Thundercat Releases New Ode to Funky Headwear “Dragonball Durag”

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Master bassist Thundercat just released “Dragonball Durag,” the second single leading up to his highly anticipated LP It Is What It Is, according to Pitchfork. While Thundercat is able to seamlessly navigate through a multitude of genres and styes, the constant common denominator in his music is funk. “Dragonball Durag” continues to showcase Thundercat’s ability to lay down a groove, while also blending genres and exploring complex harmonic structures.

Thundercat perfectly encapsulates his energy, style, and philosophy in this statement about “Dragonball Durag”: “I have a Dragon Ball tattoo…. It runs everything. There is a saying that Dragon Ball is life. There are two types of people in the world, the guy with the durag and the guy who doesn’t know what a durag is. The durag is a superpower, to turn your swag on…. It does something, it changes you.”

It Is What It Is will be Thundercat’s fourth LP, following is highly received 2017 work Drunk. The album will be co-produced by longtime collaborate Flying Lotus. Last month Thundercat released the first single “Black Quails,” which featured Steve Lacy and Steve Arrington. In addition to Lacy and Arrington, the new album is set to feature Childish Gambino, Lil B, Kamasi Washington, Ty Dolla $ign, BADBADNOTGOOD, Louis Cole, and comedian/rapper Zack Fox.

Thundercat is set to tour following the release of It Is What It Is later this year. The bassist is set to head out on a Winter tour at the end of February, where he will play large number of shows including the Green Man festival in Brecon Beacons, Wales. The tour will start on February 28th at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver, British Colombia, and will end on April 6th at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas.

Listen to Thundercat’s “Dragonball Durag” below:

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Drew Feinerman: I have just completed my senior at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music's masters of music business program. Although my academic interests include economics, political science, and history, I consider music to be my one true passion. Music is, and has always been, a driving force for the way I think and act every day of my life. I have been playing the tenor saxophone since the age of ten, and playing an instrument at a high level has allowed me to only further my understanding and appreciation for music. While I grew up listening to predominantly classic rock, I soon found myself gravitating toward jazz, hip-hop, funk, and other genres, as my learned to both play and analyze music as a listener. As a writer, I am able to apply my skills both as a musician and a listener, and look forward to the opportunity to being able to express my thoughts on various stories in the music industry.
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