When jazz-hop producer Flying Lotus makes moves, things gets weird. So now that FlyLo has taken to Twitter to announce that his record label, Brainfeeder, is starting a film division, you can expect weird to become a regular occurrence.

The first film project slated to be released by Brainfeeder is called Royal, directed by Flying Lotus himself. He describes the short film as “an awkward love story that’s definitely not for the kiddies.” It will premiere at the 2016 Sundance NEXT Fest in August.

Flying Lotus has already signed animator and lunatic David Firth onto the new Brainfeeder film division as well. Firth is the creator of Salad Fingers, a delightfully disturbing animated series that can never be unseen. Firth also contributed visuals to the video for Flying Lotus’ track “Ready Err Not,” which premiered on Adult Swim, complete with viewer discretion advisory notice.

Flying Lotus has previously shown an interest in working with filmmakers who have created visuals based around his music. Young Replicant directed a video for “Coronus, The Terminator,” and Khahlil Joseph directed a short film featuring music from Until The Quiet Comes.

Last year, Flying Lotus provided the soundtrack to Eddie Alcazar’s short film F**KKKYOUUU, a morbid, body horror sci-fi cut shot in the style of an old Ed Wood flick, which also premiered at Sundance NEXT.

Flying Lotus credits this animated gif, based on a shot of him with Radiohead front man Thom Yorke, with inspiring his venture into filmmaking:

In October of last year there was this pretty awesome gif going around of me and Thom Yorke djing. pic.twitter.com/l09Y48Gvhq

— FLYLO (@flyinglotus) July 6, 2016

“I was fixated on this for a whole day and thought. S**t. I can make stuff like that,” Flying Lotus tweeted. “So now after lots of toiling tinkering begging and bothering I’m able to tell u this. Brainfeeder has started a film division.”

You figure it out.

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There’s an article waiting to be written regarding Adult Swim‘s long-term support of alternative rap. Continuing their annual Adult Swim Singles campaign, the naughty network has released “Between Villains,” a spiritual sequel to last year’s “Between Friends.” Captain Murphy, Viktor Vaughn and Earl Sweatshirt assemble and the result is breathtaking. Thundercat provides the bass and the emcees provide the jawbreakers. It’s well-known that Earl and Captain Murphy are influenced by DOOM, but this track is more than the fulfillment of some ultimate rap nerd fantasy. Despite their common villainy, the villains are each plotting their own schemes and it shows in the verses. If the Doris stream wasn’t the nail in the coffin for all the “Control” talk, this should be it. Listen below.

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Thundercat – Apocalypse

“It’s superficial, the way that you listen // Open your ears and your mind // Just take the time to look a bit deeper // You’d be surprised what you find inside.”

The opening stanza of Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner’s song “Evangelion” is a contemplative bounce offering excellent advice on how to deal with both life and his latest album. The record, which was composed following the death of close friend and former Brainfeeder affiliate Austin Peralta, is a telling tale about personal loss and coming to terms with it. With Thundercat’s infamous six-stringed bass leading the tone of the album and co-producer Flying Lotus keeping equilibrium with his signature percussion ,the album is a refined effort that drowns genre divisions in a sea of sounds.

There are multiple ways to dive in. You can swim, float or sink into “The Life Aquatic,” where the duo teams up for the first of the albums instrumental offerings, or you can level up to the more optimistic “Special Stage,” where Thundercat and FlyLo take you on a mellow ride that is something like cruising along rainbow road with the top down. On the reassuring “Tron Song,” Flying Lotus’ bouncy production melds with the harmony of Thundercat’s airy vocals, becoming nearly pulse-like.

In addition to “Tron Song,” the album offers another largely instrumental track by the name of “Seven.” Taking a page out of the late Dave Brubeck‘s book, Thundercat and Flylo churn out a mind-blowing prog-rock jam with a tricky seven-four (7/4) time signature. Then they lightly strut into the undeniably funky “Oh Sheit It’s X.” Based on a true story, this space-age jam is sure to have you dancing in ecstasy.

And as if the combined talents of the Brainfeeder music wizards wasn’t enough, they also enlist the help of Thomas Pridgen of The Mars Volta. Pridgen offers up a killer drum solo on “Lotus and the Jondy”, solidifying the fact that this isn’t your run of the mill Soul/Electronica offering. Dancing from soul to prog rock to jazz and back, the album showcases the possibilities that emerge when an artist is willing to shun the limitations of genres.

Most interesting is how, building on personal experiences, Thundercat finds a way to directly yet delicately address the subject of death, reminding you to “do your best” through it all on the short but sweet, “We’ll Die.” That heartfelt offering leads right into a charged symphony titled “Message for Austin.“ With the spirit of friend and collaborator Austin Peralta looming nearby, the records closing track  “Enter the Void” combines some ritualistic percussion and softly chiming bells. Strangely, that combination perfectly loops back into the album’s start, encouraging you to drift back over the previous eleven tracks to take the journey once again.

Apocalypse is an eclectic ride that has something to offer everybody,from those who have experienced loss to those eager for the next leg of life’s journey. The careful blurring of genre’s display both Thundercat’s expansive talents and his progression since his debut album. Available now for digital purchase here, the Vinyl and CD versions of Apocalypse are set to release June 9th. If you don’t already have your digital version, you’d be advised to grab a hard copy and take this musical journey.

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How many times can we really all repeat, “Work, Work, Work!”over A$AP Ferg’s impressive “Work”? Well, we probably could forever, but Brainfeeder’s Azizi Gibson vents on his frustrations toward new booty rappers who probably haven’t amassed half of his catalog (they probably need baby powder). We have high hopes for his upcoming project, Ghost In The Shell, which should be dropping soon. Until then, enjoy the stream below and stay posted.

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Killing jokes aside, this video is really creepy,  maybe even bordering on scary. Between the “Sin City” type vibe, the Mutante sample, and the levitating ghost lady at 0:54, this homemade horror show proves that Captain Murphy fans are not only dedicated and talented, but also a bit demented…in a good way. “This was a fan made video so good I had to make it official,” he told SPIN. Los Angeles producer Flying Lotus, who spends half of his time as his rapping alter ego Captain Murphy also added that fans should be on the lookout for his upcoming project “V”, which is set to drop this fall.

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Right now is a great time for music in New York City, especially for the brooklyn duo The Underachievers. Thanks to a Pitchfork interview, Issa Dash and AK drop details of their upcoming mixtape projects and tour dates as well as discuss the meaning behind their last album Indigoism. During the 7 minute video the duo also talk about working with their record label CEO Flying Lotus and reminisce on the days when they skated with the Pro Era crew in Flatbush. Plus, the last 2 minute includes a new freestyle over a Ryan Hemsworth beat, equipped with fun psychedelic visuals.

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