Event
RL Grime at the Pavilion
RL Grime first came to prominence as a New York-based teenager delivering monster, viral remixes of Chief Keef’s “Love Sosa” and Kanye West’s “Mercy.” He established himself as a unique artist in his space with a striking monochromatic aesthetic, a series of animated music videos, and an annual Halloween mix that has included drops from Goosebumps author RL Stine, comedian Hannibal Buress, and Tony Hawk. After solidifying his fanbase with a few highly-regarded EPs, RL Grime independently released his first studio album, “VOID,” in 2014. It premiered as the #1 Electronic album in the United States and remained in that position for a month.
At that point—with over 150 million plays, rave reviews and magazine covers, and sets at the biggest festivals in the world including Coachella & Lollapalooza—most artists would cash out. RL Grime stuck to his underground roots and limited his releases. His portfolio grew with an expanding list of collaborators that included Big Sean, Miguel, and Skrillex. And in late 2017, he emerged with “Era,” a tour-de-force single that Billboard described as “exotic, massive, and full-of-left-turns.” Its epic, cinematic sound announced a new era and an accompanying album: NOVA.
RL Grime’s uncompromising artistry has paid off. NOVA was preceded by a sold-tour that included stops in Australia, Los Angeles, and New York. Its hype has only swelled in the absence of information surrounding the album, leaving fans and blogs to speculate on their own.