Death By Icon

Alternative hip hop group Death By Icon is set to release their debut album Hassah next month. In anticipation for the project they release their latest single “Gusto.”

Expect to hear an eclectic sound in the single which includes a bit of spoken word, some rock, and of course hip hop.

Hassah will be released on August 25th.

Listen to the single below. - Hot 97

Directed and edited by Death By Icon.

Snoozing on the duo known as Death By Icon? Well, they’re here to wake you up with their video for their new single, “Wake Up.” Watch the video above, then grab the single on iTunes. Stay woke. - Fake Shore Drive

Chicago rap weirdos Death By Icon share their self-directed video for ‘Wake Up’, using a VHS collage of ’80s artifacts — from cereal commercials to Studio 54 coke sessions — to show how TV can rot kids’ brains. - FACT Magazine

Chicago's Death By Icon— MC Vic, MC and producer Ant, and producer Dook—is on the come up. With an alternative edge on hip-hop and charismatic rhymes, Death By Icon made waves with their debut project Trybecca. Now, they're gearing up to release their project Hassah this summer and the first single, "Wake Up," gets an incredible self-edited and directed video.

"The video is about kids getting an idea of what cool is supposed to be according to TV," Death By Icon told Complex over email. "Because Saturday morning cartoons don’t exist anymore, kids wake up early, eat cereal and instead watch "cool" people do "cool" activities (clubbing, drugs, etc.). As the video progresses, the cool lifestyle starts to get wack as the kids watch, but fail to recognize that the quality of people start to look tackier (too much drugs, uglier, older, wrinkly, etc.) The final portion of the video reveal the kids turning off their TVs and emulating this lifestyle in their own way (drinking, prostitution, etc.). ​"

You can grab the single on iTunes now or download it for free on SoundCloud now. - Complex

There were a decent number of new discoveries this week, and here they are: Sam Pinkerton (friends with Liza Anne and a powerhouse of beauty), Death By Icon, Rosie Lowe, Wunder Wunder, Porter Ray, Lieutenant, The Raised By Wolves, ROMANS, Microwave, Hermitude, k-os, Nude Beach, Sea Change, Grouper, Black Yaya (a new project by Herman Dune), Brandy Clark, AGO, Handsome Ghost, Zola Blood (WHOA!), Natalie McCool, Trenton and Ports of Spain. Now get out there and have yourself a week! - PASTE Magazine

Chicago duo Death By Icon has always appealed to my musical sensibilities. Their unique blend of hip hop and electronic music has brought something new to the table, and during a time when copycat rappers are a dime a dozen, a fresh interpretation of what hip hop should sound like is good for the culture. Featuring their friend Deer Emerson, "Namesake" serves as only the group's third release of the year. No word on when their follow up to last year's "Trybecca" will make its debut, but I don't think Death By Icon will be living up to their "Namesake" anytime soon. They clearly still have plenty of life in them. - GoILL

After premiering across the pond on BBC Radio 1Xtra yesterday, Windy duo Death By Icon bring their latest drop stateside for everyone’s listening pleasure. Before you hit the jump and get an earful of the Deer Emerson-assisted “Namesake,” find out how the track came together below.

"Simply put, Namesake is about the value of truths.

The original idea for the Namesake beat came from listening to Biggie’s “Party and Bullshit.” The sample used in that beat is an old jazz instrumental cover of “I’ll Be There” by Johnny Hammond. It’s Ants favorite Biggie song for a bunch of reasons, but mainly for the production and how that sample was used. The sample on “Party and Bullshit” was chopped in a confusing way, and isn’t as clear cut as it sounds. He also loved the subtle melody and grittiness in that beat…something he wanted to capture in the production of Namesake.

Vic came up with a rough melody, and him and Ant wrote the lyrics. Since Ant has sung on a lot of the tracks, he gave it go, but after listening a few times they knew that someone with higher pitched vocals would fit the track better. So, they reached out to Deer Emerson and asked if she would sing the chorus and the result came out perfect.

