Benz and a Backpack

Smoking weed, snorting coke, and dropping acid is what Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and producerErick Arc Elliot, collectively known as Flatbush Zombies, are all about. The Brooklyn-based trio regularly uses these vices to escape the world they live in, or rather, DON’T live in. After amassing over 30,000 YouTube views in two days for their viral gem “Thug Waffle” and storming through Austin the other week for SXSW, Flatbush Zombies released their latest video, “S.C.O.S.A.,” last week, and just yesterday, the internet unexpectedly gave leak to the group’s latest single, “Laker Paper.”

The soundtrack to their psychedelic underworld is propelled by the urgent and bass-heavy production of Erick Arc Elliot, which comes off like a DMT-fueled concoction of Gravediggaz, Tech N9ne and Three 6 Mafia. Together, their addictive, haunting soundscapes make even the prissiest of prudes pledge allegiance to the walking dead, as became evident with “Thug Waffle” and “S.C.O.S.A.,” the latter combining warbled and head-pounding bass into a video of blurred and frenzied shots, the trio’s perverse addictions on full display.

The Zombies’ allure is once again evident on “Laker Paper.” The single, with artwork designed by Erick Arc Elliot, opens with glassy-eyed synths and dirty bass guitar that, together, give the track a washed out, alluring feel. The hypnotizing darkness is a perfect compliment for Meechy and Juice’s weed anthem, driven by a drugged out chant on the hook. “Purple in the blunt / Swisher be the paper,” raps the screwed-up vocal. “Mouth full of gold / I’m feeling like a Laker.”

Stream below, download after the jump!

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David Ma at EgoTripLand recently caught up with the man who was originally a member of Stetsasonic and would go on to become one of the most prolific producers in hip-hop history. Think you can guess what Prince Paul’s favorite sample flips might be? Take a look/listen. I promise you’ll be surprised.

More than just a beatmaker, Prince Paul brings personality to the table: a raunchy Morgan Freeman sound alike, a sound bite from the defunct TV comedy Get A Life, or a well-timed fart joke all have made their way into his work. He also pioneered the classic rap skit, a device in which he’s employed anyone from Xzibit to Father Guido Sarducci to add a context and color to the narrative. As the Undertaker of the Gravediggaz he’s also been credited with ushering in rap’s horrorcore genre (something he deflected during our interview with an evil “Ha ha ha!” followed by a fart noise).

From his contributions as a youngin’ to Stetsasonic, to his time with De La as Plug Four, to his Handsome Boy Modeling School collab with Automator, Paul’s quirky approach is as sought after as it is copied. He’s made mad classics, and here we proudly present the 10 favorite sample flips of this conventionally unconventional clown prince among thieves.

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I’m a night person, nearly nocturnal, and so you can frequently find me doing what I do (which usually includes playing with torches, various tools, and metals) at 3 AM… I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t have the proper music selection to keep me going through the night.
Making the right choices at 3AM can be difficult. It needs to be something chill, but not boring. It needs to keep me pumped, but definitely not on an off-the-wall partying tip. My choices tend to have some sort of bizarre hypnotic, dream-like quality I can’t really put my finger on, but it breaks up what could otherwise potentially turn into a monotonous stream of music. I’ve found that, in hip-hop, this quality was most prevalent among independent artists in the mid-90′s.

I’m gonna start this up with something off of… Nocturnal! DUH.

Heltah Skeltah: Undastand

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Domino: Sweet Potato Pie

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Smif ‘N’ Wessun: Shinin… Next Shit
I love this entire album so so much… But I’ve probably mentioned that before.

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