Michael Rapaport would like to tell you about a “dope new group” called Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Rapaport, the actor, comedian, and podcaster, went viral on Wednesday for an Instagram video in which he raves about “Maps,” his latest musical discovery.
“Yo, you ever heard of this group called the Yeah Yeah Yeahs?” he asks, with a photo of YYYs vocalist Karen O superimposed over the footage. “I don’t really like a lot of new music,” Rapaport continues, “but I just heard the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Great song, this song ‘Maps.’ Fantastic! I’ve been playing it all day. I guess the lead singer’s name is Karen something.”
It would seem that Rapaport, a New York City native who directed a documentary about A Tribe Called Quest, must be trolling. There’s no way he lived through the last quarter-century without becoming aware of this world-famous band from his hometown or encountering their signature song, released in 2003. But if he’s joking, he keeps a straight face as he proceeds. “Cause mostly I like older music, my hip-hop, my old soul, jazz. I don’t know about the new music. But this ‘Maps,’ something ‘Y’ something, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Dope new group, you should check ’em out.” It’s called “Y Control,” Michael, and we appreciate you pointing it out.
In Rapaport’s defense, the distinction between old and new music has mostly been eradicated in the TikTok and Spotify era. As discussed in our Coachella poster breakdown, which highlighted Weezer’s enduring popularity, young people today don’t seem to much care when a song came out. Yeah Yeah Yeahs have certainly benefitted from this phenomenon. “Maps” went viral in 2024, which sent the song rocketing up the streaming charts and probably contributed to Rolling Stone‘s recent decision to name it the greatest rock song of the 21st century so far. But Rapaport’s been around. He should know!
In other other YYYs news, Karen O has a new solo song called “Soft Machine” in Space Cadet, the new animated adaptation of turntablist Kid Koala’s 2011 graphic novel. The movie, which features no dialogue, debuted last year at the Berlin International Film Festival. It follows the astronaut Celeste as she embarks on her first solo mission into space, leaving behind Robot, the Guardianbot who raised her. Kid Koala, who also composed the film’s original score, has called it “a tomorrow-days lullaby about finding your place in the universe.”
“Soft Machine” finds Karen O in sparse, intimate ballad mode. A one-minute excerpt of the song can be heard in “Empty Nester,” a clip featuring Robot that premiered at Billboard:
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Space Cadet premieres this weekend. Tickets are available here. In September, Yeah Yeah Yeahs released Hidden In Pieces: Live At The Royal Albert Hall, a live album recorded over two nights at the storied London venue last year, with bonus recordings from San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Mexico City. Stream it below if you’re looking for a good time.
There’s also a companion short film by Barnaby Clay:
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