James Laurence, one half of trailblazing cloud rap producers Friendzone, has died
Ryan Hemsworth and How to Dress Well pay tribute to the US beatmaker.
James Laurence, one half of California hip-hop duo Friendzone, has died.
Laurence was the architect of the hazy sound that came to be known as cloud rap, notably producing for Main Attrakionz on 2015’s 808s & Dark Grapes III.
In 2012, Friendzone released a compilation of their own instrumentals, Collection I, and went on to produce beats for A$AP Rocky, including ‘Fashion Killa’ off the rapper’s debut 2013 album Long. Live. ASAP.
Friendzone recorded one studio album of their own in 2013, DX, which Laurence once described as the duo’s “heart and soul” and which was one of our favorite albums that year. The pair dropped ten mixtapes during their career, including 2010’s Get Back and 2012’s Rose Quartz Mix.
Ryan Hemsworth, How To Dress Well and Clams Casino were among the artists paying tribute to Laurence on social media.
https://twitter.com/ryanhemsworth/status/825896623490342912
RIP james laurence
beautiful boy
never forget u man
listen to @_FRIENDZONE tonite in his honor & to soothe yourself https://t.co/WiwnbduU7U— definitely sad (@HowToDressWell) January 30, 2017
RIP to James from Friendzone
— Clams Casino (@clammyclams) January 30, 2017
Aside from Timbo, 40 and the Neptunes, @_FRIENDZONE set off a whole new world of production capabilities I never knew existed.
— Stricty (@strictface) January 30, 2017
I never got to meet james but @_FRIENDZONE had such an impact on the music I was making then & still am now. knowing from his friends what a
— Think i am unhacked (@rickyeatacid) January 30, 2017
R.I.P. James Friendzone
Total classic. pic.twitter.com/Asgc8WrPqW
— Local Action (@localactionrec) January 30, 2017
