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June 28, 2010 7:05 PM

I have been listening to Das Racist lately. I'm wondering where this trend is coming from and (sadly) I want to listen to more of it.

Some of their lyrics are clever and funny, some are just plain silly. But sometimes we just need silly music that don't make sense! They are hipsters personified, but whatever. I know Why? is similar in style. I want to listen to more of this kind of music (culture references, clever lyrics, just plain weird). Any suggestions?

posted by mrspeacock to media & arts (14 answers total)

Reggie Watts - Fuck Shit Stack.

The Rapture - House of Jealous Lovers, Whoo! Alright Yeah...Uh Huh
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:18 PM on June 28, 2010

You might be interested in Grand Buffet (oh, and if you ever have a chance to see them live, go! go! go! they're really fun)
posted by thatelsagirl at 7:43 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Victor Vazquez is (was?) also in a band called Boy Crisis -- the music is different but they are from the same milieu. I don't know what they have been doing in the last year or so, but might be worth checking out.
posted by ohio at 7:48 PM on June 28, 2010

You'll either love or hate Ninjasonik.
posted by johnnybeggs at 7:52 PM on June 28, 2010

This seems like the type of job for MC Paul Barman. References obscure stuff like John Cage, the Illiad, SOCATOA, etc in just about every other line of all his songs.
posted by windbox at 8:31 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

This has been a thread in hip hop for a very long time. In some ways Das Racist and their ilk are just mining that rich vein. Sugar Hill Gang are the most famous, obviously, but I'm quite fond of The Treacherous Three, today most famous as Kool Moe Dee's old crew. Here's their Feel the Heartbeat. It's not like these kinds of rap songs weren't produced between the old school era and today, another favorite is New Kingdom, who were less silly, but just as weird and off-kilter. Unicorns Were Horses is one of my favorite ever tunes. Nerdcore is full of these kinds of artists. Oh, and MC Paul Barman and MF Doom are both in that tradition, they have collaborated quite a bit, such as on Hot Guacamole.
posted by Kattullus at 8:33 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Came in to say MC Paul Barman and MF Doom. Barman's right on, but Doom's style is a bit slurry so there's an added mystery of trying to figure out what he's saying, and then what he's referring to.
posted by carsonb at 8:59 PM on June 28, 2010

Victor Vazquez is (was?) also in a band called Boy Crisis -- the music is different but they are from the same milieu. I don't know what they have been doing in the last year or so, but might be worth checking out.

I love Boy Crisis so I totally throw my vote behind this suggestion.

I First saw them as one of the opening/first acts for a 14 dollar Mercury Lounge show and fell in love with "Dress to Digress" (Maybe NSFW?). But now they're opening for bigger acts like MGMT and Does It Offend You Yeah?. And I remember seeing some GBH party notice a little while back where they were guest dj-ing, and getting some foreign attention, so I'd say they're doing pretty well actually.
posted by kkokkodalk at 9:10 PM on June 28, 2010

Fannypack? Avenue D? I may be going in totally the wrong direction here, so feel free to ignore this.
posted by Gilbert at 9:44 PM on June 28, 2010

Joke Rap, via Village Voice
posted by GilloD at 10:07 PM on June 28, 2010

the cool kids seem a little "realer" than das racist, but their lyrics are definitely clever and funny, and yes some are just plain silly. actually they're great, one of my favorite new rap groups!
posted by messiahwannabe at 10:52 PM on June 28, 2010

oh, and die Antwoord! very das racist-y except from south afrika, and better.
posted by messiahwannabe at 10:59 PM on June 28, 2010

nthing MC Paul Barman! He sounds like these guys' predecessor.
posted by not_on_display at 7:24 AM on June 29, 2010

Probably missing the mark but I can't help linking to Mr. B.
posted by galaksit at 8:39 PM on June 29, 2010