On Nov. 15, the mysterious rapper Captain Murphy released his debut project Duality in a rather peculiar fashion. Instead of giving fans a folder full of MP3’s like most would expect, Murphy released a 35-minute short film directed by Xavier Magot.
The video is full of strange clips, including footage from the Heaven’s Gate cult initiation tape of leader Marshall Applewhite, footage of marijuana, and even clips from adult films. It’s certainly an interesting experience.
However, does all of the intrigue make for a good experience?
Captain Murphy – Duality – Available For Free
The music of Duality is almost, for a lack of a better word, psychedelic, with production from Flying Lotus, Just Blaze, and TNGHT to name a few. It matches well with the odd film, creating an interesting experience.
Captain Murphy throws out lines like “Learned how to do the Dougie with the devil in the moonlight,” “So unorthodox, chillin’ with a shaman, eating ramen in a parking lot,”, and “Put a stain upon her pretty taint. Lick the tip or shake the weight upon the first or second date.” It’s all very off-the-wall, creative and, often, a little nonsensical.
Murphy uses the odd lyricism to his advantage, however, going the route of someone like Beck and creating intrigue out of the obtuse. It almost always works well and definitely adds to the overall album.
Who Is Murphy? The World May Never Know
Captain Murphy has had a lot of speculation as of who the rapper actually is, considering you never see his face and the vocals are almost always distorted with effects. The mystery really adds to the experience and has you wondering for days.
Some people have said that Captain Murphy is Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator together each rapping certain parts of the song. Others believe it is Flying Lotus using an alias similar to Madlib and his rapping alter-ego Quasimoto.
However, regardless of who is behind the mic, Duality is one of the best projects to drop this year. It’s that musically and lyrically strong. And, when added to the intrigue of the video and Murphy’s persona, it creates a beautifully menacing aesthetic that I can’t help but love.
Final Thoughts
A brilliant release that combines brilliant aesthetics with great production and intriguing lyrics. Every track is a standout track.
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