Thundercat and Flying Lotus on Cosmogramma, It Is What It Is | Musicians on Musicians

Flying Lotus and Thundercat know that what they have is precious. The creative partnership between the visionary producer and the eccentric singer-slash-bass-virtuoso - born, respectively, Steven Ellison and Stephen Bruner - spans more than a decade and a stack of era-defining albums, including Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly (on which both worked), Flying Lotus’ heady 2010 beat-collage masterpiece Cosmogramma, and Thundercat’s Grammy-winning, Lotus-produced 2020 prog-funk opus It Is What It Is (his fourth solo album on Ellison’s Brainfeeder label). Through all that activity, various outside projects, and massive jumps in profile for both along the way, they say little has changed.
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[@captainmurphyog7314]

Flying lotus has to be my biggest inspiration. His music molded my mind at a young age and i wouldnt have had it any other way. Hes such a chill n humble dude. Would love to meet him sometime. So many ppl have no idea what they are missing out on. Studio or live these dudes are gifted.

[@ImpulseGenerator]

Cosmogramma captured something really special for me at the time. I was in college studying music and technology, and Flylo's "Los Angeles" had already been making the rounds. It was so digital, but also sounded so warm, textured and alive. Lotus' Essential mix of 2008 captured the magic of the scene in LA. A lot of my classmates were influenced by the LA beat sound. Almost every producer was trying their hand at dodgy beats and some jazz samples. Then 'Cosmogramma' came out, and it simultaneously *defined* the sound, as did something completely unique with it and took it to the stratosphere. No template, no blueprint. A beautiful marriage of jazz, hip hop and electronic music, how well they can work together and how groundbreaking it can sound. Then there were these incredible bass lines. It was like I was being catered to as a bass player myself. I see Cosmogramma as a "Bass Album".. Just like Yes' Fragile or Stanley Clarke's Journey to Love. Yeah... groundbreaking classic like Aphex Twin's Richard D. James album, Alice Coltrane's Journey in Satchidananda. and Dilla's Donuts. .. At the same time!

[@lennardvaarten7791]

Music and technology @ HKU?

[@ImpulseGenerator]

@@lennardvaarten7791 Yes.. Jij ook?

[@lennardvaarten7791]

@@ImpulseGenerator toevallig eergisteren mijn toelatingsgesprek gehad... Fingers crossed!

[@ImpulseGenerator]

@@lennardvaarten7791 Oh! Succes. Geweldige opleiding 👌

[@lennardvaarten7791]

@@ImpulseGenerator thanks, ben toegelaten!

[@ramenheadx3]

I love them both so much. Thank you two for existing and sharing your gifts to the world.

[@darius1094]

The synergy between Thundercat saying he been boxing every day and then saying I learn by actually being on stage then FlyLo likening him playing bass like being in fight is amazing

[@BeyondAbsolute3]

This gon make me cry man wow. Literal greatest bromance in history, and what they mean to me musically is immeasurable

[@house.3598]

Saw these two at Pitchfork music festival about a month ago. Changed my perspective of what live music can be.

[@jaytb5815]

Thundercat’s music carried me through the last two years. I think I’m gonna start listening to FL more as well.

[@drgroove]

Yes

[@t.jbreaks5771]

Listen to you’re dead first then listen to cosomagramma and then listen to flammagra

[@jordanleopold93]

You're in for a treat. I always say start with the first album, his evolution as an artist is pretty awesome.

[@captainmurphyog7314]

I agree with jordan, start from the beginning. His evolution is crazy! Been a fan since 2005

[@BoCaine]

If you've been listening to Thundercat, you've already been listening to FlyLo ;)

[@duoshinX]

Meeting them two legends in person just to shake hands with seems next to impossible. Their music is the best.

[@lesapolyana]

Lotus is so chill in person, nice

[@boizalini9456]

Noticing that DOOM necklace.

[@nostalgia_junkie]

noticing that wayne pfp

[@kriskenard]

Thundercat and FlyLo have the sort of personal/professional relationship I want to have with all of my weirdo black friends. Cannot wait till we all can get paid to be passionate together

[@partiboicartic7145]

Man I can't wait to see him again I cop the photo opp with my dude when he came to Michigan. @ The Royal Oak Theater was the dopest show ever and if he ever was to come back please bring THUNDERCAT!🙏🏼

[@oolafoolafensen4962]

two visionaries and friends talkin some real shit! you love to love to see it

[@domgreen1859]

making authentic art with your friends is how you win

[@basicallyzombies376]

I can already picture what Stephen's going to look like when he's 80. Just me?

[@saxonsmith1875]

which Stephen?

[@bl00d5h0ck]

@@saxonsmith1875 Oh, Fly Lo is "Steven", and Thundercat is "Stephen"

[@Enlightened0ne]

That Asuka portrait is dope af

[@Abercrombieindya]

Can’t believe its been 12 years. This album is such a classic.

[@Santana_Art]

fly lo is handsome af

[@LaurenOliviArt]

They both are

[@prodspill]

fucking love these two so much, been a fan for years but i need to see them live still smfh

[@captainmurphyog7314]

Yes you do! Asap!

[@qthemusiccc]

forreal

[@isaacgarza5589]

Special appearance by Turbo Tron.

[@moody3135]

Ay yo is that the one and only Turbo Tron next to Thundercat?

[@artdog0100]

I get Bootsy and George Clinton vibes from them sometimes. They're chosen by the funk too I guess? ✌😎

[@TennyWhyte]

ok you see it. the glow is crazy.

[@captainmurphyog7314]

Oh for sure! They've worked with both on a couple tracks

[@j.roosevelt839]

love it, CC on please !

[@LeekLone]

legends.

