Breihan, Tom (July 25, 2012). "Mixtape Of The Week: Flatbush Zombies - 'D.R.U.G.S.'". Stereogum. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  8. ^ Bromwich, Jonah (March 13, 2013). "Tracks: Flatbush Zombies / The Underachievers - 'No Religion'". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. ^ "The 25 Best Mixtapes Of 2013". XXL Mag. December 24, 2013.
  10. ^ Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (February 13, 2013). "Flatbush Zombies: Brooklyn Rap Trio Spreads Acid-Splashed Gospel". Spin. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  11. ^ Thomas, Chris (February 7, 2013). "Flatbush Zombies – 'MRAZ' Video". HipHopWired.com. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  12. ^ "Flatbush Zombies". Exclaim.ca.
  13. ^ "Flatbush Zombies announce new EP, It's All A Matter Of Perspective, stream "LiT"". Consequence of Sound. February 14, 2014.
  14. ^ II, C. Vernon Coleman (September 12, 2015). "Flatbush Zombies Show a History of Violence in "Blacktivist" Video - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Rihanna's 'Anti' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart - Billboard". Billboard.
  16. ^ India, Lindsey (February 21, 2018). "Flatbush Zombies Are Heading Out On See You in Hell Tour". XXL Magazine. Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  17. ^ "Flatbush Zombies On Psychedelics, Music Truths, Mental Illness + More". YouTube. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  18. ^ "FLATBUSH ZOMBIES FREESTYLE ON FLEX #FREESTYLE095". YouTube. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  19. ^ Johnson, Patrick (June 5, 2020). "Flatbush Zombies Release New EP 'now, more than ever' Alongside Merch for Charity". Hypebeast. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  20. ^ Billboard Charts (confirmed account) (June 15, 2020). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." Retrieved June 15, 2020 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ He, Richard S. (September 10, 2021). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". loudersound. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  22. ^ "Flatbush Zombies Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Flatbush Zombies Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Flatbush Zombies Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  25. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #468". auspOp. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Flatbush Zombies Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  27. ^ "Discographie Flatbush Zombies" (in French). lescharts.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "Discographie von Flatbush Zombies" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  30. ^ "Discography Flatbush Zombies" (in German). hitparade.ch. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  31. ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 19.03.2016 (wk11)". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  32. ^ "Vacation In Hell by Flatbush Zombies on iTunes". iTunes. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  33. ^ "Aries (Feat. Deadcuts) - Single by Flatbush Zombies". iTunes. November 15, 2016.
  34. ^ "Lava (Feat. Zombie Juice)". Spotify. July 6, 2017.
  35. ^ Breihan, Tom (August 28, 2012). "Download A$AP Mob Lord$ Never Worry Mixtape". Stereogum. Spin Media. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  36. ^ "Bodega Bamz: Strictly 4 My P.A.P.I.Z. Mixtape (Noisey Exclusive)". Noisey.vice.com. October 17, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  37. ^ Legend (November 6, 2012). "A$ton Matthews – Min Van Dan (Remix) (feat. Danny Brown, A$AP Nast & Flatbush ZOMBiES) | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  38. ^ "Flatbush Zombies / The Underachievers "No Religion"". Pitchfork. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  39. ^ "Download Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire's Kismet Mixtape | News". Pitchfork. June 4, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  40. ^ Hardy, Jasmine (March 17, 2014). "Aston Matthews "Aston 3:16" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  41. ^ Nicolas James (April 7, 2014). "Smoke DZA - Believe In The Shield Feat. Flatbush Zombies - Download & Listen [New Song]". HotNewHipHop.
  42. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush Zombies - Thug Waffle (Prod. By Erick Arc Elliott)". Youtube.
  43. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush Zombies - S.C.O.S.A. (Prod. By Erick Arc Elliott)". Youtube.
  44. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush Zombies - Face - Off (L.S.Darko) (Prod. By Erick Arc Elliott)". Youtube.
  45. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush Zombies - MRAZ (Prod. Erick Arc Elliott)". Youtube.
  46. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush ZOMBiES - Death [VIDEO] (Prod. By Erick Arc Elliott)". Youtube.
  47. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush ZOMBiES - My Team Supreme 2.0 Music Video feat. Bodega Bamz (Prod. by The Architect)". Youtube.
  48. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush ZOMBiES - Thugnificense Music Video (Prod. by The Architect)". Youtube.
  49. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush Zombies - Palm Trees Music Video (Prod. By The Architect)". Youtube.
  50. ^ "Youtube - Flatbush ZOMBiES - Blacktivist". Youtube.
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