Video: League Of Extraordinary Gz – “Billie Jean”

HipHopDX Premieres Latest Release from 2013’s #LeagueShit Album

04.11.2014

Critical Praise for the League Of Extraordinary Gz:

“The eight members of the group were a high-energy bunch, rapping with distinctive Texas twang and pogo dancing nonstop.” – The New York Times

“A goddamn typhoon onstage.” – Houston Press

“Eight immensely capable lyricists, all of whom bring a unique perspective, voice, and level of vigor to the stage” – Austin Chronicle cover story

“…what promises to be a defining group in Texas rap history: The League of Extraordinary G’z.” – DJ Booth

“Texas has its own big rap group ready to make an impact.” – XXL

The Video:

In the new League Of Extraordinary Gz video for “Billie Jean,” premiered by HipHopDX, we get to see young suburban kids dealing…dealing Kool-aid laced lemonade that is. Armed with super soakers, the young hustlers of the Kool-lemonade stand hit a rival girl stand with a drive by soaking, pedaling in hard on their BMX bikes. The visuals, acting as a euphemism, bring a funny, entertaining version of the real drug dealing that’s out in the streets. “With the theme of the track centered around hustling and the video about a kid hustling through a lemonade stand, we wanted to create a bright colored summer setting to constrast the hard feel of the track.”

On a more touching note, the children featured in the video are those of Esbe, a LOEGz crew member who passed away from pulmonary embolism in 2011. Octavis “Esbe Da 6th Street Bully” Berry was the one to step into the recording booth and yell the groups’ anthem: “League Shit!” The group adds, “With it being the Christmas holidays at the time of the shoot, we also had the opportunity to have his 2 year old daughter Serenity (who lives in Missouri) be in the video. Esbe had passed prior to her birth so just having her as well as her siblings be a part of this video was what we were most proud of. It has his imprint on it. Even deeper, if you see the end of the video we have Serenty saying ‘LEAGUESHIT’ which echoes the same chant from Esbe that you can hear in our music.”

The video was directed by Zach Villafania, and the song was released on the LOEGz’ late 2013 album, #LeagueShit. At this year’s SXSW, the LOEGz were all over the place, performing at an remarkable 15 shows. In the coming months, the LOEGz will be releasing a remix project with wavy Austin producer Eric Dingus, who earlier year released an album with LOEGz member Slick Talk.

Watch “Billie Jean” here: http://youtu.be/DgwJ522nUTc

Check out the HipHopDX premiere here: http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/videos/id.15996/title.league-of-extraordinary-gz-billie-jean-

Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with League Of Extraordinary Gz.

League Of Extraordinary Gz Background:

When Austin, Texas, reality rap collective League of Extraordinary Gz recorded “We Gone Make It” in spring 2010, Octavis “Esbe Da 6th Street Bully” Berry stepped in the booth and yelled two words: “League Shit!”. Three years later, it has become an emphatic anthem, brand and title. The Bully’s vision formed in 2009 when his choice of 8 members and 3 groups with their own budding local buzz – Dred Skott, Da COD and Southbound – sat in a driveway plotting a collaborative mixtape. In 2010 they debuted locally, played the SXSW Music Festival and Fun Fun Fun Fest and were featured on MTV Jams’ Texas All-Star Edition. In 2011 they rocked over 60 shows, including a West Coast tour with Jackie Chain for their Concealed Weapons 3 mixtape, and a national tour with Dead Prez. Then, in October 2011, The Bully passed away suddenly due to a pulmonary embolism. As 2011 ended, the LOEGz were named one of Sonicbids’ Top 5 Hip Hop acts, and they released The Plug EP. All of this came from a collective effort by 3 groups in 3 years via the foresight of a now-absent leader. All anticipation, questions or doubt after a few spins of The Plug EP will be quenched with their debut album #LeagueShit. Clearly rooted in traditional hip hop, #LeagueShit includes stout musicality and wildly free speech featuring Dead Prez, Bavu Blakes, Grupo Fantasma, and Slim Gravy of A.Dd+.