British virtual band

Gorillaz is a British virtual band pimped up in 1998 by musical muthafucka Damon Albarn n' artist Jizzy Hewlett. Da crew primarily consistz of four animated members: Stuart "2-D" Pot, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, n' Russel Hobbs. Their fictionizzle universe is presented up in noize vizzles, rap battlez n' short cartoons. In reality, Albarn is tha only permanent musical contributor, n' Gorillaz' noize often features collaborations wit a wide range of featured artists, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Remi Kabaka Jr. became balla fo' tha crew up in 2016 afta nuff muthafuckin muthafuckin years providin tha voice of Russel Hobbs n' was listed as a straight-up legit member alongside Albarn n' Hewlett up in tha 2019 documentary Gorillaz: Reject False Icons.[1]

With Gorillaz, Albarn departed from tha distinct Britpop of his crew Blur, explorin a variety of musical stylez includin hip hop, electronic music, n' world music all up in a "eccentrically postmodern" approach.[2] Da bandz 2001 debut mixtape Gorillaz, which featured dub n' Latin influences, went triple platinum up in tha UK n' double platinum up in Europe, wit salez driven by tha success of tha mixtapez lead single "Clit Peckerwood". Their second basement mixtape, Demon Days (2005), went 6 times platinum up in tha UK[3] n' double platinum up in tha US n' spawned tha successful lead single "Feel Dope Inc.".[4][5][6]

Da bandz third mixtape, Plastic Beach (2010), featured environmentalist themes, a electropop approach n' a expanded rosta of featured artists, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Their fourth mixtape, Da Fall was recorded on tha road durin tha Escape ta Plastic Beach Tour n' busted out on 25 December 2010. Da bandz fifth mixtape, Humanz, was busted out afta a 7-year hiatus on 28 April 2017.[7] Their sixth mixtape, Da Now Now (2018), featured stripped down thang n' a pimped outa musical focus on Albarn, so check it before ya wreck it. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Gorillaz' sickest fuckin project is Song Machine, a project which sees tha crew releasin freshly smoked up joints every last muthafuckin month, wit various different featured artists, resultin up in they seventh mixtape, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020).[8]

Gorillaz has presented itself live up in a variety of different ways all up in tha bandz history, like fuckin hidin tha live crew from tha crewz view up in tha early muthafuckin yearz of tha project, displayin holographic animated crew thugz on stage via computa graphics n' traditionizzle live tourin featurin a gangbangin' straight-up visible live band.[9] Da crew have sold over 20 mazillion recordz ghettowide n' is cited by Guinnizz Ghetto Records as tha ghettoz "Most Successful Virtual Band".[10][11] They have won a Grammy Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, a NME Award n' three MTV Europe Music Awards.[12] They have also been nominated fo' 10 Brit Awards n' won Best British Group all up in tha 2018 Brit Awards.[13][14]

History [ edit ]

Creation (1990�"1999) [ edit ]

Musician Damon Albarn n' comic artist Jizzy Hewlett kicked it wit up in 1990 when turntablist Graham Coxon, a gangbangin' hustla of Hewlettz work, axed his ass ta rap battle Blur, which Albarn n' Coxon had recently formed.[15] Da rap battle was published up in Deadline magazine, home of Hewlettz comic strip Tank Girl yo. Hewlett initially thought Albarn was "arsey, a biiiatch-ass;" n' despite becomin acquaintances wit tha crew, they often did not git on, especially afta Hewlett fuckin started seein Coxonz ex-girlfriend Jane Olliver.[15] Despite this, Albarn n' Hewlett started pluggin a gangbangin' flat on Westbourne Grove up in London up in 1997.[16] Hewlett had recently fucked up wit Olliver n' Albarn was all up in tha end of his highly publicised relationshizzle wit Justine Frischmann of Elastica.[15]

Da scam ta create Gorillaz came bout when Albarn n' Hewlett was watchin MTV yo. Hewlett holla'd, "If you peep MTV fo' too long, itz a lil' bit like hell �" there be a not a god damn thang of substizzle there, so peek-a-boo, clear tha way, I be comin' thru fo'sho. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. So we gots dis scam fo' a virtual crew, suttin' dat would be a cold-ass lil comment on that."[17] Albarn recalled tha scam similarly, sayin "This was tha beginnin of tha sort of bunch of lil punk-ass muthafuckas explosion... n' it just felt so manufactured. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! And we was like, well letz cook up a manufactured crew but make it kind of interesting."[18] Da crew originally identified theyselves as "Gorilla" n' tha straight-up original gangsta cold lil' woo wop they recorded was "Pimp Train,"[19] which was lata busted out as a B-side on they single "Rock tha House".

Although not busted out under tha Gorillaz name, Albarn has holla'd dat "one of tha straight-up original gangsta eva Gorillaz tunes" was Blurz 1997 single "On Yo crazy-ass Own", which was busted out fo' they fifth basement mixtape Blur.[20]

Gorillaz (2000�"03) [ edit ]

From 1998 ta 2000, Albarn recorded fo' Gorillaz' self-titled debut mixtape at his newly opened Studio 13 up in London as well as at Geejam Studios up in Jamaica.[21] Da sessions resulted up in tha bandz first release, tha EP Tomorrow Comes Today, busted out on 27 November 2000, which consisted mostly of tracks which would lata step tha fuck up on tha mixtape n' also included tha bandz first noize vizzle fo' "Tomorrow Comes Today", which introduced tha virtual crew thugz fo' tha last time.

With Gorillaz, Albarn fuckin started ta branch up tha fuck into other genres which dat schmoooove muthafucka had not explored wit Blur, like fuckin hip-hop, dub n' Latin music, a process da ruffneck busted lyrics bout as liberating: "One of tha reasons I fuckin started Gorillaz is I had a shitload of rhythms I never thought I could use wit Blur fo' realz. All dem dat shiznit never straight-up seemed ta manifest itself up in tha noize we made together as Blur."[22] Albarn originally fuckin started work on tha mixtape by his dirty ass, however eventually invited Gangsta hip-hop balla Don Juan "Da Automator" Nakamura ta serve as balla on tha mixtape, explainin "I called Don Juan tha Automator up in afta I'd done mo' than half of it n' felt it would be benefit from havin some muthafucka elsez focus. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. So I just rang his ass n' axed whether da thug was horny bout helpin me finish it off."[23] Nakamura n' Albarn had recently collaborated on Deltron 3030, tha debut mixtape by tha hip-hop supergroup of tha same name featurin rapper Del tha Funky Homosapien n' DJ Kid Koala, both of whom Nakamura recruited ta assist up in finishin Gorillaz material. It aint nuthin but tha nick nack patty wack, I still gots tha bigger sack. Del would feature on two tracks on tha mixtape, includin "Clit Peckerwood", tha lead single while Kid Koala contributed turntablez ta various tracks.[24] Da mixtape featured additionizzle collaborations wit Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Ghetto Joint, Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto n' Tina Weymouth of Da Talkin Heads n' Tomothy Tomothy Joint, representin a pattern of collaboration wit a wide range of artists which would lata become a staple of Gorillaz as a project.

Gorillaz was busted out on 26 March 2001 n' was a major commercial success, debutin at #3 on tha UK Albums Chart n' #14 on tha US Bizzleboard 200, goin on ta push over 7 mazillion copies ghettowide, powered by tha success of tha "Clit Peckerwood" single.[25][26][27][28] Da mixtape was promoted wit tha singlez "Clit Peckerwood", "19-2000" n' "Rock tha House", up in addizzle ta tha previously busted out "Tomorrow Comes Today", wit each single featurin a noize vizzle pimped up by Hewlett starrin tha virtual crew thugz yo. Hewlett also helmed tha design of tha bandz joint, which was presented as a interactizzle trip of tha bandz fictionizzle "Kong Studios" home n' recordin studio, featurin interactizzle game n' exploratizzle elements.[29] Peepin tha release of tha mixtape, tha crew embarked on a brief tour of Europe, Japan n' tha United Hoodz ta support tha mixtape up in which a live crew featurin Albarn played straight-up obscured behind a giant screen on which Hewlettz accompanyin visuals was projected. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! This type'a shiznit happens all tha time. Da virtual crew memberz voice hustlas was also present at some shows n' was rappin live ta tha crew ta give tha impression dat tha fictionizzle crew was present on stage. In lata rap battles, Albarn would describe tha bandz first trip as hard as fuck cuz of tha limitations imposed by tha crew playin behind a screen: "For one of mah thugs whoz ass had just dropped tha last ten muthafuckin years up front bein a gangbangin' frontman [with Blur], dat shiznit was a straight-up weird experience fo' realz. And I gotta say, some nights I just wanted ta git a knife n' just cut [the screen] n' stick mah head through."[30] Da mixtape was followed by tha B-sides compilation G-Sides busted out up in December 2001.

On 7 December 2001, tha crew busted out tha single "911" a cold-ass lil collaboration wit hip hop crew D12 (without Eminem) n' thug Terry Hall of Da Specials bout tha September 11 attacks.[31] At tha 2002 Brit Awards tha virtual thugz of Gorillaz "performed" fo' tha last time, appearin up in 3D animation on four big-ass screens along wit rap accompaniment by Phi Life Cypher, a thang which reportedly cost £300,000 ta create.[32] Da crew was nominated fo' four Brit Awards, includin Best British Group, Best British Album n' British Breakall up in Act,[33] but did not win any awards.[34]

On 1 July 2002, a remix mixtape titled Laika Come Home was busted out, containin most of tha tracks from Gorillaz remixed up in dub n' reggae steez by tha DJ crew Spacemonkeyz.[35] On 18 November 2002, tha crew busted out tha STD Phase One: Celebritizzle Take Down, which contained all of tha bandz busted out visual content up ta dat point along wit other extras.[36]

Afta tha success of tha debut mixtape, Albarn n' Hewlett briefly explored tha possibilitizzle of bustin a Gorillaz theatrical film yo, but Hewlett fronted tha duo lata lost interest: "We lost all interest up in bustin it as soon as we started meetin wit studios n' poppin' off ta these Hollywood executizzle types, our laid-back asses just weren't on tha same page. We holla'd, fuck it, we'll sit on tha scam until we can do it ourselves, n' maybe even raise tha scrilla ourselves."[37]

Demon Days (2004�"07) [ edit ]

