An impulsive, last second decision took the New Jersey natives to new heights.
Every year since 2012, Afropunk has hosted a battle of the bands competition whose winner would be given a slot for that year’s acclaimed Brooklyn (or Atlanta, or London, or Joburg, or Paris) festival. Only a limited amount of groups are able to participate, and even fewer go on to compete in the semi-final and final rounds. This year, on the last day of song submissions, Vibe World Order submitted the music video for their song “Ochre” to the selection committee. They didn’t know it at the time, but this decision would set the stage for the creation of their new EP, What If We Kissed At The Vibe World Order Show, one of the most unique projects to come out of the underground rap world this year.
The decision to send the Battle of the Bands organizers an almost year-old music video for an N.E.R.D-inspired posse cut they filmed at VWO member Jacob The Train’s parents’ house was a decision rooted in pure chance and spontaneity. “We didn’t know [about Afropunk Battle of the Bands] AT ALL,” says Reg Mason, one of the artist/producers who make up VWO’s 7-person roster. The only reason Mason heard about the competition was because he up his gmail and seeing an “AFROPUNK WANTS TO HEAR YOU!” subject line in his inbox. That subject line was enough for Mason and the group to pull the trigger on submitting, setting forth a series of events that would end up with them on the famed Knitting Factory stage in Brooklyn just one month later. Immediately after learning they’d be performing at one of Brooklyn’s most legendary performance spaces, VWO was inspired to create a new batch of songs; new songs specifically tailored to the live audience they needed to captivate to secure a spot on the Afropunk lineup. These songs would eventually become What If We Kissed At The Vibe World Order Show.
The EP’s opener, “Ginika’s Durag” immediately grabs listeners’ attention with a raw, funky bass line that sounds practically made for the festival stage. The steady, slightly distorted groove produced by Jacob The Train gives the aforementioned (and multi-talented) artist the ability to attack the track in a way that’s impossible to ignore.
Fuck a pit, boy in this bitch we gon start a riot // dirt and blood what I spit, raw like my synthesizer
The juxtaposition of Jacob’s doubled, composed vocals and the sinister thump of artificial bass give the track a menacing energy that riled up the Afropunk crowd during the group’s set on August 24th. JTT continues to flow with confidence after the intro, spitting self-assured bars over a simple kick/snare pattern coupled with frenetic, industrial hi-hats. Shortly after Jacob finishes his post-introductory verse, the track receives a sonic boost from vocalist Reg Mason. Mason’s megaphone vocal processing and energetic delivery brings the track to a fever pitch that practically demands listeners to mosh.
Everybody throw your V’s up, and tell the nearest bitch n*gga back up, ain’t shit n*gga, ah yeah // you ain’t got no future, Michael J. Fox // bitch n*gga back up
Groovy Ju and Dante follow up with lively verses of their own, providing listeners with captivating flows and energy changes that give listeners a sampling of vocals lovers of all-genres can enjoy. The song concludes with a reprise of Reg’s enthralling hook, only this time it’s chopped and arranged in a way that subverts audience expectations and makes for a thrilling end to a spirited EP opener.
At a glance, it appears as if the EP’s second track, “Lez Is Runnin’” is a complete departure from the electrifying excitement and festival-readiness of track one. While producer Comfortabledude’s watery, seventh chord melodies and bottle hit percussive patterns are certainly more lowkey than What If We Kissed At The Vibe World Order Show’s opener, it doesn’t make the song any less exciting or ideal for Afropunk attendees. Crowds can’t be raucous all the time. The best festival sets feature artists that are able to combine mosh pit favorites with cool-down crooning, giving the crowd opportunities to both rage and relax. The floaty, dream-like backdrop Comfortabledude created allowed vocalist Jacob The Train to wax poetic and keep the audience engaged while recovering from their recent thrash session.
Left, right, I’m moving too fast // Left, right, left, right I’m moving too fast
This hook doesn’t just fascinate listeners with its simplicity and lilting flow, Jacob The Train’s pitch-shifted vocals add an additional layer to the track’s surreal sound which lulled audience members into a trance they didn’t want to leave. The song lost a bit of dreaminess after the initial hook, but the transition to conventional-sounding vocals served a purpose, bringing fans back to reality and allowing them to be present enough to enjoy JTT’s sing-songy lyrics. VWO’s Gini makes his first appearance on the project shortly after, contributing a memorable, thematically on-point second verse that fits perfectly within the comfortable sway of Comfortabledude’s sound collage.
People tell me I should slow it down, all I wanted was a hug and smile // you doing all this running round, but hurry up so I can give you all the run around, yeah
The rapper’s lower-register vocals are a welcome sonic shift from the higher-pitched melodies utilized in the intro and first verse, giving this portion of the song a calming, hypnotic effect without lessening the track’s soothing, yet uplifting energy. The conclusion to this wavy joyride gives Dante the opportunity to flex his lyrical and melodic muscles. He brings the song back to its initial dream-state, providing a closing verse that gives fans a satisfying thematic ending that they won’t forget.
While pleasant interludes provide festival attendees with a relaxing change of pace, live shows thrive when energy and excitement are at their absolute peak. That’s why the third and final track on VWO’s EP, finds the group going back to the vibrant, bouncy sounds that served them so well on the album’s initial offering. Produced by Reg Mason, “004” opens with a punchy synth bass and conga drums that back up Groovy Ju’s braggadocious posturing.
He ain’t gang he a n*gga with a mission // I ain’t a man, I’m a n*gga with permission // she a fan, she just wanna take a picture // I ain’t mad I just wanna switch positions
Following up Groovy’s tone-setting first verse, Reg Mason proves his vocal command and versatility, treating listeners to an ear worm of a hook that is sure to stick with every audience member long after their historic Afropunk set.
Get loose, get rage, get boost n*gga, get paid
Gini and Dante continue their streak of catchy, consistent bars shortly after, giving fans the ideal ending to an EP that by now they’ve almost certainly fallen in love with.
Inspiration can come in many ways. To some, it’s sparked by people or places. Others take it from art. It’s likely Vibe World Order took inspiration from all three, but the major takeaway from What If We Kissed At The Vibe World Order Show, is that the most powerful source of inspiration comes from within yourself. The prospect of playing Afropunk pushed the group to create their most cohesive work to date, and it’s all because they were inspired by their own potential. If this group continues to believe in their collective creative ability post-festival, there’s no telling what sounds they’ll bring to the underground next. Stream What If We Kissed At The Vibe World Order Show below.