Theophilus London - I Want You

Theophilus London is a rapper and producer whose taste in sampling sources is eclectic enough to rival that of Mark Ronson, who is his friend and frequent collaborator. On his recent mixtape, I Want You, London does some impressive work with samples from Marvin Gaye, Vampire Weekend, and Ellie Goulding to name a few.

I first listened to I Want You on the last day of a three-week road trip/bender. I had been on planes and trains and in cars. I drank in lounges, clubs, and bars. Not to mention hidden back rooms, basements, and rooftops from New York to Texas and everywhere in between. I was driving the last leg towards home on a Saturday afternoon and hadn't told anyone that I would be back in town that night. I desperately needed a night off.

Wishing I was home already, I scrolled through my iPhone (synced with the car's audio system) and found I Want You, which I had downloaded long ago but never listened to. Halfway into "Sorry to Interrupt," I knew I would play it again before moving to the next track. By the third play, I was doing way over 100mph and contemplating driving straight to my favorite lounge, valeting the car, buying two bottles of Kettle, and texting my whereabouts to every girl I knew. "Don't Be Afraid" made me contemplate driving to the airport instead, and buying those bottles in Lagos (just listen and you'll understand why). All of that is to say that I Want You has energy. Play "Sorry to Interrupt" and "Don't be Afraid " below, and watch the official video for the title track. When you're done, go to London's website and download the entire mixtape.

Theophilus London - "Sorry To Interrupt"
Theophilus London - "Don't Be Afraid"

THEOPHILUS LONDON "I WANT YOU" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) dir. VASHTIE from va$htie on Vimeo.