An underground hero with a sharp sense of humor and unlimited ideas, Father created an alternative rap scene in his own image. Complementing his offbeat bars with easy melody, the Awful Records founder serves up HU$BAND 2, his new EP. Returning to the gently melodic sound he pioneered with his 2019 HU$BAND EP, the upcoming sequel is an absorbing and hypnotic listen, as Father waxes poetic over production that borrows from jazz, trip-hop, and more. HU$BAND 2 is available everywhere via Awful Ent./Too Lost.

The new EP kicks off with “So Awful ENT,” a call to arms for the new era of his groundbreaking label, defined by a chorus melody as off-kilter as it is infectious. Incendiary diptych “Spooktified”/”Tax The Church” uses a creeping guitar-led instrumental to tell a story about the hypocrisy of people who have plenty but give very little (“Recession music,” says Father). Whirling like a dervish alongside its hypnotic palm-muted guitar arpeggio, “Vodka Me Down” is a spiritual sequel to “Vodka On The Weekend,” Father’s 2014 collaboration with ILoveMakonnen. Sumptuous EP closer “Sanctuary” was partially inspired by the Diablo video game series. Handling production on 5 of the EP’s 6 tracks (longtime collaborator MeltyCannon came through behind the boards for “So Awful ENT”), Father maintains a woozy and ethereal vibe to couch his sly come-ons and irreverent tongue-twisters.

Along with the EP, Father shares the video for “Oxenfree,” the EP’s playful lead single.  Directed by Father himself, the playful video finds Father in his supervillain’s lair, dressed in labwear like a ATL version of Walter White, as he plots his world domination. Shot in crisp black-and-white with a 4:3 aspect ratio, evoking at times the austere cinematography of Robert Eggers’s period horror film The Lighthouse, the “Oxenfree” video keeps Father in close-up as he rhymes, occasionally cutting away to visualize his lyrics. Hiding away during a dark and stormy night, Father laughs in his seclusion as he watches the world burn.

Father plans to hit the road this summer for a short, 4-date tour, with stops in Brooklyn, Chicago, Atlanta, and Columbus. See details below.

With HU$BAND 2, Father continues to make the music that he loves, taking the first step toward re-forming his Awful collective and setting an example for all DIY artists to follow. Stay tuned for more music, and more videos, as the year moves along.

HU$BAND 2: https://too.fm/jm6nqjj