Independent hip-hop artists A-F-R-O and 60 East are introducing themselves as a duo, and will release their debut EP, AT THE SIDESHOW, on May 23rd. The project showcases not only the two MCs’ lyrical abilities, but also A-F-R-O’s lesser-known skills as a beatmaker. The five-song EP is a manifestation of a years-long friendship between the two, particularly their shared interests in film, television, and comedy. 

 

“We didn’t really sit down and decide to form a group, it all just kind of happened naturally,” says 60 East. We were just hanging out one day making beats, and I told A-F-R-O he should push his beats out more. He sent me a folder of beats, which I began writing to. That’s how the idea of releasing this EP as a group was born.”

 

At The Sideshow is thematically inspired by one of the most iconic animated television shows in American popular culture, Beavis and Butt-Head. More specifically, it’s a reflection of the two friends spending much of their time together analyzing and criticizing movies, shows and music – similar to how Beavis and Butt-Head would do. “We thought it would be dope to create animated characters in their own little universe” 60 East says. The EP’s music videos are also inspired by the adult cartoon series.

 

60 East and A-F-R-O are both self-described movie nerds, so fans can expect to hear a lot of obscure movie references and dialogue throughout At The Sideshow. “There’s definitely a cinematic feel,” says A-F-R-O. “The overall vibe is to sit back, roll one up, throw on a movie, and bump some hip-hop tunes. Which is pretty much all I do.”