Look who's back! Well, no, that's not quite right. Captain Murphy can't really be "back" because he's not a real person. He's the rap alter-ego for Flying Lotus, the visionary producer who has continued making music while transitioning into a new career as a horror-flick auteur. Earlier this year, FlyLo released his joyously experimental EP Big Mama. But it's been a long time since we've heard him jump from behind the electronics and grab the mic.
As Captain Murphy, Flying Lotus collaborated with rappers like MF DOOM and Earl Sweatshirt. I once watched him save a floundering Earl set at the FADER Fort during SXSW when Earl, Domo Genesis, and Vince Staples all looked totally out-of-sorts. FlyLo released the 2012 Captain Murphy mixtape Duality and a bunch of stray tracks, but we haven't gotten a new one since the 2016 Adult Swim Single "Crowned." (It felt like all the Captain Murphy songs were Adult Swim Singles. Maybe that's why we haven't gotten one in so long. If David Ellison is going to destroy 60 Minutes via Bari Weiss bullshit, the least he could do is bring back Adult Swim Singles. That's the same corporate umbrella, right?)
The new Captain Murphy single "Mudhole" is not an Adult Swim Single. Instead, it's from the soundtrack to The Furious, the upcoming English-language debut from director Kenji Tanigaki. The Furious is a martial arts epic with a cast that includes a ton of the best people working in Asian action cinema. According to some of the action sickos that I follow, it might be the best fight movie in years. I hope so! I'm psyched! Flying Lotus is one of three composers credited for the score, and he co-produced the new Captain Murphy song "Mudhole" with his Brainfeeder labelmate Little Snake. It's got a hectic beat that seems to be made up of detuned guitar crunches and sampled car alarms. FlyLo raps, appropriately enough, about beating your ass. I always forget how deep his voice is. Check it out below.
The Furious opens in theaters 6/12. I'll see you freaks at the movies.
