Before you get started on the final three, freshen up your memory with a glance at Part 1 and Part 2. Once updated, hit the jump to read the list's intro as well as KWT's 3 Best OFWGKTA Moments.
2011 has been a great year to break into the hip hop scene. We have witnessed some of rap's future superstars make their first widespread imprint on the genre. Whether it be through the help of record deals and star cosigns or through independent movements and internet domination, the past year has been home to undeniable rises to fame for some deserved and undeserved young talents.
Although some would claim they belong in the undeserved category, a list of artists to blow up recently would not be complete without LA hip hop collective Odd Future. A dozen members deep, all ranging from the ages of 17-23, OFWGKTA, with their startling, sometimes offensive, yet extremely effective content is the hip hop genre's version of shock advertising.
Featured below is part one of KWT's ten best, most integral moments to OFWGKTA's rise to fame. We're sure we ranked a certain event too high or too low for your liking or maybe even left a moment off that you thought was an obvious inclusion for this certain topic; therefore, let us know what you think, tell us what we did wrong and what we did right in the comment section. Over the next few days, check back with us, as we'll be revealing the three part post of our top ten best OFWGKTA moments.
EVENT: "Yonkers" track/video release
DATE: February 11, 2011
Remember back to February of this year, just days before many of you had heard of Odd Future. But for those fans who were already aboard the bandwagon, you likely remember OF frontman Tyler, The Creator's Goblin announcement, stating his follow-up to the 2009 underground hit Bastard would be dropping sometime that spring. Along with the news came the mention of Tyler's next music video and first single from Goblin, "Yonkers," which was set for a Friday, February 11th release. I vividly remember reminding myself to check the premiere that Friday, just as thousands surely did, but neither I or anyone outside of the OFWGKTA camp were ready for the shitstorm of hype that the "Yonkers" release would create.
As you can see, the one-shot, Tyler, The Creator directed, written, produced, and performed visual isn't your average music video. Sticking to the Odd Future modus operani, yet perhaps pushing the ball a bit further, "Yonkers" was sure to turn into the hit song that OF needed. Bruno Mars and Bobby Ray shots, Tyler's split personality, and references to God-knows-what (look a little deeper, they're likely quite lyrical) had everyone and their sister "ooh"-ing and "ahh"-ing (gasping, screaming, etc., too) to OFWGKTA's most hauntingly likable track yet.
Within hours after the video's release, the flood gates were lifted on the celebrity reactions and tweets surrounding "Yonkers." Of course, there were a few light-stomached haters, but there were plenty of words of support from others, both stans and celebrities alike. "Yonkers" is what eventually kicked off a fruitful relationship between Wolf Haley and Pusha T, who only had kind words for Tyler after the visual's viral spread. However, the rap collectives biggest, most eye-opening cosign ever came as a reply to the "Yonkers" video, and it came from an unlikely benefactor.
No, that link that Mr. West tweeted doesn't take you to some eccentric Bon Iver video or even to the newest Taylor Swift music vid (he's sorry, get over it people). Yes, Kanye West cosigned the "Yonkers" music video as "the video of 2011." I know it happened almost a year ago, and I know you all are more than over this, but every time I hear it or I see that tweet, I say something along the lines of "that's so dope." Pair Ye's cosign with the gargantuan buzz OF had already generated for themselves, and "Yonkers," both the single and the video, turned Odd Future and Tyler, The Creator into a household name.
EVENT: Tyler, The Creator x Hodgy Beats perform on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
DATE: February 16, 2011
Jimmy Fallon is one of the most hip hop white dudes on national television. How else do you think he constantly performs hip hop classics and scored The Roots as his Late Night band? Jimmy let the blogosphere know just how hip to the hop he was when he granted Odd Future with a performance slot on his nightly NBC talk show. Though it may be the workings of ?uestlove or Mos Def, who was a guest performer that night with The Roots, however Tyler and Hodgy ended up performing on Fallon is irrelevant, because however it happened, the performance was a launchpad of exposure for the California rap crew.
After a rather boring lineup of celebrity guests, Fallon finally proceeded to introduce Tyler, The Creator and Hodgy Beats, flashing a QR code rather than the too-inappropriate-for-television single artwork for "Sandwitches," which the two would be performing. With The Roots handling the music while gnomes and a creepy, zombie girl shared the stage in typical OF fashion, Tyler and Hodgy went hard into the track, replacing expletives with Christian mother versions and running rampant across the entire Fallon studio. The two, ski-mask-clad and as hyped as ever, gave late night television perhaps its most wild performance anyone has ever seen, with their "WOLF GANG" chants and inability to stay in one place.
The performance and the night's episode came to a very fitting end as Tyler hopped on Jimmy's back as Mos Def attacked the camera with multiple, jubilant cries of "SWAG!" Much to the dismay of mothers everywhere, OFWGKTA had made their network television debut, and they'd done it in memorable fashion.
The Late Night With Jimmy Fallon performance capped off a hell of a week for OF, as Tyler, The Creator had just released his already viral "Yonkers" video just days prior to the episode. The incredible timeline of "Yonkers," Kanye cosign, and Jimmy Fallon performance had the crew at a level they'd never come close to eclipsing. Thanks to this string of events, people now knew who OFWGKTA was, and, whether they liked it or not, the world was theirs for the taking.
EVENT: Tyler, The Creator wins MTV VMA for Best New Artist
DATE: August 28, 2011
After his unbelievable year (which you can read about above, here, and here). MTV found Tyler, The Creator to be more than deserving for a few nominations in their annual Video Music Awards. Up against some of the year's best talents, Tyler was nominated for Best New Artist and Video of the Year for "Yonkers," making it apparent just how mainstream the music industry's respect for OF was becoming. However, seeing as how MTV's voting system was 100% fan based, the chances of Tyler outvoting Wiz Khalifa or Big Sean, who were each responsible for two of the year's most overplayed anthems, seemed like a longshot even with their always bulging fan base.
Apparently, though, OF Nation was much bigger and more loyal than everyone thought. Although a mere nomination was more than respectable and a sure honor for him, Tyler had tweeted in the past that a VMA win was one of his many dreams, and he was as close as ever to turning it into reality.
Ironically, Selena Gomez was presenting for the Best New Artist category, giving Tyler even more of a reason to head to stage to receive his potential award. The other nominees (with the exception of the undeserving Kreayshawn), Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Foster The People, all had seemingly larger fan bases, and, thus, a better chance to win the coveted Moonman. But the results were in, his Hollywood crush called his name, and the entire OF crew stormed the stage as an emotional, shocked Tyler, The Creator had won his first MTV Video Music Award. I'll let Tyler end our three part countdown with his explicit yet inspirational award speech...
It's been real, it's been fun, and yes, it's been real fun. But unfortunately, our 10 Best OFWGKTA Moments list has come to a close. Thanks for riding along with me this far, as I know it was a little more stretched out than you'd have liked. Inevitably, I'm sure many of you disagreed with our countdown, but, much to my surprise, it seems that quite a few of you thought highly of our rankings. Either way, let me know your opinions on Part 3 or the entire list in the comment section below. KWT hopes you will return to the site often for more lists such as this one, interviews, and daily updates on hip hop music. That's all, folks.
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