September 12th, 2013 
James Shotwell 
I feel like the world has been waiting for Flatbush Zombies to release their Better Off Dead mixtape this entire year, if not longer. They’re never far from our headlines, but for one reason or another this project has taken a long time to complete. It’s finally ready for global consumption and, without over-selling it, I think it’s safe to say the wait was worth it.
Most people probably know the name Flatbush Zombies from their popular contribution to the A$AP Mob track “Bath Salt,” but they’ve actually been in the game since 2010. Their style is reminiscent of what their Trap Lord friends have been delivering, but with an added grittiness that sheds light on New York’s underbelly. They also enjoy drugs to an extent that would make Danny Brown jealous, which is probably one of the reasons the Detroit native makes an appearance on Better Off Dead, but they never go so far off the rails into their love of getting high that the music suffers.
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure we would post Better Off Dead. The material the Flatbush crew has put out over the last year has been relatively hit or miss, so my expectations going into this release were not all that high. However, having now listened to the record a handful of times it’s clearer than ever that Flatbush are tapping into something special with this album, and I would not be the least bit surprised to see them blow up in the months ahead as a result of its release. It may not change the game entirely, but it certainly ushers in new competitors with style and energy to spare. You can stream and download the album below.
- 2015’s Most Underrated Films - December 29, 2015
- Passing The Torch: The End Of An Era For UTG - December 1, 2015
- UTG PREMIERE: Before The Streetlights – “Private Browser” - November 26, 2015
Posted in 
Tags: 