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The Gaslamp Killer

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The Gaslamp Killer
The Gaslamp Killer in 2020
The Gaslamp Killer in 2020
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Benjamin Bensussen
Born (1982-11-07) November 7, 1982 (age 42)[1]
OriginSan Diego, California, United States
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active2000–present
Labels
Websitethegaslampkiller.com

William Benjamin Bensussen (born November 7, 1982), better known by his stage name The Gaslamp Killer, is an American alternative hip hop producer and DJ based in Los Angeles, California.[3]

Career

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He grew up in San Diego, California, where he became a DJ in the Gaslamp district. His sets often ruined the music vibe in the clubs, earning him the nickname "The Gaslamp Killer".[4]

After moving to Los Angeles in 2006, he helped found Low End Theory, "L.A.'s monolithic weekly showcase for uncut beat-driven tracks".[5]

The Gaslamp Killer has played at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,[6] the Austin Psych Fest,[7] the Decibel Festival,[8] and the Voodoo Fest.[9]

He produced Gonjasufi's debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, with Flying Lotus and Mainframe in 2010.[10]

In August 2012, he released a single, "Flange Face" b/w "Seven Years of Bad Luck for Fun", which was listed by Pitchfork as their "Best New Track" of July 2012.[11] His debut album, Breakthrough, was released in September 2012.[12]

In 2015, he released a live album, The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles.[13] In 2016, he released a studio album, Instrumentalepathy.[14] In 2020, he released his latest album Heart Math.

In 2023, he released a collaboration with the Heliocentrics entitled Legna. [15]

Personal life

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Bensussen is Jewish, and his ancestry includes Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, Mexican and Lithuanian.[16][17][18] His great-uncle is activist Herbert Aptheker.

Bensussen was in a scooter accident in 2013, which nearly cost him his life. He lost his spleen and was at one point three hours from death. Due to this outcome, he is no longer able to drink alcohol. [19]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Breakthrough (2012)
  • Instrumentalepathy (2016)
  • Break Stuff (2019)
  • Heart Math (2020)
  • Legna (with the Heliocentrics) (2023)

Live albums

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  • The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles (2015)

EPs

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  • The Killer Robots (2008) (with Free the Robots)
  • My Troubled Mind (2009)
  • Death Gate (2010)

Singles

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  • "Impulse" (2010) (with Daedelus)
  • "Flange Face" b/w "Seven Years of Bad Luck for Fun" (2012)
  • "Brass Sabbath" (2013) (with Jungle by Night)
  • "Murder Man" (2015) (with Mophono)
  • "Residual Tingles" (2016)

Mixes

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  • Gaslamp Killers (2007)
  • It's a Rocky Road: Volume 1 (2007)
  • It's a Rocky Road: Volume 2 (2007)
  • I Spit on Your Grave (2008)
  • We Make It Good Mix Series Volume 5 (2008)
  • Akuma No Chi Ga Odoru (2009)
  • All Killer: Finders Keepers Records 1-20 Mixed by The Gaslamp Killer (2009)
  • Hell and the Lake of Fire Are Waiting for You! (2009)
  • Vs Finders Keepers (2009)
  • A Decade of Flying Lotus (2010)
  • Helio x GLK (2013)
  • Lavender AM: Meditation Mix (2013)
  • 90's Hip Hop Mix (2024)

Productions

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Guest appearances

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Compilation appearances

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  • The Change Up EP-V.01 (2006)
  • T7L: Audio Promo Disc 707 (2007)
  • ArtDontSleep Presents... From L.A. with Love (2007)
  • Echo Expansion (2007)
  • Secret Hangout (2007)
  • Brainfeeder Sampler (2008)
  • Warp Records Spring 2008 (2008)
  • Stussy x TurntableLab - Beats (2008)
  • Dublab Presents: Echo Expansion (2009)
  • Choice on 12 (2010)
  • Radio Galaxia (2010)
  • Low End Theory Podcast (2010)

References

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  1. ^ The Gastlamp Killer Facebook post. Facebook. November 7, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Breakthrough by The Gaslamp Killer". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Glazer, Joshua (November 20, 2010). "Gaslamp Killer at the center of the L.A. beat". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Weiss, Jeff (September 8, 2010). "The Gaslamp Killer: His troubled mind". Resident Advisor.
  5. ^ Krimper, Michael (August 12, 2009). "Sound of vertigo: Why the Gaslamp Killer leads listeners into a hallucinatory odyssey". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  6. ^ Rubin, Mike (May 25, 2010). "Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ Dewitt, Matthew (April 12, 2010). "Austin Psych Fest 3: The Gaslamp Killer". Austinist. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  8. ^ Segal, Dave (January 26, 2010). "The Motherfucker of Invention". The Stranger. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "10 Must-See Acts at Voodoo Fest: The Gaslamp Killer". Rolling Stone. October 15, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  10. ^ Tewksbury, Drew (March 15, 2010). "Tonight: The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe at Gonjasufi record release". LA Weekly.
  11. ^ Cohen, Ian (July 31, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer: "Flange Face" (ft. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson)". Pitchfork.
  12. ^ Murray, Robin (July 11, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer Completes New Album 'Breakthrough' due on September 17th". Clash.
  13. ^ Kreps, Daniel (October 5, 2015). "Watch Gaslamp Killer Experience's Trippy 'Ritual' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  14. ^ Leight, Elias (August 11, 2016). "The Gaslamp Killer Announces 'Instrumentalepathy' Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  15. ^ "The Gaslamp Killer meets the Heliocentrics - LEGNA, by the Gaslamp Killer & the Heliocentrics".
  16. ^ Lewis, John (October 18, 2010). "The Gaslamp Killer: A bright spark hits the decks". Metro.
  17. ^ "Run The Jewels live in two cities". Run The Jewels live in two cities - The Observer. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Beeber, Steven Lee (August 10, 2012). "The Gaslamp Killer / Jeremiah Jae". Spex.
  19. ^ [“https://www.spin.com/2013/07/gaslamp-killer-accident-spleen/ “https://www.spin.com/2013/07/gaslamp-killer-accident-spleen/]. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
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