The ShapeShifters

Because Los Angeles is a music-industry center, a lot of artists from the area devote themselves to conformity -- yet for some strange, unexplained reason, SoCal's underground hip-hop scene remains a bastion of originality. The ShapeShifters epitomize this contradiction. Featuring mouthpieces Akuma, AWOL One, Circus, Die, Existereo, Life Rexall and...

By Michael Roberts

November 11, 2004

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Because Los Angeles is a music-industry center, a lot of artists from the area devote themselves to conformity -- yet for some strange, unexplained reason, SoCal's underground hip-hop scene remains a bastion of originality. The ShapeShifters epitomize this contradiction. Featuring mouthpieces Akuma, AWOL One, Circus, Die, Existereo, Life Rexall and Radioinactive, and supplemented by spinner LA Jae, the sprawling crew steers clear of stereotypes on The ShapeShifters Was Here, a new recording on the Cornerstone imprint. Much of the disc is out of this world, thanks to sci-fi imagery of the sort found in "Message 4 Yer Planet," an oddball assemblage of faux-futuristic noises and speed raps about making "the most of your time on Earth." Humor is prevalent, too, with "Psycho Stick," which kicks off with the declaration that "there ain't nothin' wrong with my attitude problem," and the electro-parody "Circuit City" standing atop the heap. Still, tunes like "American Idle" are more than mere novelties, due to the pointed quality of the jokes they contain. Far from being musical replicants, the ShapeShifters regularly morph into unique forms. They're an unexpected reason to love L.A.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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