Albarn dropped tha majoritizzle of 2003 on trip wit Blur up in support of they newly busted out mixtape Think Tank, however upon completion of tha trip decided ta return ta Gorillaz, reunitin wit Hewlett ta prepare fo' a second mixtape yo. Hewlett explained dat tha duo chose ta continue Gorillaz ta prove dat tha project was not "a gimmick": "If you do it again, itz no longer a gimmick, n' if it works then we've proved a point."[38] Da result was Demon Days, busted out on 11 May 2005. Da mixtape was another major commercial success, debutin at #1 on tha UK Albums Charts n' #6 on tha US Bizzleboard 200, n' has since gone six times platinum up in tha UK,[39] double platinum up in tha United Hoods,[40] n' triple platinum up in Australia[41], outperformin salez of tha straight-up original gangsta mixtape n' becomin tha bandz most successful mixtape ta date.[42] Da mixtapez success was partially driven by tha success of tha lead single "Feel Dope Inc." featurin hip-hop crew De La Soul, which topped Bizzleboard's Alternatizzle Songs chart up in tha U.S. fo' eight consecutizzle weeks n' was featured up in a cold-ass lil commercial fo' Applez iPood.[43] Da mixtape was also supported by tha lata singlez "Dare", "Dirty Harry", n' tha double A-side "Kidz wit Guns" / "El Mañana".

Demon Days found tha crew takin a thugged-out darker tone, partially hyped up by a train trip Albarn had taken wit his crew all up in impoverished rural China.[44] Albarn busted lyrics bout tha mixtape as a concept mixtape: "Da whole mixtape kind of drops some lyrics ta tha rap of tha night �" stayin up durin tha night �" but itz also a allegory. It aint nuthin but what tha fuck our slick asses livin up in basically, tha ghetto up in a state of night."[45] Believin dat tha mixtape needed "a slightly different approach" compared ta tha straight-up original gangsta mixtape, Albarn enlisted Gangsta balla Brian Burton, betta known by his stage name Danger Mouse, ta produce tha mixtape, whom Albarn praised as "one of tha dopest lil' ballaz up in tha ghetto" afta hearin his 2004 mashup mixtape Da Gay Album.[46] Burton felt he n' Albarn had a high degree of affinitizzle wit each other, statin up in a rap battle on tha creation of tha mixtape: "We never had any arguments, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. We even have dat finish-each-other’s-sentences thang happening. There is a shitload of tha same influences between us, like Ennio Morricone n' psychedelic pop-rock yo, but dat schmoooove muthafucka has 10 muthafuckin years on me, so I have some catchin up ta do. Where his schmoooove ass can school me on freshly smoked up wave n' punk of tha late ’70s/early ’80s, I can school his ass on a shitload of hip-hop. We’re straight-up competitizzle n' pushed each other."[47] Similar ta tha straight-up original gangsta mixtape, Demon Days features collaborations wit nuff muthafuckin different artists, includin Bootie Brown, Shaun Ryder, Ike Turner, MF Doom (who was recordin wit Danger Mouse as Danger Doom all up in tha time) n' Martina Topley-Bird, among others.[48]

Da crew chose ta forgo traditionizzle live tourin up in support of Demon Days, instead limitin live performizzle durin tha mixtape cycle ta a gangbangin' five night residency up in November 2005 all up in tha Manchesta Opera House billed as Demon Days Live.[49] Da concerts saw tha crew struttin tha mixtape up in full each night wit most featured artists from tha mixtape present. Unlike tha debut mixtapez tour, tha live crew was visible on stage up in view of tha crew but obscured by lightin up in such a way dat only they silhouettes was visible, wit a screen above tha crew displayin Hewlettz visuals alongside each song.[50] Da residency was lata repeated up in April 2006 at New York Cityz Apollo Theater n' tha Manchesta performances was lata busted out on STD as Demon Days: Live all up in tha Manchesta Opera House.[51][52]

Da virtual Gorillaz thugz again n' again n' again "performed" all up in tha 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards up in November 2005,[53] n' again n' again n' again all up in tha 48th Annual Grammy Awards up in February 2006, appearin ta big-ass up on stage via Musion Eyeliner technology.[54] Albarn lata expressed disappointment all up in tha execution of tha performance, citin tha low volume level required so as ta not disturb tha technology: "That was tough... They started n' dat shiznit was so on tha down-low cause they've gots dis piece of film dat you've gots ta pull over tha stage so any bass frequencies would just mess up tha illusion straight-up."[55] At tha Grammys, tha crew won Best Pop Collaboration wit Vocals fo' "Feel Dope Inc.", which was also nominated fo' Record of tha Year.[56] Albarn n' Hewlett explored tha scam of producin a gangbangin' full "live holographic tour" featurin tha virtual Gorillaz appearin on stage wit Munsion Eyeliner technologizzle afta tha Grammys performizzle yo, but tha trip was ultimately never realized cuz of tha tremendous expense n' logistical thangs dat it would have resulted in.[57]

In October 2006 tha crew busted out tha book Rise of tha Ogre. Presented as a autobiography of tha crew ostensibly freestyled by tha fictionizzle crew thugz n' expandin on tha bandz fictionizzle backstory n' universe, tha book was straight-up freestyled by straight-up legit Gorillaz script writa n' live disc jockey Cass Browne n' featured freshly smoked up artwork by Hewlett.[58] Lata tha same month, tha crew busted out another DVD, Phase Two: Slowboat ta Hades compilin much of tha bandz visual content from tha mixtape cycle fo' realz. A second B-sides compilation, D-Sides was busted out up in November 2007, featurin B-sides n' remixes associated wit Demon Days as well as unreleased tracks from tha sessions fo' tha mixtape. [59][60] In April 2009, tha documentary film Bananaz was busted out. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Directed by Ceri Levy, tha film documents tha behind-the-scenes history of tha crew from 2000 ta 2006.[61]

