“The only time you wear a Tuxedo is when it’s time to party.”

So said legendary West Coast player Snoop Dogg on the opening track of the Tuxedo’s last album, Tuxedo II. The blessing of the Doggfather was of special importance to Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, as the duo began to work on Tuxedo III, solidifying them at forefront of the new wave of gangster boogie – one that owes as much to G-funk as P-funk. This is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of Cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant funk that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking it. 

Bonding over a shared love of Chic, Parliament and the other signs in the greater funk Zodiac, Mayer Hawthorne (Aquarius) and Jake One (Taurus) were early predictors of the sea changes that American music would undergo in 2016. Their first release in March of 2015 debuted at #1 on iTunes America’s RnB charts, christened as “Dance floor catnip” by the Boston Globe, and “Pure disco-funk hot fire” by Okayplayer. The sophomore album on Stones Throw Records was premiered with a special performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and dubbed as “Straight-up funk magic” by Noisey. Considering their individual successes (Mayer’s four solo albums, Jake’s production work for the likes of Drake, Future, The Weeknd, and De La Soul) and eight GRAMMY nominations between the two of them, it’s no surprise that their powers combined have yet again yielded a bevy of absolute slappers that are packaged perfectly for dance parties in 2019 and beyond. The material here, while wholly original, is an exercise in honoring its forebears like the first two albums, but this time the duo invited a lineup of modern torchbearers to help propel the affair to new heights. Tuxedo’s III includes features from MF DOOM, DāM-FunK, Leven Kali, Benny Sings and others. The crystallization of the album’s concept comes courtesy of its message of universal love; thanks to the signature combination of soul and pop sensibility that have come to define Tuxedo’s hooks.

“This is celebration music…” says Mayer in a recent interview with NPR, one of the many outlets to cover Tuxedo’s rise – see NPR’s Tiny Desk. After all – the transcendental ritual of the party and the rippling self-affirmation of the funk are of one spirit: the spirit of self-love…of self-expression. Tuxedo III is a modern testament to unity and positivity in trying times. It is a reminder that the dance floor will always be there to welcome you, whoever you are.

Do you Fux with the Tux?