On the heels of the release of their third collaborative album Tuxedo III this past summer, Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One recently dropped a new visual that any true music lover is bound to appreciate. For their smoldering single “Toast 2 Us” featuring Benny Sings, the dynamic duo chose to recreate the covers of some of the most iconic albums — including hip-hop pioneering group Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, legendary rock band Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Outkast’s Stankonia.
Noting the track as the first slow jam they’ve released as a single, the always unpredictable pair sought to do something different and unexpected for the Ross Harris-directed video. “Re-enacting a bunch of classic album covers seemed like a good idea," they explained via press release. Though not readily apparent to viewers, the gift of technology allowed Benny Sings to shoot his feature remotely. His location is jokingly described as a “Super 8 equivalent pool in Amsterdam." Regardless of the challenges and seemingly huge undertaking required to deliver sans any mocking undertones, Tuxedo was able to pull the visual off in a way that pays tribute to a few of the music industry’s most celebrated projects.
Watch Tuxedo’s “Toast 2 Us” video below and be sure to add the full Tuxedo III album to your collection from your favorite digital platform. The duo recently wrapped their sold-out headlining summer tour across North America and will soon head to Japan for a handful of shows. Those lucky enough to catch them live in the land of the rising sun can grab tickets here.