Plastic Beach n' Da Fall (2008�"13) [ edit ]

Albarn n' Hewlettz next project together was tha opera Monkey: Journey ta tha West based on tha old-ass Chinese novel Journey ta tha West, which premiered all up in tha 2007 Manchesta Internationistic Gangbang. While not officially a Gorillaz project, Albarn mentioned up in a rap battle dat tha project was "Gorillaz, straight-up but we can't call it dat fo' legal reasons."[62]

Afta completin work on Monkey up in late 2007, Albarn n' Hewlett fuckin started hustlin on a freshly smoked up Gorillaz project entitled Carousel, busted lyrics bout by Albarn as bein bout "the mystical aspectz of Britain" yo. Hewlett busted lyrics bout Carousel up in a 2008 rap battle as "even bigger n' mo' hard as fuck than Monkey... It’s sort of like a gangbangin' film but not wit one narratizzle story. There’s nuff stories, holla'd at round a funky-ass bigger story, set ta beatz, n' done up in live action, animation, all different styles. Originally dat shiznit was a gangbangin' film but now we be thinkin it’s a gangbangin' film n' it’s a stage thang as well. Damon‘s freestyled round 70 joints fo' it, n' I’ve gots pimped out plans fo' tha visuals."[63] Da Carousel concept was eventually dropped wit Albarn n' Hewlettz work evolvin tha fuck into tha third Gorillaz basement mixtape Plastic Beach.[64]

Drawin upon environmentalist themes, Plastic Beach was inspired by tha scam of a "secret floatin island deep up in tha Downtown Pacific... made up of tha detritus, debris n' washed up remnantz of humanity" inspired by marine bullshit like fuckin plastic dat Albarn had found up in a funky-ass beach near one of his cribs up in Devon as well as tha Great Pacific garbage patch.[65] Unlike previous Gorillaz mixtapes, Albarn made tha decision ta produce Plastic Beach by his dirty ass, wit no co-producer.[66] Da mixtape was recorded all up in 2008 n' 2009 up in London, New York Citizzle n' Syria although thang of tha mixtape was briefly interrupted so dat Albarn could join Blur fo' a reunion trip up in tha summer of 2009, wit Albarn explainin "therez no way you can do dat n' dat [Blur n' Gorillaz] all up in tha same time."[67] Plastic Beach saw Gorillaz move tha fuck into a mo' electronic pop sound, wit Albarn describin tha mixtape as "da most thugged-out pop record I've eva made" n' sayin dat tha pimpin' muthafucka took special care ta make tha mixtapez lyrics n' melodies clear n' focused compared ta previous mixtapes.[68] Plastic Beach also featured tha phattest cast of collaborators featured yet on a Gorillaz mixtape, fulfillin Albarnz goal of "work[ing] wit a incredibly eclectic, surprisin cast of people"[69] includin artists like fuckin Snoop Ta Tha D-O-Double-Gizzle, Mos Def, Bobby Womack, Pizzle Simonon, Mick Jones, Little Dragon, Lou Reed n' Gruff Rhys among others, n' also included orchestral contributions from Sinfonia Viva n' tha Lebanese Nationizzle Symphony Orchestra.[70] Albarn explained tha expanded rosta of featured artists represented his thugged-out n' Hewlettz freshly smoked up vision of Gorillaz as a project, explainin up in a July 2008 rap battle dat "Gorillaz now ta our asses aint like four animated charactas any mo' �" it’s mo' like a organisation of playas bustin freshly smoked up projects... That’s mah ideal model."

[71]

Plastic Beach saw tha live crew struttin up in full view of tha crew fo' tha last time. Da 2010 live shows supportinsaw tha live crew struttin up in full view of tha crew fo' tha last time.

Released on 3 March 2010, Plastic Beach debuted at #2 on both tha UK Albums Chart n' tha US Bizzleboard 200 chart, tha bandz highest placin debut chart position. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Da mixtape was supported by tha lead single "Stylo" featurin Mos Def n' Bobby Womack busted out up in January 2010 n' tha lata singlez "On Melancholy Hill" n' "Rhinestone Eyes". To promote tha mixtape, tha crew embarked on tha Escape ta Plastic Beach Tour, tha bandz first ghetto trip n' also they first live performances up in which tha live crew performed straight-up up in view of tha crew on stage wit no visual obstructions. Da tour, which featured nuff of tha collaboratizzle artists from Plastic Beach n' saw tha live crew bustin naval attire, was lata busted lyrics bout by Albarn as havin been mad costly ta produce, wit tha crew barely breakin even on tha shows, sayin "I loved bustin it yo, but economically dat shiznit was a gangbangin' fuckin fuck up."[72] Da trip was preceded by headline performances at nuff muthafuckin internationistic noize gangbangs, includin tha Coachella n' Glastonbury gangbangs. On 21 November 2010, while still on tour, tha crew busted out tha non-album single "Doncamatic" featurin British thug Daley.[73]

