Friendzone (duo)

Friendzone was an American instrumental hip hop duo based in East Bay, California.[1] It consisted of producers James Laurence and Dylan Reznick.[2] On January 30, 2017, it was announced that James Laurence had died at the age of 27 from undisclosed circumstances.[3][4]

Friendzone
Laurence (left) and Reznick performing in 2012
Background information
OriginEast Bay, California, U.S.
GenresAlternative hip hop, Cloud rap, Chillwave
Years active2010 - Present
Past membersDylan Reznick
James Laurence
Websitefriendzone.bandcamp.com

History

Friendzone produced Main Attrakionz' "Chuch" and "Perfect Skies", which were featured on the 2011 mixtape 808s & Dark Grapes II.[5] In 2012, the duo released Collection I, a compilation of rap instrumentals and original songs.[6]

In 2013, Friendzone landed their first major label placement, producing the song "Fashion Killa" for ASAP Rocky, which appeared on his debut album Long. Live. ASAP,[7] and also released the compilation Kuchibiru Network 3, which included contributions by several notable producers including Ryan Hemsworth, Skywlkr, DJ Kenn, and Jerome LOL.[8] In that year, the duo produced Yung Lean's "Solarflare", which was the final track on his mixtape Unknown Death 2002.[9]

On October 9, 2013, Friendzone released the debut album, DX.[10] On that day, Vice premiered the music video for "Poly".[11]

On February 16, 2015, Boiler Room released Upfront 014, which featured nearly an hour of unreleased music from the duo.[12] On May 27, Friendzone released a new EP, While U Wait.[13] Main Attrakionz released 808s & Dark Grapes III, produced by Friendzone in its entirety,[14] on Neil Young's Vapor Records on June 30, 2015.[15]

On January 30, 2017, James Laurence was reported dead at the age of 27.[3] The cause and date of death were not announced.[4] On February 6, Dylan Reznick shared a previously unreleased track, "Sweet Dream", as a tribute to Laurence. The duo had finished the song a few weeks prior to Laurence's death.[16]

Discography

Albums

Mixtapes
  • Get Back (2010)
  • My Wishlist (2010)
  • Kuchibiru Network (2011)
  • Kuchibiru Network 2 (2011)
  • Rose Quartz Mix (2012)
  • Collection I (2012)
  • Champion Sound #11 (2013)
  • Kuchibiru Network 3 (2013)
  • The DX Mix (2013)
  • Upfront 014 (2015)
  • Collection II (2022)

EPs
  • While U Wait (2015)

Singles
  • "A.L.L." / "JD" (2010)
  • "No One" (2011)
  • "I Have Nothing" (2012)
  • "!!-Major" (2012)
  • "Retailxtal" (2012)
  • "Rest" (2012)
  • "Moments Pt. 1" (2012)
  • "Moments Pt. 2" (2013)
  • "First Love XOXO" (2013)
  • "Always" (2013)
  • "4 Yia Yia" (2013)
  • "Who Wanna Rumble" (2013) (featuring Mykki Blanco)
  • "Poly" / "8AM" (2013)
  • "Appropriate X" / "Blast Furnace" (2014)
  • "Needs5" (2014)
  • "TCShe" (2015) (featuring Sheera)
  • "Sweet Dream" (2017)

Guest appearances
  • L.W.H. - "All in Your Hands" from The Tape Hiss Hooligan (2011)
  • Gummybear - "Can't Go Wrong" from Time (2011)
  • L.W.H. - "Medus6sa" from CIA TV (2012)

