New York hip-hop experimentalist Elucid, known for his innovative soundscapes both as a solo artist and as half of the duo Armand Hammer with Billy Woods, offers a unique perspective on his creative process and his deep connection to the city’s rhythm. Reflecting on his musical philosophy, Elucid notes, ‘I like the harmony of the city. Everybody’s got a little solo.’
During a recent visit to La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela’s renowned Dream House installation in a Manhattan loft, Elucid found himself deeply immersed in the otherworldly sonic environment. Seated and later lying down amidst the long-running drone compositions, illuminated by pink and purple stage lights and perfumed by incense, he allowed himself to drift into a meditative state. This marked his first return to the Dream House in at least a decade, yet his regular practice of frequenting flotation tanks had primed him for the installation’s profound calming effects. He confessed to drifting off slightly, and as he settled into the cascading tones, thoughts of “engine room” and “turbine” came to mind—an unconscious mirroring of his own songwriting process.
Elucid elaborates on his artistic approach, stating, ‘Rappers always be like, “The beat tells me what to do,”’ and he finds himself in full agreement. He perceives sound as possessing ‘colour, emotion and force,’ acknowledging that each listener’s interpretation is inherently unique. For him, developing a distinct ‘sound vocabulary’ means that ‘oftentimes words pop in. Sometimes it’s a whole sentence,’ emerging organically from the sonic landscape and the perpetual din of the city he calls home.