El-P discusses the creation of his solo debut LP 'Fantastic Damage' and sets the record straight on its connection to 9-11. They explore the evolution of music production and the influence of personal experiences on art, as well as the relationship between songs 'Stepfather Factory' and 'Last Good Sleep'.
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Quick takeaways
LP reflects on the personal and emotional aspects of his solo albums, highlighting the cathartic nature of certain songs.
LP clarifies that most of his album 'Fantastic Damage' was created before 9/11 and discusses the lingering effects of trauma.
LP discusses the conceptualization of the 'Deep Space 9mm' music video and emphasizes its visual impact and metaphorical representation of societal stressors.
Deep dives
The evolution of LP's solo career
LP discusses the development of his solo career, starting with the transition from Company Flow to his solo work. He explains how his approach to production and recording changed over time, mentioning the use of different technology and his experimentation with layering and live performance. LP also reflects on the personal and emotional aspects of his solo albums, specifically mentioning the cathartic nature of songs like 'Last Good Sleep' and 'Stepfather Factory'.
The impact of the 9/11 attacks
LP addresses the relationship between his album 'Fantastic Damage' and the 9/11 attacks. He clarifies that most of the album was created and written before 9/11, and only a few songs had references to the event. LP also reflects on the lingering effects of trauma and the importance of having a medium like music to express and process difficult experiences.
The creation and significance of the 'Deep Space 9mm' music video
LP shares his involvement in the conceptualization of the 'Deep Space 9mm' music video and highlights the contributions of director Brian Bellatik. He explains that the video aimed to represent various institutions and stressors in society through a heavy-handed metaphor of guns pointed at him. LP also emphasizes the visual impact of using a bright pink gun and the surreal yet relatable depiction of a typical day in New York City.
The Evolution of Artistic Expression
In this podcast episode, the speaker reflects on the evolution of his artistic expression. He discusses how his music became a means to convey his thoughts and feelings about the world around him. The speaker talks about his early experiences as a recording artist and how his perspective on certain issues started to emerge in his music. He particularly highlights his album 'Fantastic Damage' as a turning point in his artistic journey, where he confronted his thoughts and fears, and how the album's content was sometimes misinterpreted by listeners.
Personal Experiences and Synchronicity
The podcast episode delves into the speaker's personal experiences and synchronistic events related to the World Trade Center. He shares a moment when he was under the influence of drugs, observing the Twin Towers and leaving a voicemail to a friend expressing a premonition of the towers coming down. The speaker also recalls his encounter with the aftermath of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, during which he interviewed individuals covered in ash. These experiences and synchronicities have influenced his artistic expression and led to introspection and exploration of his own identity as an artist.
in 2002 El-P released his solo debut LP Fantastic Damage to critical acclaim and unbridled fervor from underground rap fans that had been following El from Company Flow to the creation of Def Jux. In this episode El tells the stories behind celebrated songs like Stepfather Factory, Deep Space 9mm and Squeegee Man Shooting and he sets the record straight on the album's connection to the events of September 11th, 2001.
