Not Them
Orlando, FL
Eminem, Aesop Rock, Del the Funky Homosapien
Ask the members of Not Them why you should check them out and they’ll tell you they’re on the cusp of full-blown celebrity eruption. Combine this infectious attitude – which comes through loud and fast through their lyrics and made-to-be-seen performance style – with embarrassingly catchy beats and you just might have reason to believe them. Their music is graspable upon first listen and provides a clownish yet intriguing foray into what could prove to be the next stop on the hip hop map.
The best way to tuck into Not Them is by jumping in head-first, with minimal reservations or expectations. In other words, the next time you find yourself feeling that itch for something different – and front men Dirt Merchant and Gentleman J are nothing if they aren’t hard to define – plug in their new album, Blame It On the Blackout, and turn it up loud. The synth-backed, climactic beats on tracks such as “Celebration” aren’t justified if you’re in a bad mood or not paying attention. These guys are all about fun, and they lay it out unabashedly in their music.
The Florida-based film kids ride that fine line between music that has the audacity to be serious (or at least seriously good) and tongue-in-cheek: “made for the intellectual yet constituted for the college, partying, every day, Ramen eating, lovesick, beer drinking human being,” it might be hard to tell what is real and what is one big joke. Nevertheless, their sound is not easily lumped into the post-hipster genre buckets du jour.
So what will you get when you crank up their music (or better yet, watch one of their rollicking videos)? Well, it ain’t your corner-store hip hop, and it certainly isn’t gangsta rap. The closest thing to the mark is B-boy era word-smithing backed by straightforward but steady beats, with an extra helping of adrenaline. Think Eminem, minus the somber gravity. Are they self-aggrandizing? Sure, but only to the extent that their lyrics tout the finer points of getting drunk and laid. Not Them brings something refreshing and new to the turntable in a time when too many bands are starting to sound alike. They’re all about grabbing life by the balls and so far, they’re not apologizing.
by Marshall Leroy Smith
Is this real? When did Kenny G start rapping? Ok, rapping Ray Liotta is a giveaway. Not real.
Yeah, what he said. NOT THEM is the kind of group where you find yourself saying to everyone, ” I knew them when….blah blah” You almost don’t want to see them blow up because you feel a personal connection to them and don’t want to share. One wants them to one self but alas as they once said, ” we just want to party and make friends…” Pretty soon they will have friends all over the world and I’ll just be one of many.
I LOVE Not Them and wish them nothing but the most success life can bring. It has been exciting to listen and watch their fan volume grow. I love their music and can’t wait until they are played on the regular on the radio here in Cincy!!
As NOT THEM express in one of their tracks….lyrics are shouted straight from the chest! Big hearted duo. Yea, I love “THEM”….
Definitely my favorite group from Orlando, and one of my favorite hip hop groups period. I love how they are just themselves
I find myself listening whenever I want to party. It makes me party more often, and harder than I would of if I was’nt listening. Thank you Not Them!
Yes, and I find I can party longer too. When I listen I get a full on raging party and my party staying power is increased tenfold. It’s like I’m wearing a hot water bottle on my party.
SOme of the best times in O-town were with Not Them, glad to see you all still goin strong. much love.
[...] music fan nodding their head. Thanks for this track, to those soup slurping breakfast heads over at MySpoonful (honestly one of my top 5 music blogs on the [...]
[...] Vega)Share: var addthis_product = 'wpp-250'; Share| CommentmySpoonful is very excited to announce Not Them as the winner of the October Band of the Month poll as chosen by you! Check them out again below [...]
[...] music fan nodding their head. Thanks for this track, to those soup slurping breakfast heads over at MySpoonful (honestly one of my top 5 music blogs on the [...]