Odd Future self-released their debut mixtape, The Odd Future Tape, in 2008, as well as various solo and collaborative projects over the subsequent years. In 2010, they then released their second mixtape, Radical, gaining a significant rise in popularity throughout the early 2010s. Their debut studio album, The OF Tape Vol. 2, was released in 2012. Aside from music, Odd Future had an Adult Swim comedy skit show, Loiter Squad, which ran from 2012 to 2014.
Since 2016, the official status of the group has been highly disputed. While there is no conclusive announcement signifying an official breakup, the group has remained completely inactive, with many of its members suggesting that there are no plans for the collective going forward. Because of this, the group is generally considered to have disbanded. Despite their inactivity as a group, there have been reunion shows in both 2018 and 2023.[4][5]
History
2007–2010: Formation, early releases and rise in popularity
Odd Future was formed in 2007 in South Central Los Angeles by Tyler, the Creator along with Casey Veggies, Hodgy, Left Brain, the Super 3 (Matt Martians' production trio which included fictional characters Betty Vasolean and Yoshi Jankins Jr.) and Jasper Dolphin. The entirety of the group consisted of rappers, producers, filmmakers, skateboarders, and clothing designers. The group's recording side was known for their rebellious, brutally honest, and profanity dense lyrics.[6]
In early 2008, Casey Veggies released Customized Greatly, Vol. 1, featuring Tyler on a few tracks.[7] On November 15, 2008, Odd Future released their debut mixtape, The Odd Future Tape.[8]
On July 7, 2009, Hodgy released his debut mixtape, The Dena Tape. On December 25, 2009, Tyler, the Creator released his debut mixtape, Bastard. In 2008, Chicago-based rapper brandUn DeShay and Atlanta-based producer Pyramid Vritra joined the collective; the latter joined Matt Martians' Super 3, and they released The Super D3Shay EP alongside the former before changing their name to the Jet Age of Tomorrow.[citation needed]Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Mike G, Frank Ocean and Na-Kel Smith joined the group between 2009 and 2010.[citation needed] Earl Sweatshirt's debut mixtape, Earl, was released on Tumblr in March 2010.[9] MellowHype, a duo composed of Hodgy and Left Brain, released their debut mixtape, YelloWhite, on February 24, 2010,[citation needed] and their debut album, BlackenedWhite was also released in 2010.[citation needed] Domo Genesis released his debut mixtape, Rolling Papers on August 30, 2010,[citation needed] and Mike G released a mixtape,Ali, in 2010.[citation needed] The collective also released their second mixtape, Radical, near the middle of 2010.[citation needed]
In November 2010, Odd Future completed a two-stop tour and the first was in London on November 5, 2010.[10][11] The second was in New York City on November 8, 2010.[12] Their concerts have been compared to punk rock shows, with stagediving, moshing, and group members antagonizing the crowd.[13][14]
2011–2014: Solo releases, The OF Tape Vol. 2 and Loiter Squad
Earl Sweatshirt performing with the rest of Odd Future in March 2012
On September 8, 2011, it was announced that Odd Future would be making a television show called Loiter Squad.[citation needed] The show was announced to be a sketch comedy show featuring various skits and pranks and first aired on Adult Swim in March 2012.[21] The show featured Tyler, Jasper, Taco, Earl and Lionel as main cast members, with other members of Odd Future making cameo appearances.[22][23] The program was produced by Dickhouse Productions, which is also the production company for the TV series Jackass.[citation needed]
On October 3, 2011, Tyler, the Creator tweeted a link to iTunes with a compilation album of songs from artists within the group such as Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, Mike G, the Jet Age of Tomorrow, MellowHype, the Internet, and Tyler himself.[citation needed] The album is simply named 12 Odd Future Songs, despite having 13 tracks, including three new releases from the Internet, Mike G and MellowHype.[citation needed] On March 20, 2012, the collective released their debut studio album, The OF Tape Vol. 2, as a relative sequel to the original mixtape, The Odd Future Tape.[citation needed] On the same day, Earl Sweatshirt, who was absent from Odd Future from June 2010 until February 2012 due to attending boarding school in Samoa, first performed with the group at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.[24][25]
On April 2, 2013, Tyler, the Creator released his completely new second studio album, Wolf, which received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 89,895 copies in the United States.[28][29] Earl Sweatshirt released his debut studio album.[30] Tyler and Earl also went on an EarlWolf Summer Tour in 2013.[citation needed]
In June 2014, Frank Ocean left Odd Future management, 4 Strikes Management.[31] In May 2014, the third season of Loiter Squad premiered.[citation needed] Earl, Tyler, Jasper, Taco, and L-Boy did an in-depth interview for HuffPost Live.[when?][citation needed] On August 11 and August 12, 2014, Odd Future opened up for Eminem at Wembley Stadium, London.[citation needed].
