With his most recent EP, Double Ecstasy (out today via Anticon), California rapper Antwon lures us into a world of hard beats, synths, and dream-like expanses of sound, in which tales of molly binges, nightclub adventures, sex, and money unfurl over five pulsating tracks. Having previously played in hardcore bands, the San Jose native has honed a sound that sits right at the convergence of punk and hip-hop grooves (see his four mixtapes, including Fantasy Beds (2011), and the well-received 2014 LP Heavy Hearted Doldrums) and it isn’t rare to find stage-diving, mosh-pits, and sweaty head banging at his live shows.
For his latest endeavor, Antwon teamed up with producer Lars Stalfors (HEALTH, White Lung, Cold War Kids). Together, they’ve created a soundscape in which brooding beats carry hard verses, and smooth shifts into sprawling atmospheric rhythms make you feel like it’s 6am at the club and you’re still going strong. On the track “Luv,” Antwon raps “show me love in the booty club” then proclaims “I don’t care / I’m just here to fall in love.” In “100k,” over synth beats, he rhymes about filling his pockets with money over a summer: “I just need change, I just need Bev / woke up from night terrors and gave my girl head.” His wordplay is at once raunchy and playful while probing the complexities of human connection.
We caught up with Anwton in Brooklyn for a chat about the EP, Green Day, and dressing nice.
What was the process of recording Double Ecstasy like?
Lars tried to help me write the songs more. So it was a little different than before. And we started recording the EP in 2014. It took a long time. We had a lot of songs that didn’t make the cut.
I like how on “100k” you can hear a bit of synth.
No doubt. There’s a lot more than just hip-hop or rap influences on the new EP.
You used to play in bands. Would you say it feels more isolated when you work on hip-hop?
It’s actually easier because I don’t have to wait for other people to come to band practice anymore. This is a lot cooler because it’s one of those things where I’ve done it by myself so many times. Now is the point where I need to have someone else help me with it because there’s only so much I can do by myself. I dove back into that whole thing of creating with someone else face to face.
Had you worked with Lars before? How did you guys get together?
Through my manager. My manager used to tour-manage Mars Volta and that’s what Lars used to play in. He was like, “You gotta hook up with Lars,” and he showed me some stuff that Lars did. We connected on a level where it was more than just producer and rap artist. It was more of a personal level. We understood where each other came from and what I wanted to do, but couldn’t do by myself.
What kind of music did you listen to growing up in San Jose?
When I was really young I liked Metallica. When I was really, really young I liked Green Day. They were one of my favorite bands when I was 11 or so, and I liked rap too. I’d just watch everything on TV. My mom couldn’t afford to buy tapes, but we had cable and shit. When I was older, in high school, I got into punk and taped most of my friend’s records.
Do you remember the first album you listened to on repeat?
Green Day’s Insomniac. My mom bought me the cassette at Rite Aid or something.
I think I got mine at the Warehouse. Remember those?
No doubt. That was a great time.
What led to your move to L.A.?
I felt like I was suffocating in San Jose. I didn’t really feel creative anymore. And I had a couple more homies move out there, like my homies in Deafheaven.
I was listening to “Luv” a few times today. What can you tell me about that track in particular?
People are like, “Oh, this song is about a strip club.” But it’s not. It’s about life being like a meat market and people being afraid to connect to each other but still wanting affection. So it’s about all that; being miserable over connections with other humans that fall short. But there’s still that longing for love.
You also have a clothing line, Nature World — how did that come about?
I like clothes a lot. Growing up, it was a thing. If you grew up poor, you could live in a shitty house but if you dressed nice, you were okay, you were good. Everything was gonna be all right as long as you looked nice.
You’re going to Europe soon. How do you feel about playing your stuff for the crowds out there?
They really appreciate it because they don’t get that much stuff like that, so they love it but they want more from you. They want you to play for an hour minimum, but I understand it. I like playing there because I feel like they really love it, so I’ll go the extra mile. The States are spoiled, out there I think they just started getting artists that are really new. When I first went out there, the only rappers that were playing were like me, Danny Brown, and Earl Sweatshirt.
When you’re on the road, what do you like to do when you’re not on stage?
Smoke weed and text my girlfriend.
‘Double Ecstasy’ is out now via Anticon.
TheeAntwon
Credits
Text J.L. Sirisuk
Photography Kristin Cofer