Paris Texas (hip-hop group)
| Paris Texas (hip-hop group) | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Members |
|
| Website | https://paristexas.net/ |
Paris Texas is an American alternative hip hop duo founded in Los Angeles, California by rapper-producers Louie Pastel and Felix.[1][2] Formed in 2018, the duo's name is a reference to the road movie, Paris, Texas (1984).[3] Their music has been noted for resembling the work of OutKast, King Krule, and Cities Aviv, among others.[4]
History
[edit]2013–2018: Early career
[edit]In 2013, Louie Pastel and Felix met during their freshman year at the community college, called El Camino, after being introduced through a mutual friend and quickly bonded over their shared love for a Florida rapper Robb Banks.[1][5] "I had a French class with this kid Jesus. Funniest dude I ever met in my life. They had been friends already through high school. I told Jesus I made beats. He was rapping and said he has a friend who raps too", Louie retells in an interview.[5] The two experienced great chemistry from the start, and within a few months, they had begun making music together.[6]
2014–2015: Strange Friends Collective
[edit]In 2014, Louie and Felix–then known as “Brucemighty” and “Shortfinmako” at the time–joined the collective as Strange Friends Collective.
2018–2019: Formation and I'll Get My Revenge in Hell
[edit]In 2018, Louie and Felix officially formed as Paris Texas.[3] The duo released their debut extended play (EP), titled I'll Get My Revenge in Hell, in October of the same year. It features six tracks, including one interlude and a feature guest appearance from BBY Kodie.[5] After the release of I'll Get My Revenge in Hell, the duo performed at the event, called JARS (Just Another Rap Show).
2021–2022: Boy Anonymous and Red Hand Akimbo
[edit]In February 2021, Paris Texas re-emerged on the scene after scraping most of their previous work off of the Internet—the exception being I'll get my revenge in hell, which has remained available on their SoundCloud profile.[5] With the help of their new manager, Mike Ahern (who also manages American pop singer Clairo), the duo started to re-release older tracks and distribute them onto streaming services.[7] First out was the single, titled "Heavy Metal", being released on February 17, in which followed by two other songs–"Situations" and "Force of Habit"–being dropped in March and April, respectively.[8] These three tracks were soon revealed to be part of their new album, Boy Anonymous, in which arrived in May 2021 and was praised by critics for its "unmistakable intensity and energy of intention".[9] In September 2021, the duo surprised fans by releasing yet another single, called "Girls Like Drugs".[10] Red Hand Akimbo arrived merely two weeks later, on October 6, without any notice beforehand.[11]
On July 8, 2022, the duo released the stand-alone single, titled "Cyanide" featuring Cryogeyser.[12]
2023–2024: Mid Air
[edit]On March 30, 2023, Paris Texas released a track, titled "Panic!!!", making their first release of 2023.[13] On May 12, the duo would follow suit with the track, titled "Bullet Man", alongside a corresponding music video.[14] On June 16, the duo released the single, called "Everybody’s Safe Until...". At the same time, the duo announced their debut studio album, titled Mid Air, along with its release date of July 21.[15] On July 18, three days prior to the release of Mid Air, the final single, "DnD" (featuring Kenny Mason), was released.[15]
On January 12, 2024, the duo reunited with Kenny Mason on the Billy Lemos-produced track, called "Big Bank", making the first single off of the Pigeons and Planes compilation album, See You Next Year 2. The track was recorded at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La Studio in Malibu.[16] On March 28, the duo appeared on "So Long", a single by Bien Et Toi from his extended play, titled A London Safari II, in which was released on May 3.[17][18]
On October 22, the duo was announced to be accompanying Tyler, the Creator on the 2025 tour for his eighth studio album, Chromakopia, along with Lil Yachty. The duo will act as opening support on all concerts, while Lil Yachty will act as direct support on most, but not all, concerts.[19]
2025: They Left Me with the Sword and They Left Me with a Gun
