tønejustdied and KNØTTZ craft a devotional ode to carnage on “MAD!”

tønejustdied – the name itself invokes a sense of raw emotion and power. A rapper from Phoenix, AZ, tønejustdied is a young artist who has made waves in the music industry with his unique style and introspective lyrics. With a career spanning over 6 years, tønejustdied has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. 

Growing up in Phoenix, tønejustdied was exposed to many experiences, from the devious activity on Central & Baseline to the big ass mansions and block parties in Scottsdale. His music reflects the experiences of his surroundings, with dark, brooding, aggressive, and sometimes violent lyrics that delve deep into the artist’s psyche.  

tønejustdied or TJD’s music journey began in 2015 when he started making music with audacity and a PlayStation headset, a far cry from his present-day music-making tools. He has since come a long way from his modest beginnings, having toured the west side of the USA with his friend, KEEPMYSECRETS. That was only the beginning of the journey to success for TJD.  

With a transfixing mix of noise, power electronics, and unrelenting cruelty, tønejustdied in his collab with KNØTTZ explores the pitch-black darkest impulses on “MAD!”. The track sounds insane. Everything within the song feels corrupted, as if the worst possible virus has infected the speakers, slowly disintegrating the track’s fidelity. The harshness is the defining characteristic of the verses, though he does manage to bring a little levity in certain moments. Much like a horror movie cuts to a comedic scene to heighten what comes later, tønejustdied makes the word choice perfect. A balance is struck between the horrorcore elements and those that rage to refuse to go quietly into that good night. This is a sound worth surrendering to because it is that caustic.  

Like a malfunctioning video game soundtrack, the song starts off breaking down. The beats have staccato attacks on the senses. Rhythms are contorted, for many percussive elements have much in common with Autechre’s inhuman robotic simulations. For a self-taught individual, his approach reflects the outsider worldview. He is confined by nothing, and the deep-into-the-red stabs feel fantastic, allowing him to completely catch the listener off guard. The verses nicely buttress his brutality, as the work has a jarring JPEGMAFIA underground aesthetic. This is a sound meant to rumble warehouse walls rather than something to listen to passively.   

“Narcissist tunnel vision, I define thine own religion. 

I can make my own decisions; I don’t fuck with your opinion. 

I cannot afford to fit it; I’m beyond your whole dimension.” 

       MAD! tønejustdied and KNØTTZ 

“MAD! shows tønejustdied and KNØTTZ at their most visceral, with a sadistic glee that has satisfied audiences from Portland to Denver with deadly intention. Listen now. 

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