The polymath behind the indie rock anthems of TV on the Radio
In short: From animating claymation violence for MTV to starring in the Star Wars universe, Tunde Adebimpe’s career defies a single genre. While known as the voice of an indie era, his reach extends into solo artistry, experimental side projects, and a prolific career in film and voice acting.
Born in 1975 to a Nigerian immigrant family, Babatunde Omoridig Adebimpe first entered the creative spotlight in a surprising way: as an animator for the hyper-violent MTV program Celebrity Deathmatch in 1998. This early work in animation would later inform his multidisciplinary approach to art, including his work as a cartoonist and his practice in painting and design.
He rose to international prominence as a founding member of the Brooklyn-based band TV on the Radio, which he co-founded in 2001 with producer Dave Sitek. Alongside collaborators like Kyp Malone, the group released influential albums such as 2004's Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain. The band's lineup saw significant shifts, including the loss of bassist Gerard Smith following the 2011 release of Nine Types of Light, leading the group to continue as a quartet for their 2014 album, Seeds.
Adebimpe's versatility is perhaps his most defining trait. As an actor, he has appeared in films ranging from Marriage Story to Spider-Man: Homecoming, and more recently in the 2024 series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. His vocal work spans animated series like Adventure Time and Tuca & Bertie, while his musical collaborations are equally vast, spanning from Massive Attack to Run The Jewels. In April 2025, he transitioned into a new chapter with the release of his debut solo album, Thee Black Boltz, on the Sub Pop label.
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