Friendzone (duo)

Last updated
Friendzone
Friendzone playing a show.jpg
Laurence (left) and Reznick performing in 2012
Background information
Origin East Bay, California, U.S.
Genres Alternative hip hop, Cloud rap, Chillwave
Years active2010 - Present
Past membersDylan Reznick
James Laurence
Website friendzone.bandcamp.com

Friendzone was an American instrumental hip hop duo based in the East Bay of California. [1] It consisted of producers James Laurence and Dylan Reznick. [2] On January 30, 2017, it was announced that James Laurence had died at the age of 27 from undisclosed circumstances. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Friendzone produced Main Attrakionz' "Chuch" and "Perfect Skies", which were featured on the 2011 mixtape 808s & Dark Grapes II. [5] In 2012, the duo released Collection I, a compilation of rap instrumentals and original songs. [6]

In 2013, Friendzone landed their first major label placement, producing the song "Fashion Killa" for ASAP Rocky, which appeared on his debut album Long. Live. ASAP , [7] and also released the compilation Kuchibiru Network 3, which included contributions by several notable producers including Ryan Hemsworth, Skywlkr, DJ Kenn, and Jerome LOL. [8] In that year, the duo produced Yung Lean's "Solarflare", which was the final track on his mixtape Unknown Death 2002 . [9]

On October 9, 2013, Friendzone released the debut album, DX . [10] On that day, Vice premiered the music video for "Poly". [11]

On February 16, 2015, Boiler Room released Upfront 014, which featured nearly an hour of unreleased music from the duo. [12] On May 27, Friendzone released a new EP, While U Wait. [13] Main Attrakionz released 808s & Dark Grapes III , produced by Friendzone in its entirety, [14] on Neil Young's Vapor Records on June 30, 2015. [15]

On January 30, 2017, James Laurence was reported dead at the age of 27. [3] The cause and date of death were not announced. [4] On February 6, Dylan Reznick shared a previously unreleased track, "Sweet Dream", as a tribute to Laurence. The duo had finished the song a few weeks prior to Laurence's death. [16]

Discography

Albums

Mixtapes

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

Productions

Remixes

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References

  1. ↑ Swan, Rachel (May 23, 2012). "Inside the Friendzone - Music - Oakland, Berkeley & the Bay Area". East Bay Express . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "WRCT: Ain't nothin' but a thang. - MMW: Friendzone". WRCT . February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Welsh, April Clare (January 30, 2017). "James Laurence, one half of trailblazing cloud rap producers Friendzone, has died". Fact . Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Strauss, Matthew (January 31, 2017). "A$AP Rocky, Yung Lean Producer James Laurence Dead at 27". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  5. ↑ Capell, Frances (November 28, 2011). "Laurence & Reznick of Friendzone Release Tracks On Tumblr, Bay Area". San Francisco Bay Guardian . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ Ables, Brent (May 19, 2012). "Friendzone: Collection 1 Mixtape - Records - Cokemachineglow". Cokemachineglow. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  7. ↑ Battan, Carrie (December 12, 2012). "Skrillex, Clams Casino, Danger Mouse, More Produced Beats for A$AP Rocky's Long.Live.A$AP". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ Cooper, Duncan (February 26, 2013). "Download Friendzone's Kuchibiru Network 3 Mixtape". The Fader . Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  9. ↑ Twells, John (February 2, 2017). "Perfect Skies: How James Laurence and Friendzone helped shape cloud rap". Fact . Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Friendzone share new album DX as name-your-price release". Fact . October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Watch the Video for Friendzone's "Poly" and Don't Get Lost in a Trance". Vice . October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  12. ↑ Szatan, Gabriel (February 16, 2015). "Upfront 014: Friendzone". Boiler Room . Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Friendzone Drop Surprise "While U Wait" Project In Memory of A$AP Yams". Fact . May 27, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  14. ↑ Ellison, Kyle (February 15, 2013). "Champion Sound #11: Feat. Exclusive Friendzone Mix". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  15. ↑ Golden, Zara (May 11, 2015). "Main Attrakionz Debut Kreayshawn-Directed Video For "Ain't No Other Way"". The Fader . Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ Rettig, James (February 6, 2017). "Friendzone – "Sweet Dream"". Stereogum . Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Friendzone's Tumblr". Friendzone Official Tumblr.
  18. ↑ "Friendzone's SoundCloud". Friendzone Official SoundCloud.
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