Released: 2012

Genres: Industrial Hip-Hop, Hardcore Hip-Hop, Experimental Hip-Hop, Glitch Hop

The Musiquarium’s The Money Store Review Score: 10 out of 10

Prior to Death Grips, the biggest shifts in the modern hip-hop paradigm were mostly from Kanye West, who broke the gangsta image of rap, popularized chipmunk soul and created what is now known as emo rap, but Death Grips were the ones to influence the culture this time, with their unique, abrasive and industrial sound, and lyrics that allude to 2010s internet culture.

Get Got starts the album off with its walls of synthesizers and bouncy drums. The Fever (Aye Aye) is a balls-to-the-wall banger with a great chorus. Lost Boys has a jarring beat that exudes so much character. Hustle Bones cleverly uses chopped-up female vocals. Double Helix subtly samples the bells from John Lennon’s 1970 track, Mother.

I’ve Seen Footage is built around a synth guitar riff, with MC Ride’s vocals acting as both the melody and a percussive instrument. System Blower is the exact type of song you don’t mind blowing-up your system with. The Cage has you feeling like you’re trapped in a sonic cage. Hacker is perhaps Death Grips’ most definitive song, with its cryptic lyrics about hacking, a memorable refrain of “when you come out, your shit is gone” and an iconic chorus of “I’m in your area, I know the first three numbers” — it’s intellectual but also makes you want to dance.

Unlike many rappers who focus too much on image and try to act tougher than they probably are, Death Grips’ MC Ride looks like a homeless man and genuinely sounds deranged. Drummer Zach Hill pummels his drum kit as if he was beating somebody up while high on meth, creating drum beats so complex, that they would probably even impress Frank Zappa. Then there’s Andy Morin’s experimental production, which is the glue that holds all of the chaos together.

There was nothing quite like The Money Store before and there will probably never be anything quite like it after.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Death Grips on Discogs.

Back to the 2012 Album Guide or the Death Grips Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard