Rapper Kendrick Lamar just one of the artists Badbadnotgood, Canadian four-piece who played Clockenflap 2016, have influenced
Ontario quartet, who played the Hong Kong music festival in 2016, attract a number of hip-hop performers to their unique music, resulting in collaborations with Tyler, the Creator and Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan
Using bass, keys, a saxophone and drums, the Ontario quartet – made up of Matthew Tavares, Chester Hansen, Leland Whitty and Alexander Sowinski – have created a world of music that is the opposite of static.
Album review: as Clockenflap beckons, BadBadNotGood comes out with fourth album
Their sound is distinct and catchy, dense with layers. “I have no idea how to even describe our music, I wouldn’t even call it jazz,” says bassist Hansen.
At a time when hip-hop artists heavily sample instrumentals, the four-piece band, who appeared at the Hong Kong festival in 2016, have attracted a number of rappers and hip-hop artists. They’ve collaborated with Tyler, the Creator and with Kendrick Lamar on the track Lust from his recent, critically acclaimed album DAMN. They’ve even worked alongside legends such as Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan.
The band first became noticed for their instrumental covers of hip-hop music. On their fourth album, titled IV, you can hear some of those influences with the simple melodies and drums that highlight the rhythm and beat.
While you may find Badbadnotgood albums in the jazz or hip-hop section of a record store, Hansen is weary of identifying as either.