The Knux Think Kid Cudi Has 'Great Taste' – Kid Cudi has said he only does collabos with names like Jay-Z and Kanye West, so how did The Knux feel about Cudi jumping on their latest hit "Run"? Plus, will they work together again?
What Can Fans of The Knux Expect? – Krispy and Joey of hip hop duo The Knux explain what fans should expect from their new album 'Eraser' and touring plans. Plus, the two explain their style and rocking skinny jeans before it was cool.
On Sunday night, VTT was in the building as alt-hip hop rockers The Knux set the stage on fire at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, CA. The duo on the cusp of major commercial success threw down an impressive, energy infused set for their LA fans to celebrate the release of their new album Eraser which officially drops today on iTunes. Eraser features 13 new tracks including the single "Run" Ft. Kid Cudi.
Before Lil Wayne poured himself into skinny jeans, the Knux redefined rap in its own iconoclastic hipster image on the 2008 debut “Remind Me in 3 Days....” New Orleans-bred, L.A.-based sibling duo Alvin and Kentrell Lindsey tweaked genre expectations with un-gangsta lyrics, then-unfashionable electronica influences, and virtuosic musical dimension (unlike Weezy’s amateurish strumming, these cats can actually play their guitars with aplomb). On the group’s new album, “Eraser,” the Knux push even further, resulting in one of 2011’s most startling, assured releases.
Eraser opens with “The Road,” a trippy, synthed-out instrumental that could’ve come from Primal Scream’s acid-house era — and things only get more gloriously weird from there. Every song percolates with Jack White-style garage riffs, unexpected glam-rock beats and outright psychedelia, showing no restraint in taking sounds and structure as far as possible. That’s not to say the Knux has foregone massive hooks — “Run,” featuring a memorable cameo from Kid Cudi amid Strokes-style barre chords, is as catchy a single as any released this year; still, even club bangers like the rave-tastic “I See Stars” lace hands-in-the-air melodicism with quizzical melancholy. Lyrically, the Lindseys don’t hold back either, proving more political and imagistic than most of their major-label hip-hop peers: “Everyone’s suicidal from the cancer they believe in,” goes a typically provocative line from “Dead World.” From the lyrics to the sonics, the Knux here proves uncharacteristically brave amid its sheep-like peers: if anyone is to be heir to OutKast’s maverick throne, these guys might already have the keys to the kingdom.
The Knux “Eraser” (Cherrytree/Interscope) Three and a half stars (Out of four)
Last night, Complex hosted the official Complex Music Issue Release Party at Siren Studios in Los Angeles, California. October/November cover star Kid Cudi was in the house along with special guests The Knux. The genre-blending duo, along with Cudder, performed their lead single "Run" from their upcoming LP Eraser due out later this year. Watch the performance above.
Last night, Complex magazine threw a rooftop party to celebrate its October issue, and cover star Kid Cudi dropped by. (Kreayshawn, who's on the opposite cover, didn't, but this wasn't really her crowd.) Clark Duke -- you know, the guy from Hot Tub Time Machine -- played DJ and spun tracks like Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters." The Bacardi flowed like it was 2003 (the year mojitos blew up), and a table of never-ending tacos, ice cream sandwiches, corndogs and tater tots added a county-fair flair to the affair.
But the main attraction was The Knux. The New Orleans-born brothers' new album Eraser drops Tuesday, and Cudi is featured on single "Run." In his Complex interview, Cudi gives the duo high praise, naming them as one of three artists he'd work with (the other two? Kanye and Jay-Z). The Knux -- Kentrell "Krispy" Lindsey and Alvin "Joey" Lindsey -- took the stage for a quick set, just enough time to introduce the crowd to their rock-n-rollick sound but not keep them away from the open bar too long. A calm Cudi left his table of treats (just food and bottles of booze -- he's off drugs now) and joined them onstage for "Run."
Musically, the night was all over the place. Approaching Siren, we heard Herbie Hancock's "Rockit." The selection regressed to late '70s Rod Stewart and we pretended everybody was high on quaaludes and coke, not Bacardi-and-cokes. Later, Robyn's early '90s club classic "Show Me Love" threw a visiting female London drum and bass emcee into a tizzy.
Miss Jack Davey was on hand, glowing -- her baby with The Knux's Joey is due in November. McLovin' snaked through the crowd, a dead ringer for one of the Fanning sisters trailing behind him. Only Kid Cudi was camera-shy. Considering his history with L.A. photographers, we'll give him a pass.
Personal bias: What's not to love about laid-back guests -- and amazing views from an uncrowded rooftop -- on a Saturday night in Hollywood?
The crowd: Hip. Hipster. Hippie. An older man who commented on the "I Love the '80s" DJ: "This DJ is great!"
As New Orleans-repping, Hollywood-residing alt rap duo The Knux prep their sophomore LP 'Eraser' on Interscope Records, the producing/rapping/singing siblings have released a visual for their single, 'Run,' which features Kid Cudi.
The quick moving BBGun-directed clip depicts a dark, drug riddled day in the life of a working model, with the poppy guitar-powered tune as its upbeat soundtrack. The NSFW video begins with a topless woman awakening face-down on a white couch, then follows the course of her day as she hustles to a photo shoot with a sexually aggressive photographer, downs martinis with a rich film producer, rails lines of cocaine with a female friend, hops a cab into an exclusive bar, where she wilds out, makes out then passes out, face down on the couch again.
The Knux 'Eraser' is scheduled for a Sept. 27 release, and features appearances by J*Davey, Black Miller, Natalia Kills and Kid Cudi, with production entirely handled by The Knux.
The Knux Think Kid Cudi Has 'Great Taste' – Kid Cudi has said he only does collabos with names like Jay-Z and Kanye West, so how did The Knux feel about Cudi jumping on their latest hit "Run"? Plus, will they work together again? » Full Story
What Can Fans of The Knux Expect? – Krispy and Joey of hip hop duo The Knux explain what fans should expect from their new album 'Eraser' and touring plans. Plus, the two explain their style and rocking skinny jeans before it was cool.
» Full Story
Feed
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
![Complex: [Video] Kid Cudi and The Knux Perform at Complex's Music Issue Release Party](http://cache.interscope.com/images/local/200/bfdeacb0-cf4e-4ef6-aba7-538c1144f9cb.jpg)
![1974 ft. Natalia Kills [Official Video]](http://cache.interscope.com/images/local/100/012356dc-cc44-41cc-9e60-a134a91449b3.jpg)
Artists: Sell your music through Interscope 
