EarthGang - Perfect Fantasy (Album)
GRAMMY-nominated award-winning eclectic hip-hop duo EarthGang return to the sound sphere with their new full-length album titled Perfect Fantasy featuring iconic UK multi-hyphenate Damon Albarn on lead track “Godly”.
Following his triumphant return last year performing with Blur for their first world tour in nearly a decade, UK superstar and Gorillaz’ frontman Damon Albarn thrillingly emerges into the US rap landscape with Atlanta duo EarthGang, featuring vocals for and co-producing their track “Godly” alongside EarthGang’s Johnny Venus, with additional production from Gorillaz producer Remi Kabaka Jnr.
With an unmistakeable Gorillaz influence felt across the track, it's a typically unexpected and triumphant collaboration that underlines Damon’s continually outward-looking perspective in authentic, international collaboration in all its forms.
Atlanta-born, indie rap duo EarthGang, comprised of Olu AKA Johnny Venus and WowGr8 AKA DocturDot, continue to push the boundaries of hip-hop, following up recently released single “Love You More” featuring T-Pain, with their new full-length project. Featuring a select list of some of the world’s biggest stars including Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg and Eric Bellinger among others, the album is a rejuvenating masterclass in contemporary rap. Moving seamlessly around a multitude of genres from classic US hip-hop and contemporary R&B to the soulful sounds of “Red Flag” and shimmering funk lines on “Blacklight”, Perfect Fantasy demonstrates EarthGang’s enduring ability in crafting some of the most forward thinking and enigmatic music emanating from the US right now.
Speaking on the album, EarthGang state: "Perfect Fantasy is a musical expression of how we approach and experience life through a video game lens. We have songs with some of our dream artists - Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, Pharrell. We're bringing these artists into our world."
EarthGang have been at the pioneering edge of hip hop in album, EP and mixtape form well before signing to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records in 2017. The name EarthGang is rooted in a desire to use music as a global vehicle to explore relatable themes of society and self, the conflict between tradition and modernity, religion and enlightenment—music and manhood. Their art experiments with classic & contemporary R&B, jazz, gospel, and funk sounds while their lyricism is influenced by deep societal themes ranging in topic from social justice, artificial intelligence, environmental conservation, posthumous art, mental health, and religion & spirituality.
Tracks in their hundreds of millions of global streams have defined EarthGang as one of the most gifted and important American rap duos in the modern era. Collaborating with legendary artists such as J. Cole, Snoop Dogg, Young Thug, Future, Gorillaz, Wiz Khalifa and CeeLo Green, their ever-evolving story has been covered by the likes of PITCHFORK, ROLLING STONE, NME, INTERVIEW MAGAZINE, HIGHSNOBIETY, VICE and HYPEBEAST, painting a picture of true mavericks successfully pushing rap music at the cutting edge of the genre.
Widely recognised for their commitment to community activism, EarthGang continue to push their nonprofit organization, the EarthGang Foundation — committed to raising awareness towards combating environmental injustices through climate and environmental conservation, with local and global programs that empower individuals to create positive change in the world. In April 2023, EarthGang were invited to the residence of US Vice President Kamala Harris in celebration of Earth Day. Earlier this year, The City of Atlanta honoured EarthGang with their own day (April 27th) in recognition of the duo's longstanding efforts to uplift and give back to the local community. Most recently, they participated in events and activations throughout New York Climate Week in September 2024 and announced their partnership with The UN Oceanic Global.
With global recognition and influence now set, EarthGang’s notably continued focus on artistic communities and uplifting creativity at its most emergent form shapes a unique worldview and musical mindset. Perfect Fantasy’s sense invention and fun, its natural instinct to collaborate and create continue to underline why the duo earn their place in the upper echelons of US and global cultural influence.