One of the few pieces of good news to come from 2020 was that the don of all things experimental, Flying Lotus, released his new Flamagra instrumental LP, giving all 27 tracks from the original LP a new identity. Now he is asking fans to give one of those tracks a fresh, new spin.
“Black Balloons Reprise,” which features vocals from Denzel Curry, was one of the first singles released from Flamagra, and Flying Lotus, lesser known as Steve Ellison, put it out in anticipation of the album for a very clear reason. Curry’s concise wordplay demolishes Ellison’s raw production on this track, and it’s this structure that makes the instrumental a perfect opportunity for rappers to demonstrate their skills.
To enter, follow the guidelines set forth by Ellison below. He and Curry will personally select the contest winners.
“DOWNLOAD THE 16 BAR INSTRUMENTAL VIA SOUNDCLOUD HERE & CREATE YOUR OWN FLOW TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT. SUBMIT VIDEO OR AUDIO OF YOURSELF PERFORMING YOUR BARS ON SOUNDCLOUD, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, OR TIKTOK & USE THE HASHTAG #BLACKBALLOONSCHALLENGE TO WIN VARIOUS PRIZES, INCLUDING A FLYING LOTUS MERCH PACKAGE, A FREE PRO-UNLIMITED SUBSCRIPTION FROM SOUNDCLOUD, AND THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR REMIX FEATURED ON SOCIALS BY LOTUS & CURRY.”
Fans have until Wednesday, July 15 to submit their entries. Download the instrumental below and for full rules and requirements of the contest head FlyLo’s website.
Featured image: Emma McIntyre
Make no mistake—dance music is born from black culture. Without black creators, innovators, selectors, and communities, the electronic dance music we hold so dear would simply not exist. In short, dance music is deeply indebted to the global black community and we need to be doing more. Black artists and artists of color have played a profound role in shaping the sound and culture of dance music and now more than ever, it is necessary for everyone in the music community to stand up for the people that have given us so much. Dancing Astronaut pledges to make every effort to be a better ally, a stronger resource, and a more accountable member of the global dance music community. Black Lives Matter—get involved here:
National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program
Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Legal Defense Initiative