Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC > FEATURES

Critic’s Pick: Theophilus London

By Elliot Sharp

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Oct. 21, 2011

Twenty-four year-old Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-raised rapper/singer Theophilus London is a divisive artist. He’s criticized for many of the same reasons as Kanye West and Jay-Z—name-dropping designer clothes and generally acting like a spoiled dandy—but unlike those two, London hasn’t yet proved he’s talented enough to deserve the spotlight. He likes to party and wear expensive hats, but lacks substance. His new album, Timez Are Weird These Days, is stylistically plural—R&B, hip-hop, synth-pop, indie-rock, radio-rock, and several other tags apply—which made his translation into a marketing scheme for multiple companies ideal. Bloggers calling his music “hipster-rap” have certainly helped reel in the namesake demographic who, like London, cherish the void inside them. None of this is necessarily bad. Materialistic artists who shift between multiple styles depending on whichever one promises the biggest paycheck are the future. London represents the country’s emerging generation, so catch a glimpse at tonight’s concert.

Tues., Oct. 25, 7:30pm. $15. With Friendly Fires + Chad Valley. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St. 215.232.2100. utphilly.com