Roughly 20 releases into his rap career as The Koreatown Oddity—either as a solo artist or in collaboration with producers such as Mndsgn or the late Ras G—Purdy is the most focused work of autobiography Dominique Purdy has released so far. Passing down his surname to these 15 songs was a telling choice, with the emcee addressing everything from family life to the mundanities of everyday existence over a set of minimal experimentalist beats. It’s a companion piece of sorts to his jazzier 2020 LP Little Dominiques Nosebleed, only this time he’s rooted in the present with his kids rather than looking back on his own childhood—reflecting one what’s directly in front of him, which happens to be his own music career. It’s “some Russian doll inception type shit,” in his own words.
Yet whether he’s addressing the past or the present, it’s Purdy’s unique ability to tap into that youthful sense of wonder that sets his work apart from that of his peers. In speaking about his influences on the album outside of the realm of music, Purdy cites the ritual of revisiting (and re-revisiting) his favorite show for the first time through his kids’ eyes as The Simpsons became a bedtime ritual in his household, while everything from the trees outside his car’s window to his favorite seafood spot manage to work their way into his lyrical and visual world. Experiencing déjà vu was evidently also an inspiration on Purdy, but you may not know it based on the originality of these tracks within his already-dense personal canon.
Ahead of the record’s release tomorrow via Stones Throw, check out Ktown’s five primary non-musical influences below. You can also pre-order the album here.
Trees (actual trees, not weed)
I love seeing the beauty in a tree, they’re quite psychedelic. Gigantic trees are really majestic to me, as well. Sometimes I’ll turn the car around to take a picture of a tree if I’m out on the road and pass a tree I felt some connection to. I love how trees change as seasons pass—blooming flowers, dying leaves. I remember Jenifer Lewis said she called off an engagement to a guy because he disregarded her feelings about how beautiful a tree was that caught her attention. I kinda feel her. If you can’t see the beauty in a tree, then you don’t need to be with me!
Mario’s Peruvian & Seafood
I specifically get the veggie saltado plate. Me and the homies frequent this classic LA spot. The staff knows us. I mention Mario’s and the famous green sauce they have on the first song off the new album, “Dancing with the Trees.” Also, the beginning of the music video for the song “Yahtzee” starts off with us at Mario’s.
Mr. T
I have a few different pieces of Mr. T art around the crib, and the cover of my album was inspired by Mr. T, as well. I have a Mr. T coloring book and the last page is him taking a moment to himself in nature. When I saw that photo I said, “Yes, this is it!” So I had my friend Rags airbrush the forest on a fabric that we hung up and took a photo in front of with black-and-white film.
The Simpsons
I have all sorts of Simpsons everything in my crib: dolls, toys, shoes, sheets, etc. My daughters (seven and three) are very well versed in Simpsons life. Every few months we’ll watch The Simpsons from season one to present every night for bed. The Simpsons is part of my family at this point.
Déjà vu
I’m always paying attention to the signs around me as much as I can: someone’s shirt, a bird, the clock, a loud yell, colors, conversation eavesdropping, etc. I find myself over the last few years having déjà vu waaay more often than I used to, leading to certain patterns of thought and making me reconnect with how I experience the present. I may experience it mid-conversation with someone and I’ll stop and say, “Whoa, I just felt like you said this exact same thing wearing this outfit while the weather felt this same way—and even me saying ‘I’ve experienced this’ is part of me saying I’ve experienced this.” Which also is another inspiration of the album cover (in collaboration with the song Artist in the Painting) on my album.
