Wallpaper is an American hip hop and pop music project, fronted by producer and multi-instrumentalist songwriter Ricky Reed, based in Oakland, California. Wallpaper. is signed to Boardwalk Records/Epic Records and has played at SXSW. He uses exaggerated Auto-Tune and minimal electronic music while satirizing the lack of feeling in mainstream pop.
History
In 2004, Ricky Reed started by composing songs on the computer and exaggerating the lyrics in Auto-Tune. As auto-tune became more prevalent in mainstream music, Reed's songs gained popularity. In 2009, he released his debut album Doodoo Face on the label eenie meenie. In December 2010, Wallpaper. released "#STUPiDFACEDD," a song critics describe as nothing you hear everyday and that it is also very entertaining to listen to. In January 2011, Wallpaper. went on tour with The Dance Party and K.Flay. In April 2011, Wallpaper released the "#STUPiDFACEDD" official video. His first Red Carpet appearance was at the MTV Movie Awards 2011 in Los Angeles, California where he started promoting his recently released music video. In August 2011, his song "#STUPiDFACEDD" was being played on radio stations and on . He then went on tour with the band Awolnation, then with the Gym Class Heroes and The Dirty Heads, closing the tour at The Grove in Anaheim, California. Wallpaper.'s new single "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR" was premiered on MTV's Liquid Television. On December 31, 2011, he played a special concert with Kreayshawn, Roach Gigz, Starting Six and DJ Amen at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. It peaked on the Pop Songs at number 36. Wallpaper. performed at Coachella 2012 on April 13 and April 20. Even though he was a late addition to the festival, they managed to fill the Mojave tent with fans that followed Ricky Reed's moves. Spin Magazine described his performance of the unreleased "Trouble" like something Britney Spears would have recorded back in her boa constrictor-era. Novena Carmel also performed along with Wallpaper. and a trio of percussionists. Wallpaper. also performed six times in March 2011, March 12 at the Say Media Party, March 14 at the Billboard Magazine Showcase and the Idolator's 'Pray for Pop' at Pure Volume House, March 15 at MTV Woodies Festival, March 16 at the Hard Rock Music Lounge, and on March 17 at the Nylon/DUB Frequency Party. His success at SXSW led Wallpaper. to perform "#STUPiDFACEDD" at Jimmy Kimmel Live!. On May 10, 2012, Wallpaper. performed on Last Call with Carson Daly Tonight. Ricky Reed's biggest performance so far has been at KIIS-FM's 2012 Wango Tango. Also, on May 20, 2012, he performed at the Bamboozle festival in New Jersey along with bands like Bon Jovi, Brand New and The Gaslight Anthem. His last performance was at the Nylon Music Issue Release Party where artists like Leah LaBelle and Quadron also attended. In 2013, the group produced Far East Movement's single "The Illest". "#STUPiDFACEDD" was used in the 2012 science fiction found footage film Chronicle and was featured promptly in the trailer and TV spots for the Americanaction comedy film22 Jump Street, as well as in the film itself. As of 2018 all social media accounts of Wallpaper have been removed or deleted excluding their YouTube account, which has not received an update since 2014. Ricky Reed appears to be focusing his efforts to producing for other artists and his progressive indie rock band, Facing New York. It is currently unclear if Wallpaper is still considered active.
Online campaigns
Wallpaper. has launched several online campaigns, including the "Ricky Reed is Real" campaign, "Fucking Best Song Ever," and "Puke My Brains Out," in promotion of newly released singles. Images of Reed and fans have been posted on several Social Networking sites like Twitter and Instagram with the tags "Fucking Best Weekend Ever, "Best Song Ever," etc. have been posted in promotion of music.
