IDK SHARES VIDEO FOR “SCARY MERRi”
.idk. — the artist born Jason Mills whose career as a rapper, singer, producer, and cultural architect has taken him to the NPR Tiny Desk, the cover of GQ, the lecture halls of Harvard University, and most recently the cover of MARVIN Magazine — shares a new animated video for “SCARY MERRi,” which recently announced the forthcoming E.T.D.S. – Even the Devil Smiles, a new mixtape out January 23. He’ll also perform live in NYC this Thursday, 12/18 at DMX 55, a celebration of the life of the late rapper on what would have been his 55th birthday.
The 2-D stop motion video for “SCARY MERRi,” made by artist Ryan Polk, is a poignant, eerie illustration of the drunken and sinister stumble of a beat from Conductor Williams. It suits November’s post-Halloween, pre-Christmas interregnum; atop it all, .idk. floods the mic with a frantic recounting of smash-and-grab endeavors and holidays aborted by prison bids.
Inspired by the immediacy of 90s and 2000s mixtape culture, Black expressionism, and .idk.’s own journey through a broken criminal justice system, E.T.D.S. is a story of survival and second chances; a reclamation and a reconciliation, bolstered by both his own production and contributions from Madlib, Kaytranada, No I.D., Joey Valence & Brae, Ratboy, Goldie, and Conductor Williams.
If .idk. had served the full fifteen-year sentence he was given at the age of seventeen, he only would have been stepping out this year, in 2025. Having served only three of the fifteen years, every day is a coming to terms with what was so close to being lost to the treacherous US penal system. E.T.D.S. is the result of that reflection, a vivid and collagist origin story that, as .idk. writes, serves as “proof that creation could breathe in captivity.”
As .idk. elaborates: “This project goes more in-depth into my incarceration, the mentality during the events that led to it, and the mindset I had while inside. It confronts that reality head-on, blending sharp lyricism with raw storytelling about incarceration, betrayal, spiritual conflict, and the moments that shaped me. Real phone calls with Deangelo Sneed, a high ranking Blood who saw my potential and kept me focused, serve as checkpoints throughout the project. It leans heavy on rap with touches of melody — gritty, honest, and fully transparent.”
This chapter of the story officially begun with the historic release of “S.T.F”, a collaboration with Kaytranada and the late icon DMX. “S.T.F” is the first posthumous DMX collaboration that Desiree Lindstrom and Sasha Simmons, co-administrators of the Estate of Earl “DMX” Simmons, have cosigned since his passing. The track is .idk.’s tribute to the spirit of a long-time creative co-conspirator — DMX had previously appeared on .idk.’s breakthrough projects Is He Real and USee4Yourself. This Thursday, he’ll perform at DMX 55, the celebration of what would have been DMX’s 55th birthday, at SOB’s in New York City, along with Denzel Curry. More info here.
Born in London and raised in Maryland, .idk. has built a reputation for pairing uncompromising storytelling with expansive creative direction — bridging street reality, philosophy, and art. With over one billion global streams and press notices from the likes of GQ, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Billboard, i-D, and Complex, .idk.’s built a formidable catalogue while maintaining a fierce sense of independence.
.idk. has consistently expanded the boundaries of what hip-hop can hold. He recently held a gallery premiere at MOCA in LA (where he debuted this video); created and produced a lecture series at Harvard in collaboration with the nonprofit No Label Academy, inviting figures like the late Virgil Abloh and Issa Rae to participate; and has collaborated with the likes Tyler, The Creator, Pusha T, Pharrell, MF Doom, Young Thug, JID, Rico Nasty, and Chief Keef. He is often tapped for bespoke product design and creative partnerships with brands like Nike, Dior, Mercedes Benz F-1, and McLaren.
Last month, .idk. unveiled a special collaboration with Land Rover on the all new Defender 110.3 by .idk. and thr33dot — a culmination of a lifelong love affair with car customization. Says .idk.: “It’s full circle, from a kid spray-painting cars in his mom’s garage to designing something that can live in a museum and on the road.” More info on .idk.’s work with Land Rover here.
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