Whether you've been listening to Thundercat for years or just now hearing his name mentioned alongside Kendrick Lamar's, there is an undeniable mystique about this bassist / singer virtuoso. Born Stephen Bruner in Los Angeles, Thundercat is currently making serious waves in the worlds of hip hop, jazz, R&B, and funk.
While some of his earlier material comes with the jazz group The Young Jazz Giants, Thundercat has been working with the likes of Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Terrace Martin, Mac Miller, and more over the past decade. In addition to collaborating with those artists, he also makes critically acclaimed music under his own moniker.
Most recently Thundercat released The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam, a mini-LP peppered with special guests including jazz players like Kamasi Washington and Herbie Hancock, but also forward-thinking hip hop producers like Flying Lotus and Mono/poly. While Thundercat is bridging the gap between modern jazz and hip hop, we've decided it's a good time to highlight some essential listening from his output.
Thundercat ft Flying Lotus & Kamasi Washington - Them Changes
It makes most sense to start with Thundercat's solo work. "Them Changes" comes off his newest mini-LP, and features a fresh neo-soul sound that has been praised by fans and critics alike.
Thundercat ft Mono/poly - Where The Giants Roam / Field of the Nephilim
Here's another cut from the newest effort, The Beyond / Where The Giants Roam. On this one, spacey psychedelia meets R&B to create a soundscape unlike anything else on the market. Unique, beautiful, and artistic, indeed.
Thundercat - Tenfold
The first track on Apocalypse, the second Thundercat studio album that was also almost completely written alongside Flying Lotus, picks up where most neo-soul left off. It's experimental and sexy as avant-garde jazz influences meet modern R&B and soul.
Thundercat - Tron Song
If this list hasn't gotten weird enough for you just yet, peep the "Tron Song."
"Don't you know you rock my world
Don't you ever leave me turbo tron
Don't ever wonder where I'm going
I always come back to you
Don't you worry about me"
Thundercat - It Really Doesn't Matter To You
2011's The Golden Age of Apocalypse didn't receive as much attention as Thundercat's more recent work; the names of Flying Lotus and Kamasi Washington weren't quite as heralded as they are today. However, it's still a great LP, especially for a debut, and worth the listen if you're into this dude's steez.
Kendrick Lamar ft George Clinton & Thundercat - Wesley's Theory
Having a couple features, a few producer credits, and a couple more writing credits on 2015's most anticipated LP is a pretty good way of boosting your stock. Check out Thundercat's monster bass work on "Wesley's Theory."
Kendrick Lamar ft Thundercat, Bilal, and Anna Wise - These Walls
Thundercat may not be present for this performance of "These Walls," but his artistic input is all over the track.
Mac Miller ft Syd & Thundercat - In The Morning
Thundercat kicks a bass solo over this smooth Mac Miller track. With a beat this heady, no wonder our subject had his hands on this one.
SZA - Sobriety [Produced by Chris Calor, Cody, Thundercat, LoveDragon, Sounwave & Ifan Dafydd]
There may be a slew of producers on this one, but you can hear that Thundercat sound under SZA's soultry vocals.
Flying Lotus ft Thundercat - Mmmhmm
When Thundercat is featured on the track, it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to sing on it, but with pipes like this, hopefully more artists use his voice to enhance their tunes in the future.