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 active2010–2017
Past membersDylan Reznick
James Laurence
Website friendzone.bandcamp.com

Friendzone (stylized FRIENDZONE) was an American instrumental hip hop producer 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 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 is the final track featured on his debut 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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