Why Mutant Academy's album is a love letter to Richmond's hip-hop legacy
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If you're going down West Broad Street near Don't Look Back any time soon, look up.
- There's a billboard honoring Mutant Academy's debut album "Keep Holly Alive."
Why it matters: It's a reminder that this city has a thriving hip-hop and rap scene — and you should know more about it.
The big picture: Mutant Academy, a X-Men comics-inspired name, is a nine-person collective founded by South Richmonders Henny L.O. and Fly Anakin.
- They've been in the game for at least a decade, but didn't have an official album until "Keep Holly Alive" came out in October.
- Member Big Kahuna OG told music magazine The Passion of the Weiss the wait was mostly because "the imagination was bigger than the budget."
Zoom in: "Keep Holly Alive" is an 18-track Richmond tribute, with even the name being a nod to the studio local rappers have recorded at.
- RVA Mag defined the sound as "jazzy, hard-hitting boom-bap reminiscent of hip-hop's golden era."
- Pitchfork called the 18-track album "a love letter—to each other, to Richmond, and to hip-hop."
Their music videos often feel this way, too.
- "Liberation" takes place in Southside Plaza, by the canal and near the Pipeline Trail.
- "Brainwash'd / E. Broad St." has aerial views of the city and Fly Anakin walking down Broad and parts of Randolph in a VCU crewneck.
- In "Chess Pieces," you'll get shots of the skyline, including the James Monroe building, and City Hall.
Fun fact: Mutant Academy members regularly shoutout other local legends as inspiration. Among them:
- Nickelus F, who Drake once called "forever one of my idols."
- Michael Millions, who was nominated for a Grammy last week.
- Mad Skillz, who is also nominated for a Grammy.
- And Lonnie B, who rapped in the group SupaFriendz with Mad Skillz.
The bottom line: It's time to give Richmond's hip-hop scene its flowers.