Flying Lotus – São Paulo

Flying Lotus has announced a remastered reissue of his debut studio album, 1983, for Record Store Day 2026. The release, organized by his label Brainfeeder, will feature the original 2006 instrumental hip-hop record, which is named after the artist’s birth year, Steven Ellison. The announcement was made through multiple music news outlets, confirming the reissue as part of the annual Record Store Day celebrations.

The album 1983, originally released on October 3, 2006, via Plug Research, is recognized as Flying Lotus’ first full-length project under his moniker. It blends elements of jazz, electronic music, and underground hip-hop, drawing comparisons to producers like J Dilla, Madlib, and Daedelus. Critics at the time noted its warm, expressive tone and its role as a mission statement for Ellison’s future artistic direction.

Among the album’s tracks is “São Paulo,” a piece that has garnered attention in recent weeks through digital music platforms such as Bandcamp and SoundCloud. The track, which runs for approximately two minutes and eight seconds, is listed on the 1983 album and has been made available for purchase or streaming, with options to buy the track for $1.50 USD or more or send it as a gift. Its inclusion in the reissue has been highlighted in discovery alerts tied to the city of São Paulo.

The remastered version of 1983 is expected to preserve the original album’s 33-minute and 53-second runtime while enhancing audio quality for modern listeners. Brainfeeder’s involvement signals a continued effort to celebrate and recontextualize early works in the Flying Lotus catalog, particularly those that helped establish his reputation in the electronic and instrumental hip-hop scenes.

Record Store Day 2026 is set to take place on April 18, 2026, though the exact date of the reissue’s availability has not been specified in the announced details. The reissue joins a growing list of retrospective releases tied to the event, which aims to support independent record stores through exclusive vinyl, CD, and digital offerings.