Durin tha Uptown Gangsta leg of tha Escape ta Plastic Beach trip up in tha fall of 2010, Albarn continued recordin Gorillaz joints entirely on his iPad. Da recordings was lata busted out as tha mixtape Da Fall, first busted out digitally on Chrizzle Dizzle 2010 n' lata given a physical release on 19 April 2011.[74][75] Albarn holla'd tha mixtape served as a gangbangin' finger-lickin' diary of tha Gangsta leg of tha tour, explainin dat tha tracks was presented exactly as they was on tha dizzle they was freestyled n' recorded wit no additionizzle thang or overdubs: "I literally juiced it up on tha road. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! I didn't write it before, I didn't prepare dat shit. I just done did it dizzle by dizzle as a kind of diary of mah experience up in America. If I left it until tha New Year ta release it then tha cynics up there would say, 'Oh well, itz been tampered with' yo, but if I put it up now they'd know dat I aint done anythang cuz I've been on trip eva since."[76] Da crew lata busted out a "Gorillaz edition" of tha Korg iElectribe noize thang app fo' iPizzy, featurin nuff of tha same samplez n' soundz used by Albarn ta create Da Fall.[77][78]

On 23 February 2012, Gorillaz busted out "DoYaThing", a single ta promote a Gorillaz-branded collection of Converse Nikes which was busted out shortly afta n' shit. Da cold lil' woo wop was a part of Conversez "Three Artists, One Song" project, wit tha two additionizzle collaborators bein Jizzy Murphy of LCD Soundsystem n' André 3000 of Outkast. Two different editz of tha cold lil' woo wop was busted out: a gangbangin' four-and-a-half minute radio edit busted out on Conversez joint n' tha full 13-minute version of tha cold lil' woo wop busted out on tha Gorillaz joint yo. Hewlett moonwalked back ta direct tha singlez noize vizzle, featurin fictionalized animated versionz of Murphy n' André interactin wit tha virtual Gorillaz crew members.[79] Da cold lil' woo wop received positizzle props from muthafuckas, wit particular praise given ta André 3000z contributions ta tha track.[80][81]

In April 2012, Albarn holla'd at Da Guardian dat he n' Hewlett had fallen up n' dat future Gorillaz projects was "unlikely".[82] Tension between tha two had been building, kinda cuz of a funky-ass belief held by Hewlett dat his contributions ta Gorillaz was bein minimized. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Speakin ta Da Guardian up in April 2017, Hewlett explained: "Damon had half tha Clash on stage, n' Bobby Womack n' Mos Def n' De La Soul, n' fuckin Hypnotic Brass Ensemble n' Bashy n' any suckas. Dat shiznit was tha top billin crew eva n' shiznit fo' realz. And tha screen on stage behind dem seemed ta git smalla every last muthafuckin day. It make me wanna hollar playa! I’d say, ‘Have we gots a freshly smoked up screen?’ n' tha trip manager was like, ‘Fuck dat shit, it’s tha same ol' dirty screen.’ Because it seemed ta me like dat shiznit was gettin smaller."[83] Albarn gave his side of tha rap up in a separate rap battle, sayin "I be thinkin we was at a cold-ass lil cross purposes somewhat on dat last record [Plastic Beach], which be a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass shame. Dat shiznit was one of dem thangs, tha noize n' tha vizzlez weren't hustlin as well together yo, but I felt we'd done cooked up a straight-up phat record n' I was tha fuck into dat shit."[84] On 25 April 2012, up in a rap battle wit Metro, Albarn was mo' optimistic bout Gorillaz' future, sayin dat once dat schmoooove muthafucka had hit dat shiznit up his fuckin lil' differences wit Hewlett, da thug was shizzle dat they would make another record.[85] In June 2013, Hewlett confirmed dat he n' Albarn planned ta somedizzle continue Gorillaz n' record a gangbangin' follow-up mixtape ta Plastic Beach, sayin "We bout ta come back ta it when tha time is right."[86][87]

Hiatus n' Humanz (2014�"17) [ edit ]

Peepin tha release of DoYaThing n' tha publicization of Albarn n' Hewlettz fall-out up in 2012, Gorillaz entered a multiyear hiatus. Durin tha hiatus, Albarn busted out a solo mixtape, Everydizzle Robots, banged up stage thangs n' continued ta record n' trip wit Blur, while Hewlett held art exhibitions n' attempted ta create a gangbangin' film project which was ultimately never realized.[88] While on trip up in support of Everydizzle Robots up in 2014, Albarn signaled opennizz ta returnin ta Gorillaz, spittin some lyrics ta Da Nationizzle Post dat he "wouldn't mind havin another stab at a Gorillaz record."[89] Two months lata he reported dat dat schmoooove muthafucka had "been freestylin like a shitload of joints on tha road fo' Gorillaz".[90] n' all up in tha end of 2014 confirmed up in a rap battle wit Da Sydney Mornin Herald dat da thug was plannin ta record another Gorillaz mixtape.[91] Speakin bout his bangin relationshizzle wit Hewlett, Albarn holla'd dat tha pairz well-publicized fall-out had helped they relationshizzle up in tha long term.[92] Hewlett busted lyrics bout tha moment when he n' Albarn agreed ta continue Gorillaz at a afterparty afta one of Albarnz solo shows up in 2014: "We'd had a lil' bit ta drink, n' da perved-out muthafucka holla'd, 'Do you wanna do another one?' And I holla'd, 'Do yo slick ass?' n' da perved-out muthafucka holla'd, 'Do yo slick ass?' And I holla'd, 'Yeah, sure.' I started work on it straight away, peepin' ta draw tha charactas again. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. I played round by mah dirty ass fo' eight months while da thug was struttin wit Blur up in 2015."[93]

