Death Grips is an American experimental hip hop trio formed in Sacramento, California in 2010 — MC Ride, Zach Hill, and Andy Morin. The Money Store (2012) is the entry point, and the unauthorized No Love Deep Web release that got them dropped by Epic is part of the legend. Dig into Death Grips vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Death Grips formed in Sacramento, California in 2010 around drummer Zach Hill (previously of Hella and other experimental rock acts), vocalist MC Ride (Stefan Burnett), and producer Andy Morin (Flatlander). Their initial mixtape Exmilitary (2011) gained online attention, leading to a major-label signing with Epic Records. The band's notoriously confrontational relationship with Epic culminated in their unauthorized release of No Love Deep Web (October 2012) directly to fans via free download, with explicit cover art that resulted in their being dropped by the label. They have continued releasing material through Harvest Records and direct-to-fan distribution. The band briefly announced their dissolution in July 2014 but reactivated by the end of the year.
Death Grips' sound combines experimental hip hop, industrial hip hop, noise rap, punk rap, and digital hardcore with MC Ride's shouted, abrasive vocal delivery and dense electronic production. Their work is widely cited as one of the defining experimental hip hop projects of the 2010s and has influenced subsequent waves of noise rap and experimental electronic music.
Harvest and direct-to-fan pressings of the Death Grips catalog have been issued in extensive color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to Death Grips typically start with The Money Store (2012).