[@skylar8685]

too busy staring at the most adorable kitten besides thundercat

[@smoothee5804]

That's the real thunder cat. The "human" is just a puppet

[@pmskyV]

Fly LO Keeps me Fli- facts 4ever .. High 5 from Michigan

[@eliandabilities]

High 5 from Cali Cali

[@lailabradshaw1986]

i loveeee thundercat

[@AndoSan69]

TWO BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEINGS

[@St3phenking13]

Two great artists who deserve all the recognition. The Industry constantly tries to parade these sad mumble rap dudes or manufactured pop singers but greatness will always overshadow the riff raff. Stop complaining about the music and support what you actually like and appreciate it.

[@boimesa8190]

you're literally complaining while telling other people to stop complaining...

[@BrentLane1]

Love these guys. What track is playing at the beginning??

[@Haku_records]

Legends

[@user-rg6ct2np1u]

Geniuses

[@Kawiatube]

i like that is getting mauled during the entire interview

[@OJ-sr6bg]

Masters

[@braxtonanderson3870]

I love these two!!!! Thanks for the music in Yasuke!

[@koreanfriedchildren]

His name is Steven

[@schwany6703]

Their worst album tbh

[@tajanag]

@@schwany6703 Yasuke? u out of your freaking mind?

[@schwany6703]

@@tajanag dude the album is kinda trash compared to his previous projects. I've tried to relisten and understand it 3 times, and each has fallen flat. It's mid

[@bl00d5h0ck]

@@schwany6703 Naw, you're WILDIN'. It's literally Samurai Champloo and Avatar type vibes, mixed together. You' trippin'

[@DominationOC]

Since thundercat lost so much weight he is beginning to look like partynextdoor lmao

[@bergenbergenbergenbergen3512]

Anybody know the beat in the beginning? That shit was fresh, damn

[@kincamell]

Stellar Ps What is that amazing intro song ?

[@Dra3000]

Awwww thundercat is sooo hot even heavy set thundercat 🤤🤤🤤😘😘😘

[@neverloggingout]

just noticed the giant asuka flag in the bag of thundercats place

[@iroveashe]

i wanna see the poster

[@user-qk6qy6eo9m]

it’s asuka

[@PavethaWay]

*2 intergalactic titans*

[@NamaHenderson]

Is that a Neon Genesis (Asuka) image/poster behind Thundercat?

[@naanbread4523]

yeah

[@willnzsurf]

🌴😎💯

[@prodbydrumdrop]

these guys gotta work with tyler man LA Unite!

[@jackhagemeister6516]

Ik erykah Badu isn’t comepletely LA but throw her in too and it would be amazing

[@rundajulesproductions7735]

Don't throw Erika. She's 50 now. You have to be more gentle. She's not LA at all, she's completely Dallas!

[@cjcarter13cjcarter13]

What instrumental is that

[@laxerscooter1448]

Mans Got a whole Asuka wall cover in the back, yea thundacat more than like anime 😂

[@MsXenyy1]

The kitten 🥰🥰

[@user-yp2ex6nz5d]

FlyLo lit.

[@walesu.k.2108]

Flying Lotus just talked some facts like in my life - You have to Finnish Project before you move onto the Next

[@vdd8370]

Cc pls

[@myautobiographyafanfic1413]

Kitten!

[@kennymac8391]

Where's Shafiq Hussein at

[@gotmoresoul]

I hope to experience a full straight upThundercat x FlyLo supergroup album soon

[@cito2820]

Lmao that’s all their music already

[@gotmoresoul]

@@cito2820 I mean something more of a 50/50 collaboration for a full length album, rather than just one assisting the other on one of the other's song projects.

[@paulinhjko]

LOTUS AND CAT IS MOSHE AND AARON

[@the2ndcoming135]

Oh, that’s probably why🙎🏼‍♂️

[@J.5.M.]

Bruh they talked about Cosmogramma for like 2 seconds

[@johnkiunke4508]

Bruh Thundercat looks like Toshiro Mifune

[@jenny4711714]

Captions please

[@koreanfriedchildren]

Wow racist

[@goldzeriteminer]

@@koreanfriedchildrenur racist kpoop music

[@11vvERN]

@@koreanfriedchildren bruh how?

[@jailun6758]

@@koreanfriedchildren They high af no one can understand

[@rundajulesproductions7735]

Ru Tang forever...

[@jackxavier3915]

1000

[@animeavatar2438]

they seem like strangers

[@haneefshaheed9985]

Black men, WE are incredible, and we come from even more incredible black women ✨💪🏾🖤💪🏾✨.

[@maxisantos312]

i'm concerned about stephen's health... he looks so skinny here

[@bl00d5h0ck]

Yeeeeeeo, I noticed that too! But I think, if anything, he's actually more healthy now than before. Because as he said in this vid, he's been doing a lot of boxing/fighting in general. So he's probs on more of a lean/healthy diet, causing him to lose weight💪🏿

[@gotmoresoul]

He's skinny because he was probably concerned about his health. He said at the start of the chat that he has been boxing 5 days a week.

[@notactuallysean]

he's healthy. he's losing weight because he quit drinking.

[@nickhyder9141]

FLYLO doesn't suit long hair.

[@daqueenjo2549]

I can’t wait to meet these two when I become famous for beats 🥲 .. they gonna love me

[@ItsJustLuke48]

whats ur soundcloud

[@nostalgia_junkie]

that's big talk, back it up!

[@janfeyen592]

Link?

[@yaggayaggaya9918]

PERIOD! Me too, sis 💃🏿

[@mantasgvidas]

You can do this!!!!!!! I believe in you!!!!!

[@daqueenjo2549]

I can’t wait to meet these two when I become famous for beats 🥲 .. they gonna love me