Justice & Thundercat

Biography

Justice & Thundercat is a collaboration between the French electronic band Justice and American bassist Stephen Lee Bruner (Thundercat). Rather than a permanent musical partnership, this represents a notable one-off collaboration that emerged in 2024. Thundercat, born October 19, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, is a virtuosic bassist and singer who has become one of the most sought-after session musicians in contemporary music. He began playing bass at age 4 and was inspired by legendary bassists like Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Jaco Pastorius. His career spans multiple genres including funk, soul, progressive R&B, jazz-fusion, and metal, having initially gained prominence as a member of crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies before transitioning to a more eclectic solo career. In 2024, Thundercat collaborated with Justice on the track "The End," which appeared as the final track on Justice's album Hyperdrama, released on April 26, 2024. This collaboration represented a significant moment in both artists' careers, as the song was subsequently featured at the Summer Olympics 2024 closing ceremony in Paris, bringing Thundercat's virtuosic bass work to a global audience of millions.

Fun Facts

• Thundercat found his stage name as a reference to the cartoon character he loved since childhood, reflecting his wide-eyed and vibrant approach to music that he describes as 'often superhuman.'
• In August 2024, Thundercat appeared on the children's show Yo Gabba Gabba performing "Orange Cat" in full costume, and reunited with the cast in December 2024 for a medley performance as part of the Tiny Desk Concert series.
• His father, Ronald Bruner Sr., was a drummer who played with the Temptations, making music a family legacy; Thundercat began playing bass at just 4 years old, making him a 'late-bloomer' compared to his father's early start.
• By age 15, Thundercat had already achieved a minor hit in Germany as a member of the boy band No Curfew, demonstrating his prodigious talent from an early age.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Stanley Clarke - Early inspiration and influence on bass playing technique (Thundercat studied Clarke's work as a foundational influence) [Early 1990s onwards]
• Marcus Miller - Bass player inspiration during formative years (Studied as a reference for bass technique and style) [Early 1990s onwards]
• Jaco Pastorius - Foundational influence on bass approach; father played Pastorius recordings (First bass instruction through Pastorius recordings) [Early childhood]
• Flying Lotus - Producer and mentor who encouraged Thundercat to develop his singing voice and solo career (The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011), Apocalypse (2013)) [2011 onwards]
• Erykah Badu - Helped Thundercat find his unique stage style and artistic identity (Session work and artistic development) [2000s onwards]

Key Collaborators

• Justice - Collaborated on the track "The End" for their album Hyperdrama ("The End" (2024)) [2024]
• Kendrick Lamar - Featured on Kendrick's critically acclaimed album (To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), specifically "These Walls") [2015]
• Flying Lotus - Frequent collaborator and producer on multiple projects (The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011), Apocalypse (2013), various session work) [2011 onwards]
• Kamasi Washington - Early collaborator; formed The Young Jazz Giants together (Live at 5th Street Dick's, The Proclamation, West Coast Get Down recordings) [2004 onwards]
• Mac Miller - Frequent session bassist and close collaborator (Multiple albums and Tiny Desk Concert (2018)) [2010s]
• Gorillaz - Featured on virtual band collaboration ("Cracker Island" (2022)) [2022]
• Suicidal Tendencies - Early career band membership as bassist (Multiple studio and touring work) [Late 1990s onwards]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Wesley's Theory (To Pimp A Butterfly)
2. Funny Thing (It Is What It Is)
3. Them Changes (Drunk)
4. After Last Night (with Thundercat & Bootsy Collins) (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
5. These Walls (To Pimp A Butterfly)
6. After Last Night (with Thundercat & Bootsy Collins) (An Evening With Silk Sonic)
7. Walk On By (Drunk)
8. No More Lies
9. Cracker Island (feat. Thundercat) (Cracker Island)
10. Dragonball Durag (It Is What It Is)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia