Ego DeathE

The Artist

The Internet is an Los Angeles-based R&B collective that emerged from the Odd Future orbit in 2011, initially formed around vocalist Syd and multi-instrumentalist Matt Martians. Where Odd Future traded in abrasion and provocation, The Internet carved out a warmer, more intimate lane — blending neo-soul, funk, and lo-fi bedroom production into something distinctly their own. Syd's cool, understated delivery became the group's emotional anchor, while the revolving cast of collaborators gave the band a loose, collective energy. By the time Ego Death arrived in 2015, they had matured from a promising side project into one of the most distinctive acts in contemporary R&B.

The Album

Ego Death was recorded in Los Angeles and released in June 2015, produced primarily by the band themselves alongside contributions from Kaytranada, Thelonious Martin, and Sounwave. It marked a deliberate step toward live instrumentation and collaborative spontaneity — drummer Christopher Smith and guitarist Steve Lacy, then just a teenager, brought a fluid, organic warmth to the arrangements. The album was also notable for its high-profile guest appearances from Janelle Monáe, Ghostface Killah, and James Fauntleroy, each slotting naturally into the record's unhurried groove. Ego Death earned the group their first Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album and signaled their arrival as a genuine creative force rather than a curiosity.

Listen For

Liquid groove. The production on Ego Death prioritizes feel over flash — pay attention to how the rhythms breathe and bend, particularly on "Special Affair" and "Dontforget," where live drums and synth bass lock into something almost hypnotic.

Steve Lacy's guitar work. Lacy, recruited at just 15 years old, threads nimble, jazz-inflected guitar lines throughout the record. His playing is most audible on "Curse" and "Give It Time," adding a conversational looseness that lifts the tracks beyond standard R&B arrangements.

Dynamics and space. The album resists the urge to fill every moment — notice how tracks like "Go with It" use silence and restraint as textures in themselves, letting the low end and Syd's voice do the emotional heavy lifting without overcrowding the mix.

Syd's vocal understatement. Syd rarely pushes her voice to a demonstrative peak, and that restraint is the point. On "Special Affair" especially, a hushed, almost confessional delivery makes the vulnerability feel genuine rather than performed.

Intimacy and desire. Lyrically, the album circles themes of romantic longing, self-discovery, and queer identity without ever being didactic about it. "Special Affair" and "Under Control" handle attraction and emotional exposure with a matter-of-fact tenderness that gives the record its quiet emotional weight.