BLACKBOOK LIST
GUIDE TO HOT BANDS
FALL 2006
BUSDRIVER
In the spirit of tongue-twisting oddballs Kool Keith and Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Busdriver spits his rapid-fire, bookworm verses over decidedly difficult space-age beats that laugh in the face of mainstream appeal. His new full-length, RoadKillOvercoat, on Epitaph Records (featuring a collaboration with CocoRosie's Bianca Casady) won't be dropping until early 2007, but we wanted an early jump on one of underground hip-hop's most dynamic, if not intriguing, personalities.
First album you ever bought?
I want to say Radio by LL Cool J, but I believe it was George Michael's debut solo joint.
Best date music?
I've found that Air's Talkie Walkie tends to get the juices flowing.
Song you wish you had written?
"Particle Man" by They Might Be Giants.
What producers would you like to collaborate with?
Nigel Godrich, Jimmy Tamborello, The Bomb Squad, DJ Pooh.
If you weren't driving a bus, what would you be driving?
I don't drive a bus, I drive a Chevy.
Most underrated artists?
There are so many. One of my all-time favorite underappreciated musicians is Robert Johnson. He kicked off rock and roll, realized the potential of the guitar and just generally bedazzles all. Daedelus and I covered a song of his once when we were bored in the studio. The recording haunts me to this day.
Complete this sentence: Rap music wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for…
Starter jackets, NWA and the Internet.
Favorite vegetable?
Avocado.
The movie of your life, who plays you?
A young James Earl Jones.
What movie makes you cry?
I'm not big on crying during films. But if I would have to tear up for a flick, It'd be for Dog Day Afternoon. Maybe.
What can we expect of the new album?
Grandiose, pseudo-pop song-crafting via a series of rap-rants. It's inadvertently sexy as well.
Convince us to listen to your new album in 10 words or less.
Naked. Girls. Wrestling. Naked. Girls. Wrestling. Over. This. CD.