The 80s Boldly Unleash Electrifying New Release: The Pursuit EP

The renowned hip hop group The 80s, a daring venture in R&B and hip-hop from GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy and GRAMMY® Award-winning super-producer No ID, marks their musical comeback with their revamped EP The Pursuit, now available via Platoon/Aesthetic.

The 80s was established in 2011 during the Blog Era, a period characterized by the dissolution of music-industry barriers and the proliferation of free mixtapes and commentary on platforms like Fake Shore Drive, OnSmash, NahRight, among others, garnering widespread praise. With Fauntleroy as the lead vocalist, No ID at the helm of sound production, and a diverse group of R&B and hip hop stars including Common, Jhené Aiko, Kevin Randolph, Anomaly, and more, The 80s released a series of highly acclaimed EPs, quickly amassing a dedicated following.

The Pursuit, the inaugural EP in the series, set a benchmark for those captivated by soulful music, making its online debut without any prior announcement. For the first time ever, The Pursuit will be available on DSPs in a newly remastered format and will feature a new guest appearance from three-time Grammy nominee Snoh Aalegra.

The alleged collaborators of this project remain elusive due to their on-the-run status. However, sources close to them have revealed, “The recognition and appreciation for The Pursuit and its subsequent EPs far exceeded their expectations. Now, The 80s are eager to share the newly mastered and revamped versions with both their earliest fans and a broader mainstream audience.”

The 2024 remaster of The Pursuit was carried out by Dale Becker, ensuring that listeners now have access to the most refined version of this landmark EP. Snoh Aalegra, who has been groomed into a formidable R&B vocalist by No ID on his ARTium Recordings label, adds a new verse to the dramatic, sensual closing track, “Blue”. Her powerful mezzo-soprano blends beautifully with Fauntelory’s multi-tracked tenor, ensuring that The Pursuit remains as fresh and relevant as it was when it first made its surprise debut.