Music

FREE MIXTAPE OF THE WEEK: Cocaine 80s, 'The Flower Of Life'

by Chayne Japal

This is frustrating. But just a little bit.

With all of the Justin Timberlake madness going on this weekend, the dude that wrote “Suit & Tie” sort of sneak-released an EP of his own. Cocaine 80s is an all-(unsung)star project involving singer/songwriter James Fauntleroy II, legendary hip-hop producer No I.D., sound engineer Rob Kinelski and instrumentalists Kevin Randolph and Steve Wyrman. They grab a few of their friends, like Common, to help them put together dark, experimental pop songs and sporadically release them however, and whenever, they see fit. A look at this ragtag bunch’s individual discographies sets the bar very high for their output as a collective and somehow the EPs have so far turned out even better than one would expect. The distance Cocaine 80s cover on their new EP, The Flower Of Life, hint at their experience and the confidence that comes with it. James Fauntleroy might pay the bills by wielding his pen but he’s an emotive vocalist with the personality to carry these records. The stirring “The Distant River” thrives on Fauntleroy’s vocals with a beautifully arranged acapella build that pays off perfectly when the rest of the guys kick in. It is also important to note that even though No I.D. is mostly known for his work with rappers, he was a key cog in Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreaks ensemble. The songs here teem with atmosphere much like the aforementioned seminal classic, and in its brief runtime, The Flower Of Life completely engulfs the listener in its bliss.

So, here’s the frustrating thing. This is Cocaine 80s’ fourth EP and, for some reason, we haven’t been losing our shit. It’s refreshing, undeniable music helmed by a handful of our time’s most talented and influential, albeit under-appriceated, artists. On top of all that, they’re giving it away. Let’s go nuts for it! Grab the new EP along with the first three here.