cLOUDDEAD

cLOUDDEAD emerged as an enigmatic trio drawn from the Anticon collective, uniting Doseone, why?, and Odd Nosdam. Although each member had already built extensive solo careers while appearing on countless underground releases, the music they produced together diverged sharply from conventional rap expectations, favoring instead an experimental and ambient approach. Reviewers frequently linked the results to the Residents as well as Brian Eno’s Music for Airports and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, noting chanted vocals reminiscent of Tibetan monks. Rather than composing conventional tracks, the group issued its 2001 self-titled album as a sequence of 10" singles that together formed six distinct movements. Every installment explored its own thematic focus and featured a different guest closely tied to the collective: Illogic, DJ Signify, Sole, the Wolf Bros, Mr. Dibbs, and the Bay Area Animals. Listeners were instructed to play the six singles consecutively so they would function as one continuous full-length piece. After several years devoted to numerous other projects, the group delivered its 2004 album Ten, which cLOUDDEAD declared would be its final statement.