Busdriver

Underground rapper Busdriver has never quite fit in, which is one of his greatest strengths—his cerebral, acrobatic lyricism always challenges hip-hop convention, even when he panders to audiences with appeals for crossover success. Following his 2009 release, Jhelli Beam—an album marked once again by a fascinating panoply of styles, roping in everything from Mozart sonatas to glitchy synth arpeggios and push-pull dance-floor throb—he released the Computer Cooties mix-tape, where he spits over some eclectic and notable indie rock, once again identifying with anything left of hip-hop’s center. That also applies to Physical Forms, the collaboration with former members of L.A. noiseniks The Mae Shi that occupied Busdriver’s time between sessions for his new solo LP, Beaus$Eros.

Updated 05/11/2012