Productions
  • Squadda B - "I Miss Y'all" / "Focus" (2011)
  • Shady Blaze - "Follow Me" (2011)
  • Main Attrakionz - "Chuch" and "Perfect Skies" from 808s & Dark Grapes II (2011)
  • Carios + DKXO - "From Dusk Till Dawn" (2011)
  • Main Attrakionz - "Women We Chase" (2012)
  • Main Attrakionz x Shady Blaze - "Green Ova to the Top" (2012)
  • Lo-Fi-Fnk - "Taking U for Granted" from Maxade Mixtape Vol. 1 (2012)
  • Chippy Nonstop - "Chippy's Theme" (2012)
  • Pepperboy - "Real" from Days of Grace (2012)
  • Main Attrakionz - "Love U" from Tag Champz Bundle (2012)
  • Squadda B - "Cheater" from Northside Bad Guy (2012)
  • Main Attrakionz - "Zombies on the Turf Pt. 2" (2012)
  • Deniro Farrar & Shady Blaze - "All the Way" and "Back/Forth/Back" from Kill or Be Killed (2012)
  • Main Attrakionz - "Rap Paradise" (2012)
  • ASAP Rocky - "Fashion Killa" from Long. Live. ASAP (2013)
  • Deniro Farrar - "Back/Forth/Back" from The Patriarch (2013)
  • Mondre M.A.N. - "Where She At" and "Have Faith" from Cloudd Packk (2013)
  • Squadda B - "Ridin Dirty Past 50" from Streets Killed Us (2013)
  • Squadda B - "Slippin, Kant Get Up" from Triple F.A.T. Goose (2013)
  • Antwon - "Automatic" (2013)
  • Shady Blaze - "Fucked Up" and "Wake 'Em Up" from The 5th Chapter (2013)
  • Nature Boys - "Mansions" (2013)
  • Yung Lean - "Solarflare" from Unknown Death 2002 (2013)
  • Glasspopcorn - "Nightingale" from Don't Worry (2013)
  • Main Attrakionz - "About to Leave" from Best Duo Ever: The Bricktape (2013)
  • Tynethys - "TFZ" from Thyluxe (2014)
  • Eddington Again - "Lyft" from Masturgrape (2015)
  • Main Attrakionz - 808s & Dark Grapes III (2015)

Remixes
  • Former Ghosts - "Chin Up (Friendzone Remix)" (2011)
  • Lo-Fi-Fnk - "Shut the World Out (Friendzone Remix)" (2012)
  • States of Emotion - "The Way That I'm Wired (Friendzone Remix)" from The Way That I'm Wired (2014)[17][18]

References
  1. Swan, Rachel (May 23, 2012). "Inside the Friendzone - Music - Oakland, Berkeley & the Bay Area". East Bay Express. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  2. "WRCT: Ain't nothin' but a thang. - MMW: Friendzone". WRCT. February 16, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  3. Welsh, April Clare (January 30, 2017). "James Laurence, one half of trailblazing cloud rap producers Friendzone, has died". Fact. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. Strauss, Matthew (January 31, 2017). "A$AP Rocky, Yung Lean Producer James Laurence Dead at 27". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  5. Capell, Frances (November 28, 2011). "Laurence & Reznick of Friendzone Release Tracks On Tumblr, Bay Area". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  6. Ables, Brent (May 19, 2012). "Friendzone: Collection 1 Mixtape - Records - Cokemachineglow". Cokemachineglow. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  7. Battan, Carrie (December 12, 2012). "Skrillex, Clams Casino, Danger Mouse, More Produced Beats for A$AP Rocky's Long.Live.A$AP". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  8. Cooper, Duncan (February 26, 2013). "Download Friendzone's Kuchibiru Network 3 Mixtape". The Fader. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  9. Twells, John (February 2, 2017). "Perfect Skies: How James Laurence and Friendzone helped shape cloud rap". Fact. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. "Friendzone share new album DX as name-your-price release". Fact. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  11. "Watch the Video for Friendzone's "Poly" and Don't Get Lost in a Trance". Vice. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  12. Szatan, Gabriel (February 16, 2015). "Upfront 014: Friendzone". Boiler Room. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  13. "Friendzone Drop Surprise "While U Wait" Project In Memory of A$AP Yams". Fact. May 27, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  14. Ellison, Kyle (February 15, 2013). "Champion Sound #11: Feat. Exclusive Friendzone Mix". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  15. Golden, Zara (May 11, 2015). "Main Attrakionz Debut Kreayshawn-Directed Video For "Ain't No Other Way"". The Fader. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  16. Rettig, James (February 6, 2017). "Friendzone – "Sweet Dream"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  17. "Friendzone's Tumblr". Friendzone Official Tumblr.
  18. "Friendzone's SoundCloud". Friendzone Official SoundCloud.
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