Ant messed around on a piano and eventually found the chords, he played them a bunch of ways till it felt right playing this 6/8 or 3/4 swing to it. He knew he wanted a gritty New York type beat in 4/4 time, so he tried fitting a 6/8 feel in a 4/4 time signature and just adjusted all the instruments to that 4/4 feel; that’s why it sounds off at times. It’s also the reason why there is a switch in the second part of the verse sections." - Fake Shore Drive

Chi-town duo Death By Icon garnered positive reviews from readers with their debut feature Conundrum (Remix) earlier this year, and today they’re back with Namesake. The loosie was inspired by Biggie’s Party & Bullshit, specifically the sample used, and what results is a twisting, choppy self-produced tune with the sultry vocals of Deer Emerson on the hook. - DJ Booth

Today we're premiering the new track from Hip Hop group Death By Icon (the Chicagoan group consisting of Victor, Anthony, and their producer Dook). The track is titled 'Namesake' and features musician Deer Emerson. Get into it below! - Afropunk

Mistajam delivers tonights Inbox Fresh featuring Death By Icon. - BBC Radio 1Xtra

Death By Icon are an alternative hip-hop collective that reign from Chicago. The lads have just dropped their latest track ‘Wake Up’ which has been gaining a lot of love in the blogosphere. The group consists of MC Vic, MC and producer Ant, and producer Dook.

Whilst their originality and uniqueness may at first be something to get used to, Death By Icon’s sound is one that will shake-up the industry. We chat to the lads about gaining world-wide attention, why they’d love to collaborate with the Neptunes and what we can expect from their upcoming project ‘Hassah’. Margaret Tra writes.

How did you guys get together?

Dook: Around 2008, a mutual friend connected Ant with me. He needed to record some stuff for a podcast, and I had a small recording studio set up. Then, I think at the end of 2011, both Ant and Vic started coming over to my place and they recorded the first ideas for Death By Icon (DBI). In early 2012, I left Chicago for Los Angeles and continued helping with DBI production/mixing. I think it was after we all hung out when Ant and Vic visited LA in March 2013 (to record songs that would lead to our first album, Trybecca) that we knew DBI could really be something.

What can we expect from your forthcoming ‘Hassah'?

Dook: I feel Ant and Vic have evolved quite a bit as writers and performers in the relatively short time between ‘Trybecca’ and ‘Hassah'.

Production-wise: Some of the ‘Hassa’h beat ideas I'd send the dudes were a little weird, but some aspect would inspire Ant to add further production on the beat, Vic to write some verse ideas sparking melody ideas for Ant. If ‘Trybecca’ was like turning on a light that emitted the DBI aesthetic, ‘Hassah' is that light burning brighter and in more colours.

Ant: Lyrically more extensive than ‘Trybecca.’ Production-wise, it's balanced.

You just released 'Wake Up' what's the response been like?

Ant: It’s been great. A lot of people have been receptive to it so it’s always cool to see that. What surprised us most was how responsive people around the world were to "Wake Up. " I find it novel that people actually like what me make here in the States; so for it to connect to someone in another country is crazy to me.



What other projects are you working on?

Ant: Dook's been making a bunch of beats lately so their might be a beat tape in the works before the end of the year. Besides working on ‘Hassah,’ we've started collaborating with different artists around us. We do all of our production so it'll be dope to switch things up and work outside of our circle. It's been something we've wanted to do since we started. Seeing other artist's processes and how they work is something that's always interested us.

If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be?

Vic: If we could collaborate with anyone, it would be the Neptunes or Pharrell; if not both, either member would be dope. I remember the first time I heard ODB's "Got Your Money" and I was just vibing out to the beat. I hadn't found out until much later that the Neptunes were behind that. It's crazy to see how much they've done, especially behind the scenes. Their super influential not just with their production, but lyrically as well with the stuff they do with N. E. R. D. "Bobby James" is still my shit!

What's the scene for hip-hop in Chicago for you guys?

Vic: The scene for us so far has been welcoming. I know there's still a lot of people unfamiliar with our sound, but for those who have listened seem appreciative of what we're doing. Overall, Chicago's become more eclectic and experimental skewing lines in hip-hop. It's definitely more open minded.



What stimulates your soul?

Vic: A good muse and positive vibes stimulates my soul.

Ant: Ideas.

