Theophilus London
Theophilus Musa London (born February 23, 1987) is a Trinidadian-born American rapper and singer.[1]
Theophilus London | |
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Theophilus London at Fri-Son in Fribourg, Switzerland (2010) | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Theophilus Musa London |
Born | Trinidad and Tobago | February 23, 1987
Origin | Brooklyn, New York City |
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Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2007–present |
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Associated acts |
Early life
London was born in Trinidad, and later moved to Brooklyn, New York.[2] He then moved to the Poconos and graduated from Pocono Mountain East High School in 2006.[3]
Career
His debut EP Lovers Holiday, released on Warner Bros. Records on February 7, 2011, featured TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, Sara Quin from Tegan and Sara, Glasser, and Solange Knowles.[1] His full-length debut album Timez Are Weird These Days, mixed by noted producer Dan Carey, was released by Warner Brothers on July 19, 2011.[4] London was one of the headliners of the Northside Festival in Brooklyn in June 2011.[5] On June 30, 2011, London performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, in response to which the Montreal Gazette remarked "Theophilus London is going to be big. Very big. The buzz has been building for some time."[6]
On February 22, 2012, London introduced his new single "Big Spender" to a select New York audience at the Encore Sessions at le Baron Chinatown. [7]
In September 2013, London revealed that the new album Vibes, was dedicated to his aunt who had died recently. He also said that he would be releasing a new mixtape titled I Want You Still and an EP with Jesse Boykins as Paris96 in the near future. In September 2014, it was announced that the new album would be released in October and executive produced by Kanye West.[8] He was featured in Azealia Banks' song "JFK" off her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste, released in November 2014.
In November 2016, London released the song "Revenge" with Ariel Pink. The song interpolated New Musik's song "They All Run After the Carving Knife", from the band's second album Anywhere.[9]
In October 2018, London released the song "Whiplash" with Tame Impala. They also covered the song "Only You" by Steve Monite.[10]
In May 2019, London posted a series of videos on Instagram of him in the studio with Miley Cyrus. They recorded several songs including the Hip-Hop influenced "Queen Of My Generation." The pair had filmed a music video for the song but neither the song or the video were released due to constant threats from Cyrus' management team.[11]
Artistry
According to critics, London's "genre-bending approach draws from a range of styles, from soul-pop and post-punk to electro and contemporary R&B," citing influences that include Michael Jackson and Prince as well as Kraftwerk and The Smiths."[12]
Discography
- Timez Are Weird These Days (2011)
- Vibes (2014)
- Bebey (2020)
References
- Gaston, Peter (February 4, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE EP: Hot Rapper Theophilus London". Spin.
- Wilkinson, Isabel (July 17, 2011). "Can This Rapper Skip a Beat?". Newsweek. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- "Rapping with Theophilus London: Hot hip-hopper says Poconos broadened his music". Lehigh Valley Music. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Schnipper, Matthew (May 20, 2011). "Cannes Goes Crazy for Theophilus London; Lars von Trier Goes Crazy at Cannes". The Fader.
- "Pop and Rock Listings for June 10–16". The New York Times. June 9, 2011.
- Dunlevy, T'Cha (June 30, 2011). "Montreal International Jazz Festival 2011: Theophilus London at Club Soda; June 29, 2011". The Gazette.
- Good, Rana (February 22, 2012). "Theophilus London Wows Le Baron With New Tracks". SociétéPerrier.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012.
- "Theophilus London and Ariel Pink Team Up on New Track "Revenge": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "Listen to Tame Impala and Theophilus London's New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "Theophilus London plays snippet of Miley Cyrus collaboration "Queen Of My Generation"". Line Of Best Fit. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- Birchmeier, Jason. "Artist Biography by Jason Birchmeier". Allmusic.