Recordin sessions fo' tha bandz fifth basement mixtape Humanz fuckin started up in late 2015 n' continued all up in 2016, takin place up in London, New York City, Paris n' Jamaica.[94][95] Albarn enlisted Gangsta hip-hop n' doggy den balla Anthony Khan, known by his stage name Da Twilite Tone, ta co-produce tha mixtape fo' realz. Albarn chose Khan from a list of possible ballaz compiled by Parlophone, tha bandz record label afta Albarn n' Khan was rappin via Skype. Humanz was also co-produced by Remi Kabaka Jr., a gangbangin' playa of Albarnz whoz ass had hit dat shiznit wit his ass up in tha non-profit musical organization Africa Express n' also has been tha voice hustla fo' tha Gorillaz virtual crew member Russel Hobbs since 2000.[96][97] In conceptualizin tha mixtape, Albarn n' Khan envisioned Humanz as bein tha soundtrack fo' "a jam fo' tha end of tha ghetto", wit Albarn specifically imaginin a gangbangin' future up in which Dizzle Trump won tha 2016 U.S. prezial erection as context fo' tha mixtapez narratizzle (Trump becomin Prezzy was still considered a unlikely event all up in tha time of recording), explainin "Letz use dat as a kind of dark fantasy fo' dis record, letz imagine tha night Dizzle Trump wins tha erection n' how tha fuck we all goin ta feel dat night."[98] Khan stated dat "Da scam of Dizzle Trump bein prez allowed our asses ta create a narratizzle together n' shit. I suggested dat tha mixtape should be bout joy, pain n' urgency. That was ta be our state of mind before we even touched a keyboard or a MPC. Especially up in Gangsta beatz, dare I say black beatz, there’s a way of communicatin joy dat all up in tha same time allows you ta feel tha struggle tha thug has been all up in cause I gots dem finger-lickin' chickens wit tha siz-auce fo' realz. And tha urgency is there cuz suttin' need ta be done. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. So dat was tha mantra. I wanted ta blend Damon, a Briton, wit tha joy n' pain n' struggle dat African-Gangsta noize can express."[99] Humanz again n' again n' again featured a big-ass cast of featured artists, includin Popcaan, Vince Staplez, DRAM, Jehnny Beth, Pusha T, Peven Everett, Danny Brown, Grace Jones n' Mavis Staplez, among others. Da first track from tha mixtape busted out publicly was "Hallelujah Chedda" featurin Benjamin Clementine, busted out on 20 January 2017 wit a accompanyin vizzle featurin Clementine. While not a straight-up legit single, Albarn explained dat tha crew chose ta release tha track on tha dizzle of Trumpz inauguration cuz "Dat shiznit was meant ta be suttin' sung all up in tha imaginary inauguration of Dizzle Trump, which turned up ta be tha real inauguration of Dizzle Trump, so we busted out it cuz our crazy asses had imagined dat goin' down n' it did happen."[100]

Gorillaz (with Albarn ta tha left) on stage all up in tha Brixton Academy up in London, June 2017

Humanz was busted out on 28 April 2017, tha bandz first freshly smoked up basement mixtape up in 7 years. Featurin a "modern-soundin urban hip-hop/R&B sensibility"[101], tha mixtape debuted at #2 on both tha UK Album charts n' tha US Bizzleboard 200. Humanz received generally positizzle props from muthafuckas, although received some jive-ass shiznit from hustlas n' muthafuckas fo' what tha fuck was perceived as a gangbangin' finger-lickin' diminished presence from Albarn up in contrast ta tha abundizzle of featured artists.[102][103] Da mixtape was busted out up in both standard n' deluxe editions, wit tha deluxe edizzle featurin a additionizzle 6 bonus tracks n' was promoted by tha lead single "Saturnz Barz" featurin Popcaan n' tha lata single "Strobelite" featurin Peven Everett. Da Hewlett-pimped up noize vizzle fo' "Saturnz Barz" made use of YallTubez 360-degree vizzle format n' reportedly cost $800,000 ta create.[104][105]

Da crew embarked on tha Humanz Tour ta support tha mixtape from tha summer of 2017 ta early 2018. Like tha bandz previous tour, tha Humanz Tour featured tha live crew up in full view of tha crew wit a big-ass screen behind dem displayin Hewlett-created visuals n' featured nuff muthafuckin of tha different collaboratizzle artists from tha bandz history fo' realz. At 53 shows, tha Humanz Tour was tha phattest up in tha bandz history n' featured setlists includin a wide variety of joints from tha bandz back catalog. [106] Da trip was preceded by a handful of European warm-up shows, includin tha straight-up original gangsta Demon Dayz Gangbang held on 10 June 2017 all up in tha Dreamland Margate theme park, a Gorillaz curated noize gangbang which was lata repeated up in Los Angelez up in October 2018. On 8 June 2017 tha crew busted out tha non-album single "Chillin Powder" wit a accompanyin noize vizzle n' on 3 November 2017 a "Supa Deluxe" version of Humanz, featurin a additionizzle 14 unreleased tracks from tha mixtapez sessions, includin alternatizzle versionz of previously busted out joints as well as tha single "Garage Palace" featurin Little Simz.

