The Gaslamp Killer Explained

The Gaslamp Killer
Birth Name:	William Benjamin Bensussen
Origin:	San Diego, California, United States
Years Active:	2000–present
Associated Acts:	Amir Yaghmai, Gonjasufi, Flying Lotus, Samiyam, Free the Robots
Birth Date:	7 November 1982^[1]

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.^[2]

Career

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".^[3]

After moving to Los Angeles in 2006, he helped found Low End Theory, "L.A.'s monolithic weekly showcase for uncut beat-driven tracks".^[4]

The Gaslamp Killer has played at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,^[5] the Austin Psych Fest,^[6] the Decibel Festival,^[7] and the Voodoo Fest.^[8]

He produced Gonjasufi's debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, with Flying Lotus and Mainframe in 2010.^[9]

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.^[10] His debut album, Breakthrough, was released in September 2012.^[11]

In 2015, he released a live album, The Gaslamp Killer Experience: Live in Los Angeles.^[12] In 2016, he released a studio album, Instrumentalepathy.^[13] In 2020, he released his latest album Heart Math.

In 2023, he released a collaboration with the Heliocentrics entitled Legna. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer meets the Heliocentrics - LEGNA, by the Gaslamp Killer & the Heliocentrics .

Personal life

Bensussen is Jewish, and his ancestry includes Turkish, Syrian, Lebanese, Mexican and Lithuanian.^{[14] [15] [16]} 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. ^[17]

Discography

Studio albums

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

Live albums

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

EPs

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

Singles

• "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

• 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

• Flying Lotus - "GNG BNG" from Los Angeles (2008)
• The Beastmaster - Have You Ever Bled from Your Eyes? Do You Want To? (2009)
• Gonjasufi - "Kobwebz" and "Kowboyz & Indians" from A Sufi and a Killer (2010)

Guest appearances

• Free the Robots - Free the Robots (2008)
• Prefuse 73 - Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (2009)
• Nocando - "Hurry Up and Wait" from Jimmy the Lock (2010)

Compilation appearances

• 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)

Notes and References

1. https://www.facebook.com/gaslampkiller/posts/10152378009566750 The Gastlamp Killer Facebook post
2. Web site: Gaslamp Killer at the center of the L.A. beat. Los Angeles Times. Joshua. Glazer. November 20, 2010.
3. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer: His troubled mind. Resident Advisor. Jeff. Weiss. September 8, 2010.
4. Web site: Sound of vertigo: Why the Gaslamp Killer leads listeners into a hallucinatory odyssey. Krimper. Michael. August 12, 2009. San Francisco Bay Guardian. July 26, 2010.
5. Web site: Lost, With Laptops, in Psychedelic Space. Rubin. Mike. May 25, 2010. The New York Times. July 26, 2010.
6. Web site: Austin Psych Fest 3: The Gaslamp Killer. Dewitt. Matthew. April 12, 2010. Austinist. July 26, 2010.
7. Web site: The Motherfucker of Invention. Segal. Dave. January 26, 2010. The Stranger. July 26, 2010.
8. 10 Must-See Acts at Voodoo Fest: The Gaslamp Killer. Rolling Stone. October 15, 2012. April 18, 2012.
9. Web site: Tonight: The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe at Gonjasufi record release. LA Weekly. Drew. Tewksbury. March 15, 2010.
10. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer: "Flange Face" (ft. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson). Pitchfork. Ian. Cohen. July 31, 2012.
11. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer Completes New Album 'Breakthrough' due on September 17th. Clash. Robin. Murray. July 11, 2012.
12. Watch Gaslamp Killer Experience's Trippy 'Ritual' Video. Rolling Stone. Daniel. Kreps. October 5, 2015. November 7, 2017.
13. The Gaslamp Killer Announces 'Instrumentalepathy' Album. Rolling Stone. Elias. Leight. August 11, 2016. November 7, 2017.
14. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer: A bright spark hits the decks. Metro. John. Lewis. October 18, 2010.
15. Web site: Run The Jewels live in two cities . 2024-02-19 . Run The Jewels live in two cities - The Observer . en-US.
16. Web site: The Gaslamp Killer / Jeremiah Jae. Spex. Steven Lee. Beeber. August 10, 2012.
17. Web site: [“https://www.spin.com/2013/07/gaslamp-killer-accident-spleen/].