Shuffle: Theophilus London's Playlist

With the recent release of Timez Are Weird These Days, Theophilus London has been busy promoting his debut album and making high profile appearances like a recent performance on Jimmy Kimmel. Given that the Brooklyn rapper has become known for his high-energy live shows, Complex jumped at a chance to catch him run through hits like "Girls Girls $" and "Last Name London" at the Axe Lounge in Southampton, New York.

When we had a chance to speak with him beforehand, we were curious to find out what he's been listening to given that his album is a great mix of R&B, hip-hop, soul, and rock. It was no surprise that Theophilus' musical tastes were varied and ranged from Cash Money to Lionel Richie to Trick Daddy. Check out Shuffle: Theophilus London's Playlist.

As told to Toshitaka Kondo (@ToshitakaKondo)

Album: We Must Become The Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Producer: John Maus

Label: Upset The Rhythm

Theophilus London: "I've been listening to the new John Maus record. It came out three weeks ago. "Cop Killer" [is my favorite song] because the chords are so dark, it gets you in a good vibe."  

Album: Chopper City In The Ghetto

Producer: Mannie Fresh

Label: Cash Money Records

Theophilus London: "'Bling Bling' gets a lot of plays because all I wear is bling bling in a lot of ways. You feel me? So, life is about bling bling in a lot of ways and I feel like that song decided—you know how the word 'swag' is big? 'Bling bling' was big back then because they started that record. So that’s how powerful music is. I play 'Bling Bling' all day."

Album: Thugs Are Us

Producer: Righteous Funk Boogie

Label: Slip-N-Slide Records

Theophilus London: "Having kids sing in the choir about being a thug? That shit’s raw. That shit’s tight."

Album: Trapped In Crime

Producer: KLC

Label: Priority Records

Theophilus London: "'Fuck them other niggas cause I’m down for my niggas. Ride for my niggas.' That’s self-explanatory, man. All about you and your homies."

Album: Late Registration

Producer: Kanye West, Jon Brion

Label: Roc-A-Fella

Theophilus London: "I recently became a friend of [Kanye] and I always tell him that’s my favorite record of his. Because it just defines being major. Of course [I like Nas' verse], he put some stuff into real life. That's, like, some 3-D shit."

Album: Prince

Producer: Prince

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Theophilus London: "When I'm DJing I'll play 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' because it gets the girls going."

Album: XXX

Producer: Jimmy Edgar

Label: Studio !K7

Theophilus London: "Because it gets the girls going."

Album: Can't Slow Down

Producer: Lionel Richie, James Anthony Carmichael

Label: Motown

Theophilus London: "It gets the girls going."

Album: Bad

Producer: Quincy Jones

Label: Epic

Theophilus London: "Because the guitar is rich."