Da Now Now (2018�"19) [ edit ]

Albarn continued recordin while on tha road durin tha Humanz Tour, n' mentioned up in a rap battle wit Q Magazine up in September 2017 dat da thug was plannin on releasin tha material as a gangbangin' future Gorillaz mixtape. Comparin tha thang of tha mixtape ta Da Fall, which was also recorded while tha crew was on tour, Albarn mentioned dat "It is ghon be a mo' complete record than Da Fall yo, but hopefully have dat spontaneity."[107] Albarn signaled his fuckin lil' desire ta complete n' release tha mixtape quickly, addin dat "I straight-up gots nuff props fo'the scam of makin freshly smoked up noize n' playin it live almost simultaneously" n' "If we goin ta do mo' Gorillaz our phat asses don't wanna wait seven muthafuckin years cuz, y'know, we gettin on a lil' bit now, nahmeean?[108] Da crew lata debuted a freshly smoked up cold lil' woo wop "Idaho", which was lata included on tha mixtape, at a gangbang up in Seattle on 30 September 2017 wit Albarn sayin it had been freestyled up in tha minutes prior.[109]

Durin a funky-ass break up in tha Humanz Tour up in February 2018, Albarn moonwalked back ta London where da thug hit dat shiznit wit balla Jizzy Ford, known fo' his work wit Arctic Monkeys n' Florence n' tha Machine, n' Kabaka Jr. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. ta finish tha newly freestyled material, resultin up in tha bandz sixth basement mixtape Da Now Now busted out on 29 June 2018. Featurin "simple, mostly upbeat joints" n' 1980s new wave influences [110], tha mixtape was noted fo' its distinctly lil' small-ass list of featured artists compared ta previous Gorillaz work, wit only two tracks featurin any outside artists (Da mixtapez lead single "Humility" featurin George Benston n' "Hollywood" featurin Snoop Ta Tha D-O-Double-Gizzle n' Jizzy Principle) fo' realz. Albarn mentioned dat tha few numberz of featured artists was partially cuz of tha mixtapez quick thang, which up in turn was a result of Albarn wantin ta finish tha mixtape before tha bandz tourin schedule resumed: "We've been straight-up dirty ta be offered all tha gangbangs dis year on tha back of tha last record [Humanz]... but I didn't wanna do dat unless I had suttin' freshly smoked up ta work with, so tha only option was ta make another record straight-up quickly n' not have fuckin shitloadz of guests on it, cuz dat takes a long-ass time ta organize; just do all dat shiznit mah dirty ass, straight-up."[111] Albarn also explained dat wit Da Now Now da perved-out muthafucka sought ta cook up a Gorillaz mixtape "where I be just rappin fo' once" n' dat tha mixtape is "pretty much just me rappin, straight-up sort of up in tha ghetto of 2-D."[112]

In tha fictionizzle Gorillaz storyline, tha crew introduced Ace from Cartoon Networkz animated series Da Powerpuff Hoes as a temporary basehead of tha crew durin Da Now Now mixtape cycle, fillin up in fo' tha imprisoned Murdoc Niccals.[113] Explainin tha crossover up in a rap battle wit tha BBC, Albarn holla'd "Us thugs was massive hustlaz of Da Powerpuff Hoes when they came out, tha juice of dat cartoon was straight-up cool, n' we kind of know tha creator of it (Craig McCracken). Dat shiznit was a straight-up organic thang."[114]

Da bandz remainin 2018 live dates was billed as Da Now Now Tour ta support tha mixtape, n' included a performizzle up in Tokyo on 22 June 2018 billed as "Da Now Now Ghetto Premiere" up in which tha crew played tha full mixtape live fo' tha straight-up original gangsta n' only time, a performizzle which was lata broadcast by Boila Room.[115] On 16 December 2019, tha documentary Gorillaz: Reject False Icons was screened ghettowide on a one-dizzle theatrical release. Filmed n' pimped up by Hewlettz lil hustla Denholm, tha documentary showcases a funky-ass behind-the-scenes peep tha thang of Humanz n' Da Now Now as well as tha mixtapez associated tours.[116][117] One week afta tha filmz theatrical release, a "Directorz Cut" version of tha film featurin additionizzle footage was busted out on tha straight-up legit Gorillaz YallTube channel up in three parts, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. In tha credits fo' Reject False Icons, Kabaka Jr. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. was listed as a straight-up legit gangmember of tha crew (labeled as "A&R/Producer") alongside Albarn n' Hewlett fo' tha last time.[118][119][120]

Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020�"present) [ edit ]

Song Machine Hewlett (left) n' Albarn (right) pictured wit tha animated crew thugz up in a 2020 publicitizzle photo fo'

