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Hear Shadowrunners’ Galloping Video Game Banger ‘Flip Phone’

Rapper and bleater Himself the Majestic and noisy producer Froskees (check out this all-bass blow-out remix of Cassie’s “Me & U”) are Shadowrunners. If you’re familiar with the work of Antwon, then you’ve most certainly heard Himself on quite a few guest spots, delivering his breathless shout-raps along with the buzzing San Jose MC. And the Nature Boy Gang most commonly associated with Antwon these days was actually founded by Shadowrunners, who’ve been making music since 2007 but have really located their sound in the past couple years.

Last year’s witty, sci-fi-themed Cyberdine (declared by SPIN to be one of 2012’s most slept-on rap releases) and 2011’s 808-Bit Revenge (which paired Nintendo samples with hard-hitting, dirty South-style production and paid tribute to NES game Contra on the cover) are intense, funny, focused examples of the Los Angeles duo’s rarefied aesthetic. On “Flip Phone,” off their self-titled album out in August, a galloping space laser beat serves Himself’s staccato rhymes as he talks up his not-so-smart phone, reps Rice-A-Roni, and gives you more than enough sex raps, all while using a delivery that’s a mix of hardcore punk shout-along, Three 6 Mafia hook repetition, and indie rap’s nerd-embracing attitude. You can listen to Shadowrunners’ “Flip Phone” below, exclusively at SPIN.

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