Opponents of domestic violence have announced plans to protest an upcoming performance by Odd Future, arguing that the group's grisly lyrics "[are not] OK by any means". The non-profit group Between Friends will lead the charge at July's Pitchfork music festival teaming with agencies including Rape Victims Advocates, the YWCA, and activists for gay, lesbian and transgendered rights.
It's no secret that Odd Future are provocative. From their earliest mixtapes to Tyler the Creator's recent XL debut, the LA skaters have mashed swagger with ultraviolence, rapping about rape, necrophilia and "socking bitches in they mouth". Although Tyler insists that he's not homophobic, and Odd Future's sound engineer Syd tha Kid is a woman (and a lesbian), many feminists and activists have called for the group to be censured. "I'm disheartened that any self-respecting human being could stand in support with a message so vile," wrote Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara. Tyler's response? "If Tegan and Sara need some hard dick, hit me up!"
Later this month, Odd Future's fans and opponents are set to come face-to-face at Chicago's Pitchfork festival, curated by the well-known music website. Odd Future are "contrary to what [Pitchfork] stand for," argued Yesenia Maldonado, programme director for Between Friends. "They have the right to have the music that they feel people are interested in ... [but this is] really our opportunity to take a stand."
Founded in 1986, Between Friends is "dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and building a community free of abuse". Together with other groups, they will be protesting in the streets around the festival site, distributing cardboard fans that ask festivalgoers to "cool down" and discuss domestic violence. To this end, they aim to raise $1,500 in online donations.
"We want to make sure that we let [Odd Future] know that this is something that we're taking notice of, and we really want to get the other view out there as much as possible," Maldonado said. "There are going to be people in that audience who have experienced [domestic violence], and we don't want their experiences to go unnoticed."
Odd Future play the Pitchfork music festival on 17 July.
