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)
John Maus "Cop Killer" (2011)
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."
B.G. f/ Big Tymers & Hot Boys "Bling Bling" (1999)
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."
Trick Daddy "I'm A Thug" (2001)
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."
C Murder f/ Snoop Dogg & Magic "Down 4 My Niggas" (2000)
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."
Kanye West f/ Nas & Really Doe "We Major" (2005)
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."
Prince "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (1979)
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."
Jimmy Edgar "Hot Raw Sex" (2010)
Album: XXX
Producer: Jimmy Edgar
Label: Studio !K7
Theophilus London: "Because it gets the girls going."
Lionel Richie "All Night Long" (1983)
Album: Can't Slow Down
Producer: Lionel Richie, James Anthony Carmichael
Label: Motown
Theophilus London: "It gets the girls going."
Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana" (1987)
Album: Bad
Producer: Quincy Jones
Label: Epic
Theophilus London: "Because the guitar is rich."