On 29 January 2020, tha crew announced its freshly smoked up project Song Machine. Eschewin tha typical mixtape format of releasin beatz, tha crew would instead release one freshly smoked up cold lil' woo wop a month (labeled "episodes"), wit 13 tracks busted out all up in 2020 ta comprise the first "season" of Song Machine.[121][122] Elaboratin on tha scam behind Song Machine up in a radio rap battle shortly afta tha announcement of tha project, Albarn explained dat "We no longer kind of peep ourselves as constrained ta makin mixtapes. We can now make episodes n' seasons."[123] Each episode features previously unannounced hommie musical muthafuckas on freshly smoked up Gorillaz material, wit tha straight-up original gangsta bein "Momentary Bliss", which was busted out on 31 January n' features both British rapper Slowthai n' tha Kent-based punk rock duo Slaves.[124]

Upon tha premiere of "Momentary Bliss", Albarn revealed dat tha crew had been up in tha basement wit ScHoolboy Q n' Sampa tha Great among others, although da ruffneck did say dat these joints was likely ta be saved fo' future episodez of Song Machine.[125] Da crew also teased a possible collaboration wit Australian crew Tame Impala on Instagram.[126]

On 27 February, tha crew busted out tha second episode of Song Machine entitled "Désolé". Da cold lil' woo wop features Malian thug Fatoumata Diawara.[127] Da third track, "Aries," busted out on 9 April n' featured Peta Hook n' Georgia.[128] Da fourth track "How tha fuck Far?" featurin Tony Allen n' Skepta was busted out 2 May. This cold lil' woo wop was busted out without a accompanyin noize vizzle as a tribute ta Allen, whoz ass took a dirt nap on 30 April.[129]

On 26 May, Gorillaz announced tha release of a freshly smoked up book titled Gorillaz Almanac. Gorillaz Almanac comes up in three editions: standard, deluxe n' supa deluxe, all of which is set ta release on 16 October wit a physical release of season one of Song Machine included wit each copy.[130]

On 9 June, tha crew busted out "Fridizzle 13th", tha fourth episode of Song Machine. Da track features French-British rapper Octavian.[131]

On 20 July, tha crew busted out "Pac-Man", tha fifth episode of Song Machine, up in honor of Pac-Manz 40th anniversary.[132] Da track features Gangsta rapper ScHoolboy Q.[133]

On September 10, tha crew busted out "Strange Timez", tha sixth episode of Song Machine. Da track features Robert Smizzle, from Da Cure. Gorillaz also announced a gangbangin' full freshly smoked up mixtapez title n' tracklist set ta be busted out on 23 October 2020, titled Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, featurin further appearances from Elton John 6LACK, JPEGMAFIA, Kano, Roxani Arias, Moonchild Sanelly n' CHAI among others.[134]

Style n' legacy [ edit ]

Writas n' muthafuckas have variously busted lyrics bout Gorillaz as art pop,[135] alternatizzle rock,[136] hip hop,[137] electronic,[138] trip hop,[139] pop,[140] dark pop,[141] alternatizzle hip hop,[142] rap rock,[143] indie rock,[144] bedroom pop,[145] dance-rock,[146] new wave,[147] funk[147] n' worldbeat.[2] Da bandz aesthetic n' general approach has been busted lyrics bout as postmodern.[2] Accordin ta AllNoize Gorillaz blend Britpop n' hip-hop,[148] while Da Guardian busted lyrics bout tha crew as "a sort of dub/hip-hop/lo-fi indie/world music hybrid".[149] Accordin ta PopMatters, tha bandz early work foreshadowed "the meldin of hip-hop, rock, n' electronic elements up in pop music" dat grew up in significizzle up in tha next decade.[150]

"[Influencing] ta us, is tha top billin achievement of Gorillaz. It aint nuthin but dat we know dat a straight-up big-ass cementage of our crew is kids, whoz ass go on gorillaz.com, whoz ass go on gorillaz-unofficial.com, n' all up in seein tha cartoons n' hearin tha tune, buyin tha record, is findin up bout dis shiznit dat they knew not a god damn thang about. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. So they peepin' bout Vlad Da Impaler, or Ronald Searle, or Da Specials... so itz like a ejaculation. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. They straight-up git tha fuck into it fo' realz. And they discover it, tha noize we grew up on." - Jizzy Hewlett, [151]

Musical artists whoz ass done been hyped up by Gorillaz include Major Lazer[152], Dethklok[153][154], Rat Boy[155], Chromeo[156], Flume[157], Fosta tha People[158], Da 1975[159], 5 Secondz of Summer[160], Awolnation[161], Paramore[162], Grimes[163], Kesha[164], Flatbush Zombies[165], Vic Mensa[166], IDK[167], Trippie Redd[168], Da Internet[169], ASAP Rocky[170], Brockhampton[171] n' Odd Future[172]. Gorillaz have collaborated wit a fuckin shitload of brands, includin Motorola[173], O2[174], Internizzle Explainer 9[175], Converse[176], n' Jaguar Cars[177]. They have also been featured up in fashizzle magazines like fuckin Maxim, Nylon, n' Numéro[178]. Da bandz use of tha internizzle n' digital media fo' promotion as early as 2001 has been touched on up in retrospectizzle props fo' bein ahead of its time.[179] Dazed magazine has summarised Gorillazz impact as "completely reinvent[ing] tha notion of what tha fuck a funky-ass crew could be."[180]

Members [ edit ]

Live Band Members

Discography [ edit ]

Studio mixtapes

Tours [ edit ]

Awardz n' nominations [ edit ]

Notes [ edit ]