Dook: Movies. Lots of sci-fi and documentaries. Or anything where people discuss their process or shed light on an aspect of their creativity. I'm one of the few people who actually watches a DVD's director commentaries and making-of special features. I also like to travel and eat. When I visit a new city, I don't care about all the tourist-y sightseeing. Take me to the good food.

Links:

http://www.deathbyicon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/deathbyicon

https://soundcloud.com/death-by-icon/wake-up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1fJWwP93w - Stimulate Your Soul

Death By Icon is a Chicago hip-hop group made up of Vic, Ant, and producer Dook, and “Wake Up” is the animated first single from their upcoming album Hassah. With clean, hefty production and a chorus that’ll stick with you after one listen, it’s a strong introduction to what’s in store.

From the group: “The concept stems from this idea that through knowing Kevin Bacon, you know everybody (i.e. ‘six degrees of seperation;’ being introduced to one person could mean you’re ‘six persons’ closer to where you need to be). Names and exaggerations get thrown around in our field of work often. The chorus calls bluff on those who do this.” - Pigeons & Planes

Influences are not everything, but they very much matter to Death By Icon.

In conversation, the band members — Vic Birriel, Anthony Amponin and producer Andrew Vilaythong — reference a number of different acts, everyone from Kanye West to LCD Soundsystem to Prince to Talking Heads.

But little of this translates to the band's musical aesthetic, which at times can sound poppy, melodic and abrasive.

Hip-hop is the easiest genre classification for Death By Icon's sound, but that feels disingenuous; the music can sound different from one song to the next, yet it still comes together in a singular, contemporary vision.


Death By Icon succeeds in translating the ideals of its members' greatest influences to their work ethic and ethos.

All three began in one genre, but they were able to translate their myriad influences and interests into cross-genre work that broke boundaries.

"We have to question things like, 'Why do we look up to these people?'" Birriel said. "They were pushing the envelope as well. How could we contribute?"

One of the biggest influences for the group is Kanye West, on albums like "808s & Heartbreak," a work raw in its emotion and stark in its execution.

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"When I first listened to Kanye, I remember thinking, 'I like this beat, but the way he raps sounds so weird.' It was slow," Amponin offered. "But then that just became the norm."

West is a creator who jerks our understanding of good music and turns most of us into devotees. After "808s and Heartbreak" was released, West's vulnerability became a cultural touchstone for a new generation of artists such as Drake, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, young male rappers who are not afraid to be vulnerable in their work.

The men of Death By Icon want to create the same sort of distinction in their music.

"You might question it and think, 'Oh, I don't know if this is gonna be right,' but I feel like that's when you know you're on to something," Birriel said.


Those same influences brought the group together.

After meeting in a friend's studio, Birriel and Amponin quickly bonded over their shared love of numerous types of music. "There was music, and we would touch upon other things, but primarily it was our understanding and appreciation of music. It grew from that," Birriel said.

Later, when creating their own music, the two looked to the methods of their heroes.

"We're artists. We look up to these people," Birriel said. "How do we do that?"

The duo began by freestyling over other people's instrumentals. Eventually, just using other people's work was no longer satisfying. "That's when I got into making our own sound," Amponin said. "Kind of taking the sounds we were influenced by, taking them and putting the beats into our own sound."

Birriel agreed. "It was more trying to form our own (sound) and not have to fit a standard, but maybe carve our own," he added.

Listening to Death By Icon tracks like "Noyawentsumwherepsychodelicate," an instrumental, half-hip-hop, half-psych pop gem, or "Get Right," a footwork-influenced tune made for dance floors, is a treat. The group's latest track, "Wake Up," part of its "Hassah" project, also exemplifies this in its enigmatic weirdness.

This is music for people who grew up devouring everything and loving it all equally. It is a joy to listen to and reflect on the layers and enthusiasm in each track.

And even if you didn't grow up loving everything, there is something to love in Death By Icon.

This is highly intelligent but still accessible music. It might not make the increasingly simplistic radio of 2015, but little of West's recent music (let alone LCD Soundsystem's disco punk or Talking Heads' more experimental, world music-leaning albums) has either.

Death By Icon then feels apropos. This is a group greatly influenced by musical revolutionaries, yet weary of their vast influence.

"We're influenced by them more than our parents," Amponin said. "You just kind of lose sense of yourself. We kind of lose sense by these things, but we're still heavily influenced by them."

It is also a fiercely independent group that wanted to build something bigger than an incomplete sum of its past.

"What we were trying not to do was be put in a box, so we didn't want to come up with a hip-hop name," Birriel said. Our name "kind of allowed us to go in different directions. That was a big thing, not having to fit a stereotype." - Chicago Tribune

Trybecca, the full-length by Chicago trio Death By Icon, dropped a long time ago, but I somehow missed it. After all, my philosophy is, “Too much music, never enough music,” so it's obvious that some gems will fall between the seats. That being said, I'm glad I found out about Death By Icon's Trybecca in the winter, as it was released last February and is certainly an album meant for the cold. It screams through the snow and battles with the wind, never losing energy or creativity. The production is crisp and alive and most of the time sounds like punching a speaker with brass knuckles.

Made up of Victor Birriel (vocals), Anthony Amponin (producer/vocalist), and Andrew Vilaython (producer), the three members work in the studio together but perform as a duo, with their next show on January 30 at The Empty Bottle.

At moments tribal and almost folky, the whole piece is cinematic and offensively slept on. Tracks like “Kismet” and “Toothspace” have me breaking down doors and eating the first thing in sight. This album is packed with WWF theme songs. Audible versions of metal chairs to your back, fight clubs in your weird uncle's basement.

Trybecca is heavy rap, but still radio-ready and demanding of music videos. The production takes inspiration from acts like TNGHT and El-P and anything found inside a Boiler Room while the lyricism is playful and wild yet abstract and unique, like Pac Div and Shabazz Palaces if they spent the coldest winter of all time in Chicago. Slam poetry while chewing on nails. One might call these guys the RatKing of Chicago.

On top of the rap verses, the project is full of falsetto, screaming vocals that, at times, sound like Passion Pit or Miike Snow. Vocals that resemble a funhouse mirror, twisting and turning its way through a corrupt carnival. “Let Loose” fits perfectly within a jungle while “Mary Young” opens like a Yeasayer track and closes like a Death Grips. Singing and passionate crooning with coastal vibes can quickly turn into slam poetry while chewing on nails.

There are breakdowns on the album that stray miles away from hip-hop (“WHT_club”) and yet manage to somehow make way back into the rap world right after (“Frzn Strwbrrs”) with seamless cohesion. It's a very ambitious album with numerous directions and styles, even ending with a pleasant, lengthy instrumental called “Nowawentsumwherepsychodelicate.” With all that being said, all of the eclectic styles and different directions, it all seems to make sense within the Trybecca world of Death By Icon. When I mentioned to them that I was enjoying the album, they said that more is right around the corner. Since this dropped a year ago, they have continued making music, working on a follow-up full-length called Hassah, hopefully dropping this summer. To keep their fans awake, a remix for "Conundrum" was released earlier this month. - Mishka

The three guys in this shape-shifting group take genres and throw them together like they're splattering paint on a canvas. The resulting colors are interesting more often than not, and rapper-singer Victor Birriel and rapper-singer Anthony Amponin have the puckish verve to try odd gestures—like a sudden swing at something resembling patois "Kismet"—and make them work atop ever-evolving party-rap tracks. - Chicago Reader

Music comfort food is, of course, dope, but there’s something to be said for art that defies expectations and forces you to connect the dots. Listeners who like to exercise their brains while they vibe out are sure to appreciate the aural Conundrum Chi-Town newcomers Death By Icon serve up on their debut feature, premiering here in its officially remixed form. Like its prototype, this revamp features vocalists Victor Birriel and Anthony Amponin spitting over in-house production, but this time around the former’s cavernous, eerie instrumental backdrop has been switched out for a more menacing, rougher-edged electronic groove. The remix isn’t attached to anything larger, but fans can find the original and much more on the crew’s 2014 indie full-length, Trybecca. - Dj Booth

Today we're premiering Chicago-based band Death By Icon's 'WOOF cub (WHT_club Remix by ProfessorFox)'.
ProfessorFox says: "I was knee deep in conceptualizing my WoofHaus sound and thought that this was the perfect song to dip into. The lyrics and flow enabled me to sink my teeth all the way in. I'm incredibly happy with how different I was able to make this version than the original."
Grab the free download below!
Death By Icon are gearing up for the release of their new project Hassa, out Spring 2015. - Afropunk

Chicago-based band Death By Icon's video for their single 'WHT_club', a track tackling substance abuse, relationships and more. Video directed & filmed by APJ Films. Track produced by Death By Icon. Album 'Trybecca' [FREE DOWNLOAD] here. - Afropunk

Featured on their debut album "Trybecca", Chicago's Death By Icon links with APJ Films for a fun visual out in the woods. Some simple filters and light animation make a good time great in the case of "WHT_club". If you haven't had the chance to check out Death By Icon, I strongly encourage you do your homework. The duo's unconventional approach to hip hop is intriguing and captivating, not to mention their stage presence is pretty powerful as well. Nothing but great things to say about Death By Icon, but check out "Trybecca" and make your own opinions, I'm sure they would love that. - Go ILL

Músicos como Childish Gambino, Chance The Rapper, KYLE, Vic Mensa y Tyler, The Creator, le han dado al hip-hop, la oportunidad de resurgir musicalmente. Hoy quisiera incluir en esta lista a los chicos de Death by Icon.

Esta banda de Chicago -conformada por Victor Birriel, Andrew Vilaythong y Anthony Amponin-, promete un sonido bien definido dentro de lo experimental, en su proyecto debut Trybecca.

Acá pueden darle una escuchada:

Si quieren enamorarse rápido, les recomiendo comenzar con “Let Loose”. - Estereo Lobby

Every now and then, something dope may trickle across my Twitter timeline (shameless plug, I know) and today that happened with Chicago collective Death By Icon’s debut project — Trybecca. The hip hop/juke-influenced trio, which formed like Voltron at Classick Studios two years ago, have released their twelve-track debut today and you can listen to it in it’s entirety right here at FSD.

If you’re looking for something a little different than what you’re used to, then this one’s for you. Stream/download Trybecca after the jump. - FakeShore Drive

A few days ago we were graced with a sneak peak of Death By Icon’s upcoming project Trybecca. Let us be the first to tell you that this album BANGS, an entire body of work filled with refreshingly unique sounds. Hailing from Chicago, Death By Icon recently held their listening party at Classick Studios resulting in the above video. Peep the visual above and be on the look out for Trybecca on April 22nd. - MADE

Directed By Death By Icon x B.I.T. Visuals

I had a chance to catch Chicago's Death By Icon several months back as they opened for ShowYouSuck at Wicker Park's Chop Shop. Prior to that performance I had never heard of them, and I don't believe they were doing much for me to hear prior to that. If you check their Soundcloud, this single is literally the only thing on there, but I'm confident saying this is a group that you need to pay attention to in the coming months. "Let Loose" serves as the first single off their upcoming "Trybecca" album dropping April 22nd. If this track intrigues you, make sure to come back for more in a few days.
Shot in their Logan Square (Chicago) apartment, Death By Icon shows us what it truly means to master the art of being a D.I.Y. artist. Let Loose is a dark and colorful visual piece that is based around highlighting simplistic objects in a high end over-exemplified manner. Inspired by Gaspar Noés Enter The Void, DBI's visuals screams maximalism with impressionism techniques. The song its self paints quite the pallet of colors by piecing heavy drums, odd flows, and crooked harmonies together to landscape their music. Elements of this project have been compared to that of Outkast, Passion Pit, and Charlie XCX. - GoILL

Earlier this morning we received a video from Chicago duo Death By Icon. The visual features the super high energy party track “Let Loose”, which serves as the debut single for Death By Icon’s upcoming project Trybecca. The video sees a tasty looking cupcake shrouded by various effects and colors, the visual is best watched in complete darkness with your speakers on 40. This shit will have you bouncing around, go ahead and play this at the next party you go to. Peep the visual above and be on the look out for Trybecca on April 22nd. - MADE

Crowds let loose at Death By Icon‘s (@deathbyicon) very first show at Chop Shop (@ChiChopShop, 2033 W. North Ave.) on Feb. 21. No surprise that the Logan Square-based hip hop trio’s debut single is appropriately titled “Let Loose.”