An excerpt of a sting used on Odd Future Radio
On September 12, 2014, the Odd Future radio station premiered on Dash Radio, which was released the month before by DJ Skee.[citation needed] The station featured a live playlist, special links such as "Taco Tuesday" (also repeated on Fridays) and coverage of live events, such as the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, also hosted by Odd Future.[32]
2015–present: Decline in activity, subsequent hiatus
On January 18, 2015, Hodgy Beats stated that MellowHype will not release another project, but he and Left Brain will continue to make music together. Hodgy stated in an interview, "Nah, we ain't breaking up. Nah, this ain't no weirdo shit. It's just some real shit. It's a refocus. Going from boys to men this is what it is. So it's either understand it, 'cause it will be explained–cry about it, talk shit, applaud us–we still moving."[33]
In May 2015, Tyler, the Creator hinted on Twitter that Odd Future was supposedly breaking up, saying "although its no more, those 7 letters are forever", seemingly referring to the collective's acronym "OFWGKTA", with Earl Sweatshirt backing up Tyler's claims as well.[34][35][36]
"OFWGKTA" was listed on the bill for Tyler, the Creator's 4th Annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.[37] The line-up that performed included Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, Mike G and Left Brain. Tyler and Earl were not included in the set due to Tyler already having a solo show and Earl being busy.
Some rumors began to circulate in 2016 about the group working together musically again after a picture was taken of Tyler, Earl, Syd, Jasper, Taco, and Matt Martians together at the Afropunk Festival.[38]
On December 9, 2016, Hodgy released his debut studio album Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide, the final release under Odd Future Records.[39] On February 6, 2017, it was confirmed MellowHype to be reuniting on Left Brain's solo mixtape MindGone Vol. 1.[40]
Tyler, the Creator's 2017 album, Flower Boy, featured vocals by fellow Odd Future members Frank Ocean, Jasper Dolphin, and L-Boy, but was released under Columbia Records.
With the release of Tyler's 2018 single "Okra", he seems to further hint towards an Odd Future breakup with the lyric "Golf be the set, no more OF".[41] However, later that year on August 8, Taco posted a series videos on his Instagram story, showing an Odd Future surprise concert taking place at The Low End Theory club in Los Angeles. Odd Future members who attended the show included Tyler, Taco, Jasper, Mike G, Earl, and the returning Syd and Hodgy.[42]
In 2018, Pitchfork wrote that Odd Future's legacy was "one that demands we bask in complicated truths, reminding us that nurturing the parts that don't fit is how any culture moves forward."[43]
On October 23, 2019, Mike G confirmed Odd Future was "still together" but that they would no longer be touring.[44]
On February 17, 2020, Tyler confirmed Odd Future was likely not going to release another album, stating he does not think "the styles will mesh much for a good cohesive thing".[45]
On September 22, 2023, a song titled "New Future Era" was released onto Spotify, which was a sound bite of Drake repeating the word "embarrassing" for just under one minute. The song was not real, and was later taken off of Spotify.[46][47]
Members
Tyler, the Creator – vocals, production, music video directing, fashion design (2007–present)
Odd Future was scheduled to appear at the February 2014 Rapture Festival in Auckland, as a supporting act to Eminem. The group was not on the original bill, but was substituting for Kendrick Lamar after the concert had been sold out.[57] A campaign was launched by an anti-violence group to prevent Odd Future performing, based partly on prior occurrences of the group supposedly inciting violence by their fans towards members of the public, and by the group's lyrics allegedly supporting rape and violence towards women.[58] Immigration New Zealand canceled the visa of some group members because of alleged acts of inciting violence.
In 2015, Tyler, the Creator was banned from the United Kingdom for 3–5 years due to the allegedly homophobic and violent content of his lyrics from earlier albums such as Bastard and Goblin.[59]
Tyler's UK ban has since been lifted,[60] concurring with his show in London to promote his fifth studio album, Igor. However, his show was forcibly cancelled by police after they voiced their safety concerns, saying that it was "overcrowded" and "too rowdy".[61]
