o understand who EarthGang is, you must first recognize this is not your typical hip-hop duo. While rap is the bedrock of their art, elements of R&B, jazz, gospel, and funk have enriched the innovative albums, experimental EPs, and masterful mixtapes the pair has produced since forming the group in 2008 following Olu and WowGr8 meeting as freshmen at Mays High School in Southwest Atlanta.
Atlanta born, Atlanta-raised, and profoundly influenced by their Southwest Atlanta surroundings, EarthGang’s maturation into GRAMMY-nominated musicians, critically acclaimed artists, and two of the best live performers working in music today can be sourced back to their global ambitions. The name EarthGang is rooted in a desire to have the whole world join them on a journey where music is used as a global vehicle to explore relatable themes of society and self; the conflict between tradition and modernity, religion and enlightenment—music and manhood.
With more than 600 thousand followers on Instagram, 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and 127,507,652 views on YouTube, the group has expanded tremendously. Although they first gained local recognition with their mixtapes, including “Shallow Graves For Toys” and “Torba,” after signing with J. Cole’s Dreamville Records in 2017, EarthGang started to see their name travel beyond the blogs and start to reach Billboard. With new attention also came an updated sound and further experimentation to drive home how Olu and WowGr8 are men who move to an eclectic rhythm that doesn’t fit a label, can’t be placed in a box, and shouldn’t be attached to any one genre.
EarthGang’s sophomore album on Dreamville, Ghetto Gods, skillfully conveyed self-discovery, spirituality, and the struggle for social justice. The depth of their inward-looking lyricism was appropriately paired with a production palette of buoyant southern beats that help to elevate their high-energy performances. Following the release of Ghetto Gods, EarthGang joined The Gorillaz on 20 unique and unforgettable arena dates across the U.S. EarthGang has also been praised for their commitment to community activism, supporting emerging artists, and for their dedication to music that continues to push boundaries and inspire