The Music

Death By Icon (which includes Victor Birriel, Anthony Amponin and Andrew Vilaythong) produces conscious hip hop that relies heavily on smart lyrics, an authoritative percussion sound and intricate flows, differentiating itself from the average rap music found on the radio.

Not to say that Death By Icon’s sound does not appeal to a broad audience; “Let Loose” is a booty shaking anthem featuring risqué lyrics such as, “I don’t want to be your friend; I just want what’s in your pants now.”

Death By Icon’s Debut Show

For their first show ever, Birriel, Amponin and Vilaythong commanded Chop Shop’s stage like a group of pros with a confident swagger. The crowd spent the entire seven-song set dancing to the band’s energetic music, as vocalists Birriel and Amponin maneuvered around one another on the stage in an effortless, yet choreographed fashion.

It was Birriel and Amponin’s showmanship that captured the audience and got them ready for headliner, Chicago rapper ShowYouSuck.

What’s Next

Death By Icon is currently shooting a music video for “Let Loose,” set to be released on April 1. Shortly after, fans can expect their debut album, Trybecca. Death By Icon’s second single, “WHT_club,” is set to be released along with a video in May.

Neighbors can keep updated on all things Death By Icon on Facebook or listen to them on SoundCloud. - Logan Squarist

Here at Do312, we’ve done you the favor of photo recapping some of our best events every week so that you can enjoy them just as much as we did! Check out photos from last Friday’s Mover’s & Shaker’s event at Chop Shop and more on our photo highlights page. - Do312

As Jank mentioned in his earlier post, Milwaukee is experiencing a new generation of talented, creative and most importantly, hungry MCs that are too young to even get into the venues they want to perform in. This is great for us as fans because we can enjoy and support their music on the internets now, which they have the best grasp on, and we know that in a couple years we can be confident that the scene will be in good hands. They all have what I call the "Joey Bada$$ effect". That is, if you are an adult, you feel some type of way from listening and taking advice from someone at least a decade younger than you. Dang, I’m getting old.

Over the last month, so much good and interesting music has came from these fresh faces. Most of which was self-produced or produced by someone just as young. We wanted to introduce you to them now so that when they are all over your favorite blogs and websites in a few months, you won't be as surprised as I was when I first listened and was taken back at how dope all of this was. Of course there are plenty more artists, but this is all I could fit in one post. So, hit play on all these and support these MCs that deserve it.

I call this track a bonus because Death By Icon is a group from Chicago, but they recently sent me this video that I couldn’t turn away. Shot in their apartment, the sporadic and colorful visuals for “Let Loose” fit well with the energy of the beat. It has elements of hip-hop, juke, trap and bounce all rolled into one hard hitting track. The lyrics are honest as they want their girl to really have fun without any excuses. And anytime I can get my juke on while I’m driving to work, I’m all for it. Watch for their album Trybecca set for release on April 22nd. - Journal Sentinel: Tap Milwaukee

For the first the TWALIFE MAG, we have Chicago natives, Death By Icon with their latest single “Let Loose”. The track showcases their unique sound as it places heavy drums, odd flows, and crooked harmonies together in an organized way. Check out the track below and support the their music. Realery! - The Wandering Aura

The Chicago hip-hop scene is continuously evolving, making it one of the hottest music environments in the entire country right now (even when temperatures are approaching arctic extremes). Today we’re proud to present another piece of that ever growing puzzle, with the debut single from Windy City trio, Death By Icon. “Let Loose” lives up to its title perfectly: a genuinely fun experience painted through playfully honest lyrics and charismatic vocals, complimented by a spastically vibrant, percussion-driven instrumental that melds together elements of hip-hop, juke, and bounce. Comprised of members Vic (vocals), Dook (producer) and Ant (vocals/co-producer), Death By Icon brings to mind a pastiche of influences from OutKast, to Chance The Rapper and Major Lazer, however the group is already able to stand out completely on their own.

Grab a free download of the dope tune above, and follow the band on Facebook and Twitter as they prepare for the release of their upcoming album, Trybecca, set to drop on April 8th. - The Music Ninja