Philadelphia-based duo Chiddy Bang does hip-hop differently than you’ve heard it before. Producer-musician Xaphoon Jones and rapper Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege have taken the electronic and indie elements that have been endorsed by Kanye West and KiD CuDi and expanded them to new extremes, creating a brainy, but fun and party-ready product that is often irresistible.
Chiddy and Xaphoon, real name Noah Beresin, met in 2008 as freshmen at Drexel University in Philadelphia. The two formed Chiddy Bang in 2009 and quickly began developing the group’s signature style, which is just as reliant on Xaphoon’s ear candy production as it is on Chiddy’s witty and colorful verses. Much like Danger Mouse’s role in Gnarls Barkley and DANGERDOOM, Xaphoon uses his production skills as an instrument to give his partner context and support.
In fact, Xaphoon’s production often can hold its own without Chiddy’s rapping. Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Volume Two, was released last month and features Xaphoon’s remixes of popular songs (Kanye’s “Good Life,” Ellie Goulding’s “Lights”) as well as some stunning mashups. Other than a couple Chiddy cameos, the mixtape is entirely dependent on Xaphoon’s production expertise.
Still, both artists are best when they combine their talents. “Opposite of Adults,” off the duo’s 2009 debut mixtape The Swelly Express, was based on a sample of MGMT’s “Kids” — when the song was repackaged in 2010 for The Preview EP it proved to be Chiddy Bang’s breakthrough track. Since The Preview EP, Chiddy Bang has released songs periodically to promote their full length debut, due out later in 2011. The duo also recently released a new mixtape, Peanut Butter and Swelly, on Friday.
On Saturday Chiddy Bang will bring something to Dillo Day that past Dillo acts like Nelly and Common haven’t: Xaphoon and Chiddy are young, fresh faces on the hip-hop scene that are focused on an exciting new direction that the genre is taking. Chiddy’s rhymes are, at the very least, satisfactory to most hip-hop fans, but the extra element is Xaphoon’s production. The duo’s allusions to acts like MGMT and Passion Pit are what have garnered them praise from outside the rap community. Plus, Xaphoon usually plays a drum kit at shows, which should help to avoid KiD CuDi’s lackluster laptop singalong performance at A&O’s Fall Blowout.
Chiddy Bang has regularly played the college circuit for the last couple years and will bring a youthful act to the Dillo Day stage. For a crowd of thousands of college students looking for a good party, they’re likely to provide just that — uptempo, high energy music that is ultimately fun as well.