During the duo’s live debut at 2012’s South by Southwest, producers Hudsown Mohawke and Lunice (who comprise TNGHT) are both pictured hunched over their equipment with multiple Four-Loko cans within reach. The malt liquor beverage instills a primal-like state within those who imbibe the 24-ounce can, unleashing an inner fury one thought might never be unleashed. Unsurprisingly, TNGHT’s sound matches this exact description.
Soon after their legendary and absolutely destructive performance (post-show, glass shards littered the venue), TNGHT’s reputation exploded much like their ribcage-rattling production. Their self-titled EP piqued Kanye West’s attention and “Higher Ground” landed a spot in an Adidas commercial. While both proficient solo-artists, something clicked with Mohawke and Lunice that set them apart from other hip-hop producers matching their intensity (notably Waka Flocka producer Lex Luger and, currently, Chief Keef’s Young Chop).
“Acrylics” doesn’t falter. It builds on a seemingly impossible level of unbridled fierceness encapsulated in their five-track EP. The synthesized “boom-bap” drums hit harder than a Pacquiao right hook. A simulated crowd shouts “woo” amid the chaos, transporting the listener to TNGHT’s seizure-inducing live show. “Acrylics” is pure adrenaline mixed with a liquor-soaked wooziness. Four-Loko and TNGHT might as well be synonymous.