New York-New Jersey alternative hip-hop duo Letsgokiiid! just released their debut EP, No Future. Tim Perdoch and J.I. Hudson cement their creative partnership with this batch of songs; six tracks, with features from Eithermore vocalist, Jordanna Felice, and TK the Architect, make-up No Future. I’ve been saying it for a while: there is beauty in the juxtaposition of Hip-Hop and Rock. This project affirms and expands on that.
This new EP comes as the culmination of various changes in the artists music and personal lives. “From a lyrical standpoint, just our lives constantly changing and evolving over the past few years. And obviously the state of things right now, us being on lockdown and the general loss of hope around us,” Perdoch claims is the inspiration behind No Future. “There’s a lot we wanted to say and it was a cathartic project for us to write.”
No Future was conceived at the top of this year, while Letsgokiiid was officially formed last year. “We started writing for this EP back in January. COVID obviously shook up our plans, so most of the songs were recorded and produced remotely over the following six months,” Perdoch writes via email. “It was basically us and our producer Zach (TK the Architect) sending files back and forth to each other’s home studio set-ups. Altogether it was about a 7-month process.”
“Neverthere” is the third, and one of the more emotional tracks on the No Future. Jordanna Felice, singer of the band Eithermore, holds it down with a Paramore-esque chorus. “I was immediately drawn in by Jordanna’s powerful and unique voice. She truly brought ‘Neverthere’ to life with her heartfelt vocal melodies and atmospheric guitar playing,” Perdoch insists. “We are so grateful to have Jordanna on this project, and we encourage you all to check out her band Eithermore.”
Letsgokiiid! compliment Felice’s captivating chorus by plugging their emotions into the record. “I am never there / I am always wandering outside of my head / Feeling so despondent, I know that you care / More than I can ever fathom, is this real,” is how Perdoch initiates his verse. He speaks for most of the world following the height of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic that forced the word into quarantine. “I feel like these are the most personal and reflective songs either of us have made, and we hope people resonate with that,” Perdoch mentions. “We do touch on heavy issues, but the project has positive undertones.”
“We definitely want to uplift people.”
Personally, I think this is the only reasoning behind the No Future leadoff track, “Can’t Stand,” which also happens to be my favorite track. The combination of Perdoch’s melodic approach in his flow, with Hudson’s deeper, slightly more aggressive flow, easily makes the song an absolute banger. Queue the Funk Flex explosion. “New band, I feel like a new man / I don’t got no time to tie no loose ends / Everybody trying to be the new friend / Quit the frontin’, you just need a helping hand,” Hudson raps, his premiere bars of the entire tape. The “fuck everyone else” attitude exuded from these lines alone accurately reflect the whole song. Though it may sound like he is puting them down, Hudson is puting himself first. You have to help yourself before you can help others, right?
“Can’t Stand” is also one of the best examples on the album of how Hip-Hop and Rock go together like eggs and bacon. The two artists know they have something special, capitalizing on an age-old trope. “We both come from different backgrounds, Tim playing in bands and coming from punk/alternative music scenes, and J.I. Hudson from a Hip-Hop background,” Perdoch explains in his email. “We both bring different influences and nuances to the table. Our creative processes just mesh well, somehow it works.”
No Future is the latest stage in the evolution of “Rock Rap”. Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith’s 1986 collab, “Walk This Way,” is one of the earlier indications that the two genres were destined to collide. Their development in each respective lane prompted the change in sound when they finally linked up again. Fast-forward to 2003 when Linkin Park released, “Numb,” featuring Brooklyn’s own, Jay-Z. Now, nearly two decades later, Letsgokiiid! shows us a glimpse of the next level of the amalgamation.
There’s no better way to understand the beauty of this collaboration, other than by listening to No Future, conveniently provided below. And be on the look out for more from Letsgokiiid, including music videos and more!