Thundercat Joins Ace Hashimoto for an Animated Joyride in New "VAPORWAVES" Video

The duo slips into a pixelated OutRun daydream in the visual treatment for their new collaboration.

After a few years on hiatus, Japan-via-Illinois singer and producer, Ace Hashimoto, has announced his debut album with the release of a new Thundercat collaboration.

Last week, Hashimoto shared the new song "VAPORWAVES" on his Patreon page. Taking turns with an airy melody over a full-slink bass line from Brainfeeder's low-end specialist, the duo ruminates on God, earth, and existence itself. And now, the song has received a properly pixelated visual treatment. Taking cues from 8-and-16-bit classics, the animated lyric video stages a very OutRun scenario, swapping out the cherry red Testerosa for a cold grey convertible. Upon release, Hashimoto warned the video would be up for "a limited time only" before presumably becoming a Patreon exclusive. So get it for free while you can.

The singer shared the clip with a note on the inspiration behind the song. "This song is about existential crisis and i believe it was that concept that led me to feeling free enough to do things i've always wanted to do, while also being even more grateful for the things i CAN do," Hashimoto wrote in the caption for the video. "Be aware of your own mortality. remember, we're all just human. and tell the people you care about, 'I'm happy to have you in my life,'" he added.

Hashimoto (formerly known as brandUn DeShay,) previously worked with Tyler, The Creator, SZA, Danny Brown, Chance The Rapper, Hodgie Beats, and a number of other breakouts from The Rap Blog Era. In 2016, he moved to Japan and dialed back his output, releasing only a handful of singles in the years since. Thundercat, on the other hand, is up for "Best Urban Contemporary Album" at this year's Grammys with his latest project, It Is What It Is.

Watch Ace Hashimoto and Thundercat's bit-heavy joyride in the video for "VAPORWAVES" below. Tune into the Grammys tomorrow night to see if the bassist brings home his first golden gramophone.