Flatbush Zombies’ Erick the Architect misses his Black Berry keyboard | The Verge

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Flatbush Zombies’ Erick the Architect misses his Black Berry keyboard

Fresh off a surprise appearance at this year’s WWDC, the Brooklyn-based producer is ready to explore new sounds.

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Flatbush Zombies’ Erick the Architect misses his Black Berry keyboard

Fresh off a surprise appearance at this year’s WWDC, the Brooklyn-based producer is ready to explore new sounds.

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Erick the Architect is a founding member of, and the primary producer for, the legendary Flatbush Zombies. He’s toured the world, performed on Kimmel and Fallon, played Coachella, and collaborated with everyone from Joey Bada$$ and the Rza to James Blake and hardcore punk band Trash Talk. But perhaps the most unexpected collab was with Apple, when Erick popped up following Tim Cook’s final WWDC presentation to rap about apps. That was just a precursor to him dropping his new disco and reggae-tinged single, “No Doubt (I’m In Love).”

The new track, produced by Yeti Beats and Federico Vindver, is definitely a shift in tone from the darker, grittier, more boom-bap-grounded sounds Erick is known for. But that’s part of what makes it so compelling. Erick is still looking to experiment and expand his palette this deep into his career. That sense of adventure doesn’t stop him from getting a bit nostalgic for physical phone keyboards and the Game Cube, though. It also turns out that Erick was one of just a handful of unfortunate souls who spent their hard-earned money on the Nokia N-Gage.

What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer?

I usually go for Dropbox first so I can pull up the thousands of files I have stored floating around on the internet somewhere.

What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone?

I miss typing on my phone with a physical keyboard like I used to do using a Black Berry.

ESPN, Behance, My Fonts, Fanatics, Topps, e Bay, Discord, UPS, Fed Ex, Whatnot, Plex

Uh… the screen that says “Your order has been placed” when you buy something online

Resident Evil 4 for Game Cube. I played this game so many times until my eyes were bloodshot red, and my fondest memory was the huge TV that I played it on. The TVs back then were so big they were actually pieces of furniture. When it came time to move it, you needed like four people to lift up those big tube TVs. Anyhow, I love that game, and I think I’m probably one of the best people at it!

I’m not really a fan of virtual reality and putting things over my eyes to augment my reality… sorry to anyone who is obsessed with those things!

I wish I had created the song “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It’s such a ridiculous song in the most beautiful way. I can’t compare it to any other piece of music. If I did, I’d have to reference a ton of different songs to make this one. I think if I were the creator of it, people would have no idea what song to expect from me, and that’s pretty cool.

If I had a child, my answer would be that — but since I don’t, I would have to say the project I released in 2011 called “Almost Remembered.” It was the catalyst for all of the music I eventually learned how to create, and it gave me the confidence to continue to pursue being a producer and artist. I considered myself an amateur back then, but it was the most creative I’ve felt to date in terms of experimenting with new sounds.

I don’t want anyone to google the name of the thing I am least proud of hahaha

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My mom told me that everybody has a season, and although it may not be your season now… You have to consider that when it is, that season may last forever. Be patient and wait on it.

Turn my phone off or pretend I don’t have one anymore.

Again, turn my phone off or pretend I don’t have one anymore.

When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone?

I take walks without my phone all the time, and I use my digital audio player that isn’t connected to the internet whatsoever. I can focus on the music entirely and not be distracted by incoming texts, emails, or social media.

What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?

I bought a bunch of records at Vinyl Con! a couple of months ago, and I’ve been collecting Absolute Batman and Invincible comics.

Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien

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