Stephen Bruner, known professionally as Thundercat, is a highly acclaimed American musician, singer, record producer, songwriter, and bassist from Los Angeles. He first gained recognition as a member of the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies. Later, he transitioned his musical style to funk, soul, progressive R&B, psychedelia, and jazz-fusion.
A Prolific Career
Thundercat has released four solo studio albums and is celebrated for his collaborations with producer Flying Lotus and his contributions to Kendrick Lamar's 2015 album, To Pimp a Butterfly. In 2016, he won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance for his work on the track "These Walls" from To Pimp a Butterfly.
Many of the notable hip-hop, soul, jazz, and funk records of the last decade and a half share a common fingerprint: the fleet six-string fretwork of Thundercat. He has contributed to intricate grooves in Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. and To Pimp a Butterfly, Kamasi Washington’s Heaven and Earth and The Epic, Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah diptych, Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer, and records by Mac Miller, Flying Lotus, Childish Gambino, Travis Scott, Kali Uchis, Jhené Aiko, Moses Sumney, and many more.
Early Life and Influences
Born on October 19, 1984, and raised in Compton and other parts of Los Angeles, Bruner comes from a musical family. His father, Ronald Bruner Sr., was a drummer, and his mother, Pam, was a flautist and percussionist. Bruner Sr. played drums for The Temptations, The Supremes, and Gladys Knight, among others. After Bruner Sr. got sober from cocaine, the children would watch him play gigs at the Crenshaw Christian Center.
Bruner attended Locke High School, where he played in the school's jazz band. His teacher, Reggie Andrews, produced and co-wrote the Dazz Band's 1982 single "Let It Whip" and collaborated with Rick James. Andrews re-introduced Bruner to Kamasi Washington; the two had originally met as children, through their fathers' membership in a gospel fusion band. The reunited duo would sneak into jazz concerts, driving around in a worn-down 1982 Ford Mustang to do so. They would later get to play the same venues as the performers they watched.
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Bruner began playing the bass at an early age, listening to bass players such as Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller for inspiration. By the age of 15, he had a minor hit in Germany as a member of the boy band No Curfew. A year later, he joined his brother Ronald Jr. as a member of the Los Angeles crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, replacing former bass player Josh Paul.
Erykah Badu was credited with helping Bruner find his stage presence and identity as Thundercat. Along with his band duties, Bruner is also a session musician, acclaimed for his work on Erykah Badu's New Amerykah (2008) and fellow Brainfeeder artist Flying Lotus' Cosmogramma (2010), Until the Quiet Comes (2012), and You're Dead!
Thundercat's Reflections on Life Changes
In an interview, Thundercat shared insights into his personal evolution and the factors that prompted significant lifestyle changes. He described the end of 2018 as a traumatic period, leading him to revamp his life and address his emotional well-being.
Embracing Sobriety
A pivotal decision in Thundercat's journey was his choice to stop drinking. He openly discussed the profound impact of this change, noting that he "immediately lost a lot of weight." The transformation was so noticeable that some friends initially suspected drug use.
Thundercat acknowledged the initial challenges of sobriety, including withdrawal symptoms and intense emotions. However, he persevered and eventually found a new rhythm and equilibrium.
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The Impact of Loss
The loss of his friend, Mac Miller, served as a catalyst for Thundercat's decision to embrace sobriety. He explained that Miller's passing forced him to reevaluate his life and priorities. The memories of their shared experiences, particularly Miller's mannerisms, became a poignant reminder of the need for change.
Thundercat reflected on a time when he and his friends felt "infallible, like the Avengers," but the situation took a turn for the worse. This realization underscored the importance of cherishing life and making conscious choices.
Confronting Personal Challenges
Thundercat's journey toward self-improvement extended beyond sobriety. He also addressed personal challenges, including a difficult breakup. He shared that he had been on the verge of proposing when the relationship ended, leaving him heartbroken.
In response to these challenges, Thundercat adopted self-care practices, such as boxing and mindful eating. He recognized the need to prioritize his well-being and make healthier choices.
Musical Evolution
Thundercat's experiences and reflections have profoundly influenced his music. His album, It Is What It Is, released in 2020, delves into themes of loss, failed love, and existential dread. Despite the somber topics, the album retains Thundercat's signature playfulness and humor.
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It Is What It Is
It Is What It Is has been described as the best album of Bruner’s career and one of the strongest of 2020. The sequencing showcases the playfully vibrant nature of Thundercat’s past efforts and dynamic musicianship, while saving the more serious, introspective numbers for the second half of the album.
The album opens with the brief “Lost In Space / Great Scott” and seamlessly flows into “Innerstellar Love.” Thundercat’s experimentation with nature continues on “I Love Louis Cole,” using strings and layers of digital sounds around a hyper-paced drum motif. “How I Feel” acts as the transition into dark terrain as Bruner delivers dramatic beats and philosophical words of warning on “King Of The Hill,” singing about bitterness between deep grooves. It Is What It Is wraps up with the short, tense “Existential Dread” before the overarching title track.
Drunk
Thundercat's 2017 album, Drunk, was a breakout record that propelled him to a higher level. It featured stars such as Pharrell, Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller, and appeared in best album lists everywhere. It made genre hilariously irrelevant as he liberally daubed over jazz-funk fusion, cosmic soul, prog, R&B and lurid comedy skits like a 21st-century Frank Zappa.
Apocalypse
Thundercat's second studio album, Apocalypse, came out in July 2013. The Ten Year Anniversary Edition of the record came out a few weeks ago, and it features two never-before-heard songs-“Paris” and “Before I loved myself ‘I’ pooped my ankles (true),” the latter of which was recorded with the late Austin Peralta before his sudden passing from pneumonia at age 22.
Apocalypse gave Thundercat a voice and the tools to make Drunk in 2017-one of the R&B and jazz fusion records of the century, which came off the back of having worked with Kendrick Lamar on To Pimp a Butterfly and Moses Sumney on Lamentations. While Thundercat wasn’t quite the mega star back then that he is right now, he was a wunderkind four-string maestro whose musical touch knew no bounds-as he played in thrash bands like Suicidal Tendencies and jazz collectives like West Coast Get Down. And while Apocalypse didn’t send Thundercat immediately to the stratosphere, looking back on songs like “Oh Shiet It’s X” and “Heartbreaks + Setbacks” continues to be a plentiful affair and an intimate look at both his and Flying Lotus’ rising genius.
Collaborations and Influences
Thundercat's collaborations with various artists have also shaped his musical identity. He has worked extensively with Flying Lotus, Erykah Badu, and Kendrick Lamar, among others. These collaborations have exposed him to different musical styles and perspectives, enriching his creative process.
Flying Lotus
Thundercat has worked with Flying Lotus so much that there are aspects that feel almost interchangeable. A relationship on any level is something you have to keep healthy. There’s a lot of trust there, to the degree that Thundercat trusts Lotus with his music, which is his life.
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu was credited with helping Bruner find his stage presence and identity as Thundercat.
Kendrick Lamar
In 2016, Thundercat won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Performance for his work on the track "These Walls" from To Pimp a Butterfly.
Personal Style and Interests
Thundercat is known for his unique personal style, which reflects his love for anime and cartoons. He often wears outfits that incorporate elements from these sources, such as a Pikachu backpack, cat-ear headbands, and the Interface Headset from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
A Grammy Winner and More
Thundercat's talent and hard work have been recognized with numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance in 2016. He has also received a Libera Award for Best R&B Record in 2021 for his album It Is What It Is.
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