Badbadnotgood (BBNG) are making jazz relevant again, by injecting it with a dose of hip hop and audiences around the world are taking notice as they continue to redefine modern music.
How does one describe the sound of Canadian trio BBNG? Well, it’s what happens when you take half a cup of jazz music and half a cup of hip hop music (sometimes with a sprinkling of electronic music) and put it in a blender. It can be served as an instrumental or with MCs such as Tyler the Creator and MF DOOM.
Since meeting in a jazz program in 2010, bassist Chester Hansen, keyboardist Matthew Tavares and drummer Alexander Sowinski have bonded over a shared love of hip hop. But while one would argue the two genres are worlds apart, bassist Chester Hansen points out that jazz and hip hop are much closer than you think. “The two genres have been linked since hip hop’s inception and they share a lot of characteristics. Like both genres rely on a soloist and an MC over a rhythm section or a beat.”
After releasing albums in 2011 and 2012, they released their third album, ‘III’, in May this year and is their first record comprised entirely of original material. Being a group that does not have its foot squarely planted in one genre, BBNG certainly have a unique way of creating music. “It’s kind of a bit different every time, we don't have a consistent way we write stuff,” Chester says.
“The three of us kind of get together in a room and play our instruments, or each other's instruments, and try and come up with ideas. In terms of inspirations to draw from, the longer we've been a band the more we kind of show each other music and discover new music and dig for new things. So our influences are whatever old records or new records we've discovered. Sometimes we'll be drawing to reference a certain feeling or a certain sound or even a specific instrument or stuff like that.”
Notable MCs the group have collaborated with include Wu-Tang Clan members RZA and Ghostface Killah – BBNG worked with the RZA on a number of tracks for the film ‘The Man With The Iron Fists’ and recording an entire album with Ghostface, ‘Sour Soul’, which is set to be released next year. “We spent two years polishing and getting verses from Ghostface. We've had the chance to perform with him a couple of times this year. He is a legend,” Chester says. In addition to their diverse sound and collaborations, BBNG’s drummer, Alexander, will often don a bright-pink pig mask during live performances to unsuspecting audience. Starting as an impromptu thing during early video shoots, Alexander started bringing it on tour. “For a while he hasn't worn it… being that it doesn't have a meaning. That and it's also very sweaty and uncomfortable to play in,” Chester says.
With the list of artists the group have already collaborated with, BBNG still have their sights set on some big names. ”Yeah, we'd like to work with so many people. But I would say Drake would be pretty high on the list. We need to make some music with Frank Ocean, because we've played live and hung out with him a few times. It would be cool to collaborate with him on something.”
BBNG are set to tour in late December playing a number of shows, including Falls Festival. Being their second visit to Australia, they’ve promised an entirely new show with a number of cuts from their latest album, some songs from their back catalogue and of course, some of their favourite covers. When prompted about performing any Australian numbers, Chester certainly didn’t say no to it being a possibility. “Hmm, it would be really fun! We would have a lot of fun with it. We'd have to slow everything up, but it would be sweet!”
Badbadnotgood play Falls Festival.
Written by Nicholas Ivanovic
BadBadNotGood Tour Dates
28 Dec-1 Jan – Lorne, VIC29 Dec-1 Jan – Marion Bay, TAS
30 Dec-3 Jan – Byron Bay, NSW
