How To Survive “The Internet”

Ray Bellville

Music Journalist (Rap/Hip-hop)

The Los Angeles band, The Internet, was formed by Syd, the lead vocalist, Matt Martians as the keyboardist, Steve Lacy on guitar, Patrick Paige II on Bass, and Christopher Smith on Drums. Their sound consists of elements of alternative R&B, soul, funk, and jazz. In contrast to their fellow alt group, Odd Future, The Internet prioritized its ambiance. Entering the scene in the early 2010s with their 2011 debut album “Feel Good,” only to go on a hiatus after their 2018 album “Hive Mind”. The members split and went their separate ways after not “officially” ending things, releasing solo projects, with Steve Lacy being the most popular. 

RISING

Emerging onto the scene as a band with a softer tone, they were under the radar as a side project of Odd Future, with some songs appearing on The OF album “The OF tapes Vol. 2”. Through a joke Left Brian made in response to a reporter asking where he was from, he responded by saying, “I hate when people ask that, I’m going to start saying I’m from the internet”. Syd, amused by his words, decided to name the band with the help of Matt Martians and started the recruitment process that led to the pick-up of the current members. Tay Walker and Jameel Burner were also members; however, would eventually depart. Tay in the band from 2011-2013 after their debut album, Purple Naked Ladies, and Jameel from 2013-2016 after their sophomore album, Feel Good.

NEWFOUND SUCCESS

Time passed, but they only grew as their 3rd album, Ego Death, was nominated for a Grammy in 2016 for Best Urban Contemporary Album and a 2018 Soul Train nomination for their 4th album, Hive Mind. Already becoming critically acclaimed, they were receiving major buzz; however, despite their success, they split up to work on solo projects. Prompted by the fear of regret for not exploring their own individual creative endeavors, and to build their solo brands. Never officially “breaking up,” the band is hoping to reconnect and drop another project in the future, as Syd claims it is not a permanent split as of today.

SPLIT

Their individual success among all the members is just as impressive as their group success, often being recruited to work with other artists. Syd was a collaborator with Beyoncé, where she excelled in her writing ability as she co-wrote “PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA,” leading to a Grammy win for Best Traditional R&B Performance. Her talent led to the release of both her critically acclaimed studio albums that were most expressive of her R&B influence. Steve Lacy is the most accomplished, winning a Grammy in 2022 for best progressive R&B album with his project, Gemini Rights. His song, “Bad Habit”, topped the charts, reaching number 1 on Billboard and remaining for three weeks straight. He has been a known collaborator with Kendrick Lamar on “PRIDE”, with Solange, and the late Mac Miller. Matt Martians released four projects and co-founded the duo The Jet Age Tomorrow. The duo would have their song used and sampled by Kendrick Lamar on “A.D.H.D”. Both Patrick Paige II and Chris Smith stayed relatively quiet, with only Patrick releasing two solo albums.

The Internet has shone through their alley and was able to break the mold of their peers by seeing music more through an electronic fusion of R&B. Perfect for anyone who grew up on D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, or Erykah Badu and enjoys the contemporary aspect of music. But their influence has steadily broken into the mainstream. With more artists coming out dabbling in the genre, such as Malcom Todd, KAYTRANDA, and Jordan Ward. Their artistry made me appreciate the Neo-Soul revolution that emphasized the jazz and funk aspects used to polish their sound under groovy drums.