Blackstarkids
{{Short description|American band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = BLACKSTARKIDS
| image =
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| alias =
| origin = Kansas City, Missouri
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2019–present
| label = {{flatlist|
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| website =
| current_members =
- Ty Faizon
- Deiondre
- TheBabeGabe
}}
Blackstarkids, sometimes stylised as BLACKSTARKIDS, was an American hip-hop/indie rock/pop band from Kansas City, Missouri. The band consists of The Babe Gabe, TyFaizon, and Deiondre. Blackstarkids blend the music styles of hip-hop, indie rock and pop and have been described as "1990s nostalgia reinterpreted for a new generation."{{cite web|url=https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/blackstarkids-all-cops-are-bastards|title=BLACKSTARKIDS Say "All Cops Are Bastards*" on Explosive New Single|publisher=Onestowatch.com|accessdate=16 October 2021}}
History
The Blackstarkids members met at the age of fifteen or sixteen in Raytown, a suburb just outside Kansas City, where they grew up and attended high school. TyFaizon had been working separately with The Babe Gabe and Deiondre on different projects, subsequently bringing the three together to form the Blackstarkids in January 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/blackstarkids/16602|title=2020 Must Know - Blackstarkids|date=28 April 2020|publisher=CoupdeMainMagazine.com|accessdate=15 October 2021}}
The members do not have a specific role, but TyFaizon and The Babe Gabe are often credited as the main songwriters with Deiondre acting as the main producer.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3170933/blackstarkids-whatever-man-interview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028103023/http://www.mtv.com/news/3170933/blackstarkids-whatever-man-interview/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2020|title=BLACKSTARKIDS'S FUTURE-FACING NOSTALGIA IS A LIVING MOOD BOARD|publisher=MTV|accessdate=16 October 2021}} They create their works by deciding on an album name and tracklist using a "visual concept", then write songs to fit the concept. The group often uses existing songs as references or inspiration, such as the riff to Green Day's "Basket Case" leading to their riff-based song "Frankie Muniz".
They formed their own label, Bedroom Records, releasing their debut mixtape Let's Play Sports in 2019 and their follow-up SURF in 2020. They signed to Matty Healy of The 1975's label Dirty Hit in April 2020, shortly after he highlighted their track "Sounds Like Fun" as one of his new discoveries on Instagram.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/blackstarkids/status/1264721295507423232|title=Twitter|publisher=Twitter.com|accessdate=15 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/blackstarkids-dirty-hit-interview-3060281|title=BLACKSTARKIDS: triumphant coming-of-age anthems from Dirty Hit signeespublisher=NME|website = NME|date = 4 October 2021|accessdate=16 October 2021}} Their first mix-tape for Dirty Hit titled Whatever, Man was released in late 2020 and featured a cameo from Matty Healy and label mates beabadoobee on the track "Friendship".{{cite web|url=https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/blackstarkids/17120|title=Listen: BLACKSTARKIDS' new album 'Whatever, Man' feat. cameos from Matty Healy & Beabadoobee|date=22 October 2020|publisher=CoupdeMainMagazine.com|accessdate=15 October 2021}} The album featured the track "Frankie Muniz" which gained praise on Twitter from the actor with the same name.{{cite web|url=https://volatileweekly.com/2020/10/blackstarkids-release-album-whatever-man-via-dirty-hit/|title=BLACKSTARKIDS Release album Whatever, Man via Dirty Hit|publisher=Volatileweekly.com|accessdate=16 October 2021}} They released their album Puppies Forever in October 2021. Although it is their fourth release, the group considers it their proper debut album.{{cite web|url= https://diymag.com/2021/10/13/blackstarkids-puppies-forever-october-2021-interview|title=Interview:Blackstarkids "We've established ourselves as being whatever the fuck we want to be"|date=13 October 2021 |publisher=DIYMag|accessdate=16 October 2021}} The album was preceded by three singles, "Juno", "Fight Club," and "All Cops Are Bastards", which demonstrated anger at systemic racism and police brutality.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, live performances were limited to a handful of shows, including appearing at Chicago's Riot Fest alongside Devo, Ice-T and The Flaming Lips in September 2021, touring with label mates Glass Animals and beabadoobee in fall 2021.
= Influences =
The group's influences are wide-ranging and include indie rock groups such as Weezer, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins; hip hop acts such as A Tribe Called Quest, Tyler the Creator, Odd Future; and other acts such as Prince, Mac DeMarco and Toro Y Moi.{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2020/10/22/get-to-know-blackstarkids|title=Get to Know…Blackstarkids|date=22 October 2020 |publisher=DIYMag.com|accessdate=15 October 2021}} Blackstarkids also incorporate influences from 2000s pop culture such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and iCarly amongst others.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimryan1/2021/09/21/ice-t-and-body-count-devo-flaming-lips-kflay-and-blackstarkids-close-out-riot-fest/?sh=474643557a32|title=Ice T and Body Count, Devo, Flaming Lips, K.Flay and Blackstarkids close out Riot Fest|work=Forbes|accessdate=16 October 2021}}
Discography
Studio Albums
- Puppies Forever (Dirty Hit, 2021)
- Saturn Dayz (Dirty Hit, 2024)
Mixtapes
- Let's Play Sports (Bedroom Records, 2019)
- SURF (Bedroom Records, 2020)
- Whatever, Man (Dirty Hit, 2020)
- CYBERKISS* (Dirty Hit, 2022)
Tours
= As an Opening Band =
- The 1975 - At Their Very Best (2022)