[edit]On February 21, 2025, Paris Texas released their eight-song extended play, titled They Left Me with the Sword. On February 28, the duo released their 6-track extended play, titled They Left Me with a Gun. Intended for surprise release, the release was noticed by members of the R/paristexass community earlier in February.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Mid Air |
|
Mixtapes
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Boy Anonymous |
|
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| I'll Get My Revenge in Hell |
|
| Red Hand Akimbo |
|
| They Left Me with the Sword |
|
| They Left Me with a Gun |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Heavy Metal" | 2021 | Boy Anonymous |
| "Situations" | ||
| "Force of Habit" | ||
| "Girls Like Drugs" | Red Hand Akimbo | |
| "Cyanide" (featuring Cryogeyser) |
2022 | Non-album single |
| "Panic!!!" | 2023 | Mid Air |
| "Bullet Man" | ||
| "Everybody's Safe Until" | ||
| "DnD" (featuring Kenny Mason) | ||
| "Big Bank" (featuring Billy Lemos) |
2024 | Non-album singles |
| "So Long" | ||
| "infinyte" | 2025 | They Left Me with the Sword |
| "Stripper Song" | They Left Me with a Gun |
Guest appearances
[edit]| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Hooper" | 2022 | Kenny Beats, Nick Lee, Cory Henry | Louie |
| "Hot Hand" | Kenny Beats, Oliver Johnson, Cory Henry, Daryl Johns | ||
| "ETA2" | 2023 | Yeek | Non-album single |
| "Whipcream" | Ralphie Choo | Supernova |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Zanes, Anna (2021-05-19). "LA rap duo Paris Texas on success, pseudonyms, and the enduring appeal of Tumblr". Document Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ Williams, Sophie (2023-07-20). "Paris Texas – 'Mid Air' review: thrilling debut from rap's most intriguing duo". NME. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ a b Gorton, Thomas (2021-06-15). "Paris Texas, the Slacker Rap Duo Behind One of 2021's Defining Albums". AnOther Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ Darville, Jordan (2021-04-14). "Paris Texas share new song/video "FORCE OF HABIT"". The FADER. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ a b c d Corrigan, Graham (2021-06-03). "Finding Paris Texas". Complex. Archived from the original on 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Pilley, Max (2021-05-06). "Paris Texas interview: "It's gonna get wild"". Loud And Quiet. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ Swash, Olivia (2021-02-18). "LA duo Paris Texas introduce themselves with horrorshow debut "Heavy Metal"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Farrell, Margaret (2021-04-14). "Bravado Becomes a Kind of Armor for Paris Texas on Latest Single "Force of Habit"". FLOOD Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Russell, Scott (2021-05-14). "Paris Texas Pack Possibility into Their Debut Project BOY ANONYMOUS". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Doria, Matt (2021-09-25). "Listen to Paris Texas' punchy new single 'Girls Like Drugs'". NME. Archived from the original on 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Leigh, Nathan (2021-10-22). "Paris Texas Level Up On The Genre-Defying "Red Hand Akimbo"". AFROPUNK. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ "Paris Texas' "cyanide" Is a Rap-Rock Banger: Stream". 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Paris Texas return with "PANIC!!!"". The FADER. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Paris Texas' "Bullet Man" video is a bitterly funny, paranoid gunfight". The FADER. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b "Paris Texas announces new album MID AIR with "Everybody's Safe Until..."". The FADER. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ mahadevan, tara. "Kenny Mason and Paris Texas Link for "Big Bank," First Single and Video Off Latest Pigeons & Planes Compilation Album 'See You Next Year 2'". Complex. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Staff, Notion (2024-04-05). "Firsts with Bien et Toi". Notion. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ So Long (feat. Paris Texas) by Bien et Toi on Apple Music, 2024-05-03, retrieved 2024-07-09
- ^ Garcia, Thania (2024-10-23). "Tyler, the Creator Plots 'Chromakopia' World Tour for 2025". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/27551433-Paris-Texas-